Page 105 of The Replay

"Do you think I'll get to make my own way there? With Maisie? If Mom and Dad don't trust me, I don't think they'll green light the projects I'm hoping to carry over there. And with Mom still presiding over the board…"

"I don't know how things are going to go there, but you know what?" She gazes at me with smiling eyes, and it pulls a smile from my lips too. "I still thinkyou can find your own way. Even if they don't approve. You can find your happiness somehow, and that will make them relent. Eventually."

Her support sows seeds of trust in my chest. Hope waters them. I take a deep breath, and let the landscape begin to change, just to have that kind of relief bubbling up inside.

Yeah, I can find my way. I have everything I need— more than most people have. It's why I'm here… to give myself the chance to build something according to my rules. To have evidence of what I can do. All that's left is time, and the commitment to keep on keeping on.

I hook my arm around my sister's and lean my head on her shoulder.

"Thank you, Cora. I'm so glad I get to have this year with you. And that I have a few therapy sessions booked for after the Strike events in December. I'll need them."

"Some sisterly love and a professional's expert brain cleanup. What else does a girl need?"

I laugh and close my eyes, breathing light again for the first time in a couple of days.

Chapter 33

Dom

I'm dreading this flight. I'm in one of the seats designated for plenty of room, but it won't be a pleasant trip for me. My right leg is extended, the brace is tight enough to be uncomfortable, and the painkillers I'm on don't do more than dull the pain. Besides, without the blissed out mindlessness of the hospital pain killers, I expect my friends to jump me as soon as we reach cruising altitude.

The window blind is up. I gaze out as we gain altitude. I'm somewhat hidden in the back of the cabin, and I try to convince myself that if I look distracted enough, in pain enough, I will be left alone. It's not like I'm lying. My mind goes in circles, aware of how lucky it is that I have a mild injury, and how much worse it could have been.

I'll take the pain if it means I only need crutches and treatment for a few weeks, rather than surgery, or anything else that could put a question mark on my career. I'll even come to accept I may not excel as much as I hoped this year, and I won't get the satisfaction of showing Mariana's parents that they were wrong to ever doubt me. As long as retirement remains my choice, I'll convince myself I've proven everything I wanted.

If only I could convince myself that I didn't say too much last night, too.

I remember everything about Mariana's visit to the hospital last night. Too many confessions spilled out of me when I couldn't catch them. All my cards have been revealed. Now I have no idea how she's taking all that truth, but I know what my friends will assume. And I have no idea how to contain the blast.

The seatbelt sign comes off with the traditional two-tone sound, and I take a deep breath. The familiar noises of people unbuckling and moving around fill the space. If I close my eyes and pretend to be sleeping, maybe my friends will leave me alone…

"How's the knee?" Damián asks. "You must still be in pain."

I don't open my eyes and cross my fingers that it's only Damián paying a social visit.

I wince. "Yeah, it's swollen and pulsing, but the new medicine helps."

"You'll need to be careful with everything," Bear says. "Very careful."

"These things have a way of getting out of hand," Saint adds. "You'll need everyone's support to get through this."

Logan's voice is as serious as always. "It was a shock, but you can overcome this challenge, Dom. It happens to the best of us."

"But we have each other," Rafa says. "We're here for you."

I open a single eye. I know what they're doing. This isn't how they would talk about an injury.

I purse my lips and pretend I don't notice. "Thank you. If all the preliminary stuff is right, I'll only miss one playoff game. That's my goal, anyway. All I need is rest, so if you don't mind…"

Bear's heavy hand drops to my shoulder. This won't be the end of it. The squeeze he gives me does not seem very 'see you later, goodbye'.

"Are you still high, Dom?" he asks.

I glare at him. "What do I need to answer to make sure this doesn't turn into an intervention?"

"What makes you think we're here for an intervention?" Logan asks.

I cross my arms and scoff. I give each of them an annoyed arched eyebrow.