Chapter 1 #3
“She’d already made all the arrangements through school and is registered as a Shafer student. Besides, I promised her we’d make this the best semester of college ever.”
I hoot, the sound bouncing off the bare walls. “And how are you gonna do that? Drag her to your Mathletes competitions?”
Giving me a tolerant smile, she argues, “I know how to have fun.”
“Right. Well, on the off chance your little friend doesn’t consider mathematical modeling the time of her life, send her my way.”
“There’s something that’ll never happen.”
“Or don’t. Whatever. I have plenty of women at my disposal.”
Maisy touches a hand to her heart and, in typical smart-ass fashion, plasters a phony smile on her face. “God, Cash, your choice of words truly touches my heart as a woman. You really are a gift to the female of the species.”
“You’re welcome.” I tip my hat. “So if this girl’s some lifelong friend, why don’t I remember her name?”
“I can’t account for your deficiencies.”
“But you never talked about her.”
She shrugs. “She was like a lot of my camp friends. Once in a while, we’d text, but then she told me she was transferring. Obviously I’m going to invite her to live with me.”
Maisy would. My sister takes her friendships seriously. Stooping to avoid the sloped ceiling, I cross the room to get my tool bag while she shoots a curious look at my chest.
“What’s with the hair all over your sweatshirt?”
I glance down at my black hoodie. A mess of gray hair spans my front from when I carried Mr. Jangles around the house to give her the grand tour. “Cat fur.” I brush at a few spots and return to bed assembly. “As of today, I’m a cat daddy.”
I don’t have to look at my sister to know she’s raising an eyebrow. “I don’t think that means what you think—”
“I know what it means. In this case, it means I’m the proud owner of an adorable gray kitten.”
“Uh…care to explain how that came to pass?”
“You remember Vee?”
“No.”
“Girl I dated last semester. Nothing serious, but apparently I held a gun to her head and forced her to adopt a pet. Long story short, she’s pissed, and now I own a cat.”
Maisy starts to sigh, but I cut her off.
“And before you blame me, know that I treated this girl with as much honesty as I do every other girl.”
“Oh, I believe you. Your honesty is your problem.”
Frowning, I lower the screw gun. “I gotta hear this. I’m an asshole because I’m honest?”
“You don’t hold anything back, Cash. You flirt with everyone, you make them feel special, and it’s easy to misinterpret that as you wanting something more than a hookup.”
“I say what’s on my mind, that’s all.”
“Well, there’s an art to holding back.”
I snort. “Don’t you ever get tired of being the boring twin?”
“Never once.” Maisy unfolds the paper assembly instructions. “Can I at least read the directions? I want to do something.”
“You did not seriously suggest I need instructions to assemble a bed frame. I can build a house.”
“Answer my question.”
“You can read whatever you want. But if you want to help, hold this piece of wood straight while I drill it.”
Working together, we assemble the frame and turn it upside down to attach the legs.
“So.” She hands me the last one while giving me a meaningful look. “Did you get it?”
“Get what?”
“Don’t pretend you don’t know what I’m talking about.”
“I haven’t checked today.”
“Are you nuts? Cash! Check right now, or I’m doing it for you.” She holds her hand out like she’s demanding my phone.
“It’s not like it changes anything. Even if I got invited, I’m not—”
“Check,” she insists.
My pulse thumps as I take out my phone. I don’t know what I’m nervous about, anyway, because it’s a lose-lose situation regardless of whether there’s an invitation to the Combine in my inbox.
“Well?” Maisy demands while I scan my email. “I’m dying over here.”
And there it is, an email formally inviting me to participate in the NFL Combine, the biggest scouting event for any college football player who hopes to go pro. My sister’s screaming before the full smile has even formed on my face.
“I knew it,” she cheers, wrapping her arms around my neck and jumping on my back. “My brother’s gonna be a star!”
I laugh. “Easy, sis. I need that neck.” But I let her hang on to me because her enthusiasm feels too good. Especially since it takes everything I have to tamp down my own.
“Proud of you, brother.” She kisses my cheek and hops down from my back. “You just made history.”
“Guess I did, didn’t I?”
“Should we celebrate?”
With that, the good feelings wash away. “Nah.”
“What? Since when does Cash Hartnell turn down an opportunity to broadcast his accomplishments?”
“Because what’s the point?” I snap. “The Combine is for guys going to the NFL, not guys going into the family business.”
“That’s your choice.”
“Is it? Did you forget the parents we came from?”
“Did you forget you’re an adult? Someone’s going to be disappointed no matter what you choose. You if Mom and Dad get their way, or them if you get yours.”
“Sounds like you understand perfectly.” I pick up the hammer to get back to work. “You know the Hartnell motto as well as I do: Family first. No matter what.”