Page 126 of Game Misconduct

epilogue

. . .

Bex

one week later

“Hot stuff coming through!” Luke shouts as he bustles through the apartment to the balcony, a Dutch oven in his oven mitt–covered hands.

“You’re not that hot,” Audrey retorts.

Seb, holding their ten-month-old daughter, cringes. “Please don’t ever mention my brother’s hotness.”

Luke smirks as he sets the casserole dish on the table. Wyatt and Elsy are chatting with Nick inside, as far away from the elements as possible. It’s barely cold. A light chill, at most.

Strictly speaking, May is still a little early to be dining on the patio, but considering the Henry brothers bring out the worst in each other, and Wyatt and Nick only encourage them, it made more sense to have this family reunion dinner in the building. Not to mention Cora’s early bedtime.

The Henry brothers have been playing against each other for years. This is the first time they’re meeting in the playoffs, though.

Wyatt’s team didn’t even make the postseason, so once he finished with the formalities of closing down the year, they came up to Boston, staying in my apartment. The lease is up next month, and I won’t be renewing it. Most of my time is spent at Nick’s place.

We get to enjoy Wyatt and Elsy for three weeks, or for the rest of the playoffs, before they jet off to Thailand or Bali. Some romantic getaway far from here. It’s nice having them nearby. We can get together for coffee or brunch, have a family dinner, and hang out and enjoy being together.

Elsy has come with me, Vanessa, and Ceci to book club, and the group all gathered for drinks last week. I can almost imagine what it’ll be like when they’re here for real. I’m not ready for Wyatt’s career to end, but I am looking forward to having them here with us.

Family are the people you choose to keep in your lives, not because you have to, but because you want to. This is mine. Messy, unconventional, chaotic, and fun.

Luke slings his arm around my shoulder, tugging me into his side. “How are you doing, babe?”

“I’m good.” I curl into him, stealing his warmth. His familiar scent is comforting.

But there’s no attraction there. Nothing illicit. Just comfort.

He squeezes my waist. “No regrets?”

I’m finishing out the postseason, but once the team is done, so am I. My job, that is. Even though I’ll still consult with the Grizzlies, and my lab is in their practice facility, I will miss traveling with the team. Traveling with Nick.

But if we’re going to be living together, it will help to get some space every now and again. I’ll miss him like crazy. It just means our reunions will be so much sweeter.

“None.” I pat his chest. “How about you?”

“Unfortunately, I’ve got many,” he jokes.

There’s an undercurrent of truth to his words, though. Tampa may be in the postseason, but Luke’s game is struggling. Has been struggling. For so long, his points production has been a source of pride, and now it’s a yoke around his shoulders, dragging him down. And the more down he gets, the less he can score. It’s a never-ending battle against his own mind, and nobody can change his course except him.

I open my mouth, but he cuts me off.

“You’re not going to get me into therapy,” Luke says. “I’m a big boy. I can handle myself.”

With a sigh, I give in. You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make him drink. And until Luke crumbles under the weight of the pressure he’s carrying, until he finally burns out, there’s nothing anyone can do to make him change.

He has to want to change.

It’s the same thing Nick’s said about his father. Fred has to want to change, and there’s been no indication that’s actually the case. He’s not opposed to reopening contact one day down the line, but for his own sake, he has to protect himself first.

I haven’t talked to my mom since the day I muted her. She hasn’t messaged or called, and I haven’t, either. It’s nice not being on tenterhooks all the time, waiting for Mount St. Helen to erupt.

Her voice still rings in my ear. I don’t know that I’ll ever be able to fully get rid of it. But with a lot of therapy, it’s helping quiet it. Make it easier to challenge the thoughts. Easier to reframe and poke holes in the fallacies.