Page 8 of Playing Dirty

“Five or six?” I offer hesitantly, and I hate the way her face falls.

“That bad, huh?”

My heart sinks, knowing the hope she had for things going better than they did. Not just the whole plan for a trip over break, but for our first real holiday after she and Adam got married. Even with me telling her it was too soon to try forcing Theo into accepting us, she remained optimistic. But with his meltdown, that’s all been shattered.

I finish cleaning up the dishes before facing her, pressing my hip against the granite countertop and whispering, “I didn’t want to be right.”

She gives me a sad smile, the same one I’ve seen far too many times on her face before. One I haven’t seenat allin the months since she married Adam.

“Oh, I know, sweetheart. I just wish there were a way…” She trails off, her shoulders lifting in a helpless shrug.

And it shreds a little piece of my soul to see it.

I wrap my arms around her, pulling her into a hug and pressing my cheek to the top of her head.

If I could do anything to help, I would. In a heartbeat. But this is all Theo, and he’ll either come around to this in his own time or he won’t. Though, if I had to place a wager on it, it’d be the latter.

But she’s had enough disappointment for the night, so I decide to keep that to myself and offer the tiniest consolation I can.

“We’ll have a good time no matter what. Even if he doesn’t come.”

Her arms wrap around me tighter, squeezing me at the waist with more strength than I’d think her capable of with such a tiny frame.

“I love you, sweetheart.”

“Love you too, Mom,” I murmur before pressing a kiss to her hair.

I spend the rest of the evening watching football with Adam beforeheading up to the guest room for the night. Though, I guess it’s technicallymyroom now, what with all my things from Mom’s apartment having been moved in this past summer.

It’s weird, being in a home that isn’t mine, yet sleeping in a room filled with all my things. Same dresser and mattress, and the trophies lining the wall that I insisted she didn’t need to set up. Everything looks so identical to how it was this time last year, but none of itfeelsthat way.

Part of me thinks I’ll never get used to it.

But I do my best for my mom, and that’s a lot more than I can say for Theo.

When I drop down on my bed and finally check my phone, I see the group chat between me and the rest of the Core Four has been popping off like bottle rockets on the Fourth of July.

Torin: How’s it going back home?

Vaughn: Send an SOS if you need one of us to come get you.

Miles: A funny sentiment coming from the only one of us who still can’t drive.

Vaughn: I would if I could.

Miles: Yes, but instead, you would make ME go do it.

Torin: Jesus Christ, I’m gonna block you both and just call Madden myself if you don’t shut it.

Vaughn: Okay, but really. Send a signal of life.

Miles: Yeah, starting to get worried stepbro took you out back and buried you alive.

I scan over the messages that came in one after the other while I was downstairs, and despite my relatively shit mood post-dinner, I can’t help but chuckle at the antics of my three best friends.

Me: Everyone’s still breathing, so it could be worse.

Miles: Oof. Okay, Vaughn’s offer is definitely still on the table ifyou need to be bailed out.