Page 94 of Game Plan

I grin. “Nah, I get it, man. It doesn’t matter how much taller or bigger I am than my pops, he still seems like a giant to me.”

He nods. “And then to see him lying in the hospital bed, hooked up to all these machines just to keep him alive—watching him look at my mom like he needs her—really needs her … I’ll never get that picture out of my head.” He looks across his shoulder at me. “For the first time in my life, my dad was mortal, and that really fucked with me.”

I sit back, giving him a minute to sit with that. I’m not sure he’s said any of that aloud before now. Hell, I’m not sure he’s even let himself think it.

“I can’t say that I know how you feel,” I say. “But I can understand how that would fuck a guy up.”

“Dad was always the alpha, you know? We were his family. He was invincible. But I’m wondering if the roles haven’t reversed, and now I have to step up and be the decision-maker, you know? Have we just hit the point where they need me more than I need them?” His eyes are wide as he watches me. “I’m not ready for that. I don’t even know if I can do that, to be honest.”

“Sure, you can.”

He shakes his head warily. “I don’t know shit, Finn. I can’t even put a fucking bookshelf together.”

I chuckle. “Lucky for you, I’m not sure putting a bookshelf together is what your parents actually need from you. And, if they do, you happen to have a very competent best friend who can help you out.”

“You’re an asshole.”

I nod, shaking my head in amusement.

He sighs. “You know, the one thing that I keep thinking about is how fast life changes. Dad was just giving me hell about figuring out what I want to do with the rest of my life. He said that I was lucky that I got to decide when football was over for me because lots of guys don’t. But that I need to take that philosophy and apply it to the rest of my life—make choices while they’re still mine to make.” He shakes his head. “And look at him now. The bear of a man has tubes going in and out of him while Mom and a bunch of doctors make his decisions for him. It’s wild.”

“Well, you can also look at it this way,” I say. “Maybe the lesson isn’t that life changes fast. Maybe it’s more about the choices we make. He’s spent a lifetime making choices that put him where he is now—surrounded by people who love him unconditionally. People who drop everything to be with him and your mom when they need it most. Not every family has that.”

I can’t help but think of my parents when I say that because they’ve done the same thing. Loved so many unconditionally.

Branch nods slowly as my words sink into his head. “You might be right.”

“I’m always right.”

“We’ll see about that.” He sighs, standing and stretching his arms over his head. “I think I’m going to see if Layla is ready to go. I need a hot shower and about twelve hours of sleep.”

“You can always leave Sunny here if you and Lay need to rest.”

He laughs. “Do you really think I’m going home without either of my girls?”

“Yeah, well, just offering.”

“I know. Thanks for that.” He holds my gaze before looking away. “Seriously, thanks, Miller. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

“You’d be miserable, consistently underprepared, and you wouldn’t have any bookcases, for starters.”

He shakes his head and heads to the house.

“Hey,” I say, waiting for him to stop. “I know you feel out of your depth right now, but your parents are lucky to have you. You’ll figure this out as you go. And, all joking aside, if you need me, I’m always here.”

“All joking aside …” He smiles. “I know.”

I return his grin. “Tell my sister that I’ll call her tomorrow. If I go back in there, the girls will order takeout, and you’ll never leave.”

“Good call.” He opens the door. “Thanks again, Finn.”

“Anytime.”

I wait until he’s in the house before I exhale.

The swing goes back and forth as I stare off into the distance, unable to shake off my conversation with my friend. Branch is rarely shaken, and this hasn’t just shaken him. It’s making him think about life in a way I don’t think he ever has.

“One thing I keep thinking about is how fast life changes.”