Page 49

Byron

Just add another tally in the Byron’s a fuck up collum. They have really been adding up lately. That and letting down my team. These guys deserve a better captain. I want to be better. Need to be better.

I push all that to the side the moment I walk through my front door. The sweet smell of Lola’s family sauce recipe wafts through the air. Aaron, Marcus and my parents are on my heels. Asking me questions that I just don’t have the bandwidth to answer.

I just want to see Lola.

I find her in the kitchen wearing the apron I got her for her birthday—it has bright colored flowers surrounding a cottage—assembling some chicken parmesan.

“It smells amazing,” my dad states the obvious as he slides off his boots.

“Thank Arie. I thought we could all use some comfort food after that game.” Her words trail off before flashing a sheepish smile in our direction.

I wrap my hands around her and pull her in so her back is resting against my chest.

“I hope you know that fight wasn’t your fault.”

I can feel the life drain out of her body.

“It’s hard to believe that my ex just happened to pick a fight with current boyfriend, the one that I started to date less than forty-eight hours after our break-up, and I had nothing to do with it.”

Placing my hands on her hips I turn until we are face to face.

“As amazing as you are, we both have some serious daddy issues we need to work out.”

Her cheeks turn pink. I think she’s finally understanding how deep this feud of ours goes.

“He told me he’d rather die than hang out with me too.”

Lola gasps.

“I thought it was pretty unoriginal if you ask me. I thanked him for fucking things up with you.”

Her eyes close leaving me waiting on pins and needles to tell her his response.

“He fucking hated that didn’t he.”

Her eyes open wide and she tries to hide her laughter behind her hand.

“Well that’s when all hell broke loose. So I think it’s pretty safe to say he didn’t like it.”

She gets up on her tip-toes, but her being the little pipsqueak she is, I still have to lean down for my lips to brush against hers.

“Do you mind setting the table?”

I nod and grab the plates she has stacked on the kitchen counter. Before leaving I lean to kiss her again. I’ve fucked up a lot lately but this kiss is a reassurance that I’m doing something right, when every other nagging thought is that I’ve been letting everyone down.

Lola pulls away, but keeps her arms wrapped around my neck. Her deep blue eyes are searching.

“Just know you’re doing amazing, but remember you’re not going through this alone.”

All I can offer her is a smile. I know she’s just trying to lift my spirits, I just don’t need her to lie to me.

“I know.” I softly place a kiss on her forehead. “I couldn’t do this without you.”

Her smile brightens the face that I fall in love with more and more everyday.

I mean she voluntarily cooked this whole meal when I told her we could just order in.

I just wanted her here so we could all spend time together, but once she found out my dad’s favorite meal was chicken parm it was over.

It’s my specialty. I have to cook it for him, she said.

I don’t deserve her. I can’t give her what she needs.

“It smells amazing,” I say over my shoulder as I head to the kitchen table.

As I walk around the table making sure each spot has a plate, I notice my dad settled on the couch watching Jalen play in Las Vegas laughing with my teammates. It makes me happy that he’s making an effort to get to know the people that have been there for me when he wasn’t.

“Dinner’s ready!” She may be small but her voice sure can carry.

Being the human trash cans they are Marcus and Aaron are first to sit at the table. It’s hard to deny that my dad has been moving slower over the last week. I don’t know how much of his new pace is due to a week and a half of travel or his worsening condition.

It takes one stern look towards my roommates to have them jumping on their feet and asking Lola what they can grab to bring to the table.

“It smells so good Lola,” My dad says once he finally makes it to the seat closest to the den area. He’s hunched over it trying to catch his breath.

“We are definitely making chicken parm sandwiches with this tomorrow,” I tell Lola as she is passing me a basket of garlic bread.

Her eyes are looking past me. Locked on something over my shoulder.

“Arie, do you need help?” Concern laces her voice.

There is no answer from my dad, just a loud thud that has my mom running down the stairs. I jump to my feet, freezing when I see my dad lying on the floor.

“Byron, call 911,” Marcus says before he orders Aaron to get a pillow from the couch. My dad’s eyes are starting to flutter open as the sirens of the ambulance get closer.