Page 132 of Across the Board
Dad squints at me. “What’s with you?”
“There’s a girl,” Luke sing-songs.
I glare at him.
Dad sighs. “Really, Seb? You’re distracted over a piece of ass?”
“She’s not a piece of ass,” I snap. “I like her.”
No wonder Mom left him. He’s a misogynistic asshole who never grew out of the good old boys’ club.
He rolls his eyes. “My apologies.”
“Whatever. I need some air.” Stalking out of the room, I’m surprised when footsteps echo behind me.
“Dude, come on,” Luke says. “What’s with you?”
“Why’d you tell him?” I whirl on him. “You couldn’t keep from blurting it out?”
“I didn’t think she was a big deal,” he says, defensive. “Didn’t you pick her up in the bar?”
“I—it’s more than that.”
His eyes narrow. “When’d you meet her?”
With a sigh, I admit: “On the plane.”
“And you brought her back to the hotel?”
“She’s staying here.”
Luke squints at me. “Who is she?”
I hesitate.
“Seb, who is this woman? Do you even know her?”
“Her dad is the Boston coach.”
He whistles. “Shit, man. You’re in for it now.”
I shake my head. “It means we actually have a chance. We don’t have to do long distance.”
“You think making a play for the coach’s daughter will help, now that they’ve traded you?”
“They want me,” I defend. “They wouldn’t have traded for me if they didn’t. Now we have a chance to be together.”
Luke hums. “Maybe.”
“I want to be with her. Whatever it takes.”
“You realize how crazy you sound, right? You just met this woman?”
“When I saw her, I knew. She’s the one for me,” I tell him seriously.
My brother shakes his head. “You’re crazy.”
“Crazy for her.” I sigh. “Look, you don’t have to understand it. You don’t even have to support it. But I’d like you to have my back. You know I’d do the same for you.”
