Chapter 20
BYRON
On Tuesday morning,my energy is drained after sleeping fourteen hours straight trying to catch up on missed sleep.
“Move your ass, Hendricks,” Coach yells at me. “You’re running like your shoes are two sizes too big.”
I hiss out air and sprint to the end line.
“Coach just called you a clown,” Simpson says with a laugh.
“Fuck off,” I say, quiet enough that Coach doesn’t hear.
“Next time, don’t leave the country without permission, especially when you miss two trainings and were rested for one game,” Coach fires at me. “Everyone is sprinting for the next ten minutes, not just Byron. We’re a team, and if one of you fucks up, it affects us all.”
My teammates groan, some of them glaring at me. I wipe my brow. I’ve had my share of penalties for other players’ fuckups. I feel like a piece of shit when I’m the cause.
“Go,” he yells, clicking the timer. “Next time, consult with the team before making an impulsive decision. And what did you do to your knees?”
“Rock climbing, Coach,” I shout over my shoulder.
We sprint for a minute, then rest for fifteen seconds.
“Rock climbing?” Brandon says, mocking me.
“Shut up. How was your weekend?”
He walks in a circle to catch his breath. “Great… watched the AFL Grand Final.”
“Yeah? Good?”
“Yeah, it was a close game. My team bombed out last week, so I enjoyed the game without the pressure.”
“Go.”
We take off to the other end of the court. By the end of the fourth minute, we’re sucking in air as though all the oxygen has evaporated. Hands on hips and heads tilted back, we walk slowly around the base line before lining up again for the timer.
“Go.”
I swear all the pasta and pizza have slowed me down.
“Time.”
We are spread out on the court, some of us faster than the big guys.
“Go.”
My legs burn. My calves tighten. Sprints are part of our program, but not at the end of a two-hour training, the second training session of the day.
“Time.”
I slow to a jog, stop, and shake my legs and fingers. Two to go.
Some of the senior players send me sideways glances. Yeah, I’m an asshole.
When we finish the final sprint, I suck in as much air as I can and line up again.
“What are you doing, man? We’re done,” Brandon says, patting my shoulder, still out of breath.
“I’m not. It’s my fault. I’ll do another five.”
“Sorry, mate. You’re on your own. I’m heading to the showers.”
“BJ, tell Byron we have hot and cold therapy waiting,” Leroy shouts.
I raise a hand as I sprint. “One more,” I shout back. I finish the last lap and walk the tunnel toward the new ice bath and sauna facility next to our locker room.
Coach waits outside the door. “We good?”
“Yeah, we’re good.”
His gray eyebrows tighten, the indents around his eyes deepening. “Don’t make what happened last weekend a habit.”
“No, sir,” I say before pushing open the door.
I shower, then head to the ice bath. Leroy and Brandon are still in the bath.
“Fuck,” I say, lowering myself until my shoulders are covered.
“Hurts so good,” Brandon sings.
Wolf-whistles sound. I turn as Charlotte walks into the room, her heels clicking on the floor as she passes some of my teammates who have it all hanging out.
What the fuck?
I hate it when the guys walk around without their towels, but it all goes straight over Charlotte’s head.
“I have a surprise for you all,” she calls out. “You may want to thank me for getting us in at the Ritz-Carlton in Abu Dhabi,” she almost sings. “Luxury at its finest. But remember, you are there to win games. It is not a vacation.”
She walks over to Coach.
“Can I lie with you on the beach, Lottie?” Simpson calls out.
I glare at him, then turn to focus on the way she talks to Coach. Is that how he knew about the details of my trip?
“Ignore him,” Brandon remarks.
“Coach?”
“No, Simpson. Don’t let him get under your skin. That’s his aim.”
“Yeah, but when he says shit like that to my sister, I want to smash his face in.” Brandon laughs, but there’s a nervousness there that surprises me. “You know I wouldn’t, though, right? It’s just bro code. While he doesn’t respect me, I respect him as a teammate and wouldn’t do anything to ruin the team bonding this close to the season starting. Still, I can’t help feeling pissed off.”
“He pisses me off, too,” Brandon mutters.
We hit our knuckles together.
“One week,” he says.
“Abu Dhabi, baby.” I can’t fucking wait to play.
Brandon throwsme the ball Friday morning, and I hit a three-pointer closer to the center circle.
“Keep them coming,” I shout. I practice these shots at the end of training to perfect a game-winning shot when the clock is in the dying seconds. The fans think it’s luck and their prayers answered, but it’s a shot we practice over and over, so when we’re under pressure, I’m not relying on the paradox of luck—only the fact I’ve perfected a pressure shot by practicing it a thousand times before.
I shoot the ball. Swish.
“What are your plans tonight?” I ask him before catching the pass. Swish.
He pauses before throwing the ball. “None. Just hanging at home.”
I clap my hands for the ball, then pause, breathe, and bend deeper at the knees. Swish.
“Frank and Penny have asked me to babysit. They think it’ll be good for me to get to know my niece.”
Brandon’s eyes round. “You? Do you know anything about kids?” He passes the ball like a bullet, and if I hadn’t caught his pass, it would have broken my nose.
“I’ve visited a few times. They said Summer would be down for her sleep and just to stay there. She has a bottle prepared in case Summer wakes before they get home.”
“Where are they going?”
“To his restaurant. A date night.”
Swish.
“Don’t they have a nanny or something?”
“Yeah, but Penny is funny about the family getting to know Summer. I’m stoked they asked me before Lottie.” I grin at Brandon before taking the next shot. Twang. The ball hits the ring and flies back into my hands.
I move under the net, and Brandon finds his spot to shoot.
“Do you want me to come and help out?” He claps his hands for the ball, his knees bent, ready in stance for a quick catch and shoot.
I bounce the ball before passing it to him. “You want to come?”
“Yeah. I could learn a thing or two.”
I stare at him like he’s grown six heads. “What the actual fuck?”
He laughs. “I’m not doing anything else. We could watch a movie or reruns of the finals from last year.”
“The sound would have to be muted unless we watch it in the home theater. That’s soundproof. And Gigi might come if that’s okay. She stayed extra nights in Italy, so I haven’t seen her since Sunday.”
“Listen to you sounding all lovesick.” He holds out his hands for the ball, and I send a hard pass. He catches it, grins, then shoots. Swish. “I’m cool with Gigi coming. She’s gonna have to understand all our plays if she’s going to the games.”
I stare at him. “Yeah.”
Giana is not invested in the game like other players’ girlfriends and wives. I know she’ll support me, but I wonder if she’ll ever love the game like a fan.
Penny handsme a list of what Summer needs, and once I read the first few lines, I stop reading. “I thought you said Summer would sleep the entire time?”
Penny looks at me, then at Brandon, and back to me. “I said I hope she sleeps, but if she doesn’t, it’s often a process of elimination to figure out why she’s crying. It could be hunger pain, so there is breast milk in a bottle in the fridge. Just warm it up. Not too hot… body temperature.”
“Eww.”
Penny rolls her eyes. “Please. I’m not asking you to drink it.”
Brandon chokes out a cough.
“This is good for you boys. It’ll be you one day.”
“I’ll have a nanny,” I add quickly.
Penny receives a notification there is someone at the door. She looks at me and checks the security camera. “Oh, it’s Giana. You two are saved.”
“Thank fuck,” I whisper to Brandon. “Next on the list was change her diaper. I’m not ready for that shit yet.”
“Literally, mate.”
We laugh under our breath, although I know it’s something I’ll have to do soon, but at least give me a few months to warm up to it.
“What else is on the list?” Brandon whispers. “Because now Gigi is here, I’m bailing if it involves puke.”
I screw up my face. “You’re not leaving me alone. What if Gigi has to leave? We work best as a team.”
Brandon shakes his blond curls from his eyes. “Mate, you’re bloody on your own for that.” His phone dings in his pocket.
“Put it on silent. We don’t want anything to wake her.”
“Hey,” Giana says, her brown ponytail swinging as she walks back in with Penny.
“Hey. Welcome home.” I lean in to kiss Giana. “I wasn’t sure you’d make it.”
“I slept a few hours this morning, so I feel okay.” She reaches up to hug Brandon. I’m busy admiring her in her white dress scattered with sunflowers. It ends midthigh, showing her shapely, tanned legs, and think I could let Brandon leave if it means Giana and I are alone. Then I remember Penny’s list.
“Hey, Gigi. You’ll have to tell us the story of how Byron slipped on the cliff.”
“What?” She stares at me, bewildered.
Oh fuck.
I make round eyes at Giana. “When we were rock climbing… it wasn’t bad. My knees and elbows suffered the worst damage.”
“Oh,” Giana says slowly, then shrugs her shoulders. “He slid a couple of feet. He really is being dramatic.”
“Serious?” Brandon punches my shoulder playfully.
Penny takes the list from my grip. “I think this is safer with Giana.”
“Okay.” I hold my hands up in surrender.
She hands the list to Giana and waits for her to read over it. Giana lifts her head and looks at Penny. “Did you really trust these two with all that?”
Penny shakes her head. “I hope she’ll sleep, but if not, I wanted to explain everything. Eventually, I hope Jobe can help out. I want her to be familiar with her uncles’ faces.”
Penny is trying to bring the family closer, and I respect it. “What about Lottie?”
“She has already babysat three times, and she comes every second night to visit.” She does? “I also mentioned to her that you might need help, so expect a phone call. But I wanted you to try first. If you can’t manage, Frank and I can come home.”
“No,” Giana says quickly. “Enjoy your date night.”
She checks the time on her cell. “Okay, I should go. Please call me if you need me.”
“We’ll be fine,” Giana reassures Penny, then she waves before closing the door. Giana looks around the kitchen and picks up the gadget from the counter. “This is the monitor. Oh, it has a camera. How cute. We just take this everywhere we go.”
“Summer can hear us?” Brandon asks.
“We can hear her if she wakes, and look…” she turns the gadget, “… you can see her sleeping.”
“Bloody hidden cameras everywhere,” I mutter. “It’s so Franklin.”
“Sweet. I vote Gigi to be in charge of the monitor. Now let’s utilize your brother’s big-ass TV and catch a game.”
“I’ll get us some drinks first.” I open the refrigerator, and there is a food platter. “Penny knows us well.” I grab the plate and hand it to Brandon, then carry a jug of iced water and glasses up the stairs to their home theater. It’s a waste of space in their luxury penthouse with Franklin being so time-poor.
“This is next level,” Giana exclaims. She looks around at the black leather recliner couches, the navy carpet, and the circular overhead lighting.
“Wait till you hear the sound system,” Brandon adds.
“Will it wake Summer?”
“Soundproof walls.” I jump into the seat beside Brandon, leaving Giana to sit on my other side.
“I’m not watching a game.” Giana gives me a look. “How about a nice romantic movie?” She takes my hand and squeezes it. I can’t say no to those eyes.
Brandon leans forward in his reclined chair. “You’ve just Eat Pray Loved my friend. He’s starting to go soft on me.”
“And I agree with Gigi.”
We all jump at the sound of the voice behind us.
“Jesus, Lottie, you scared the fuck out of me.” I shake my head. I thought it was Penny speaking through one of their hidden cameras. “Did Frank ask you to check in on us?”
Charlotte stands in front of us. “No, but when did you last check on Summer?”
Giana holds up the monitor. “She’s sleeping.”
“Can I see?” Brandon holds out a hand, and Giana passes him the monitor. Charlotte sits in the chair beside Brandon, and they stare at the monitor together.
“It has sensors for breathing, motion, body temperature, and cough detection,” Charlotte whispers, but I doubt Brandon is interested. He places the monitor between us.
“How about an episode of Friends,” Giana suggests. “It’s funny and uplifting.”
Finally, we agree, and when the second episode finishes, Charlotte takes the monitor from between Brandon and me. “Fuck, she’s crying. Look at her hands moving.” She jumps up and fiddles with the monitor, and baby screams fill the room. “You idiots had it on silent.” She runs out of the room with us in tow.
Summer is distressed. Her little face is red, and she’s croaky.
“She has worked herself into a state.” Giana strokes her forehead while Charlotte gently rocks her.
“Penny said she might be hungry or need her diaper changed.” I stand back, as the last thing the kid needs is all four of us in her face, gawking.
Brandon retrieves her pacifier from the crib and encourages her to suck.
I shake my head. “For something so little, she has a good pair of lungs.”
“Wait up.” Brandon goes and fetches the backpack he takes everywhere with him.
Charlotte places her on the changing table and checks her diaper. “Her nappy is fine.”
“I could warm up her milk,” Giana suggests.
Brandon returns, takes the pacifier, and?—
“What the fuck, man. What are you thinking?” I stand in front of Brandon and Summer. “You can’t give that to her.”
“Trust me. My mum has given it to me and my sisters and brothers. It works great.”
“What is it?” Giana asks.
He walks past me and stands beside Charlotte, who looks as distressed as Summer. “Penny and Franklin have already had a heated debate about whether Summer should have a pacifier. If she reacts to Vegemite, they’ll never trust us again.”
“Lottie, trust me,” he says gently.
“It tastes like tar off the road,” I tell Giana.
Her eyes pop, and she stares at Charlotte. “For real?”
“Not to me.” Brandon tickles her lips with the pacifier.
I am baffled why Charlotte doesn’t push Brandon away. She is hardcore about doing everything right. Knowing Penny and Franklin will be infuriated, her allowing him to give Summer something surprises me. Wondering what has changed for her, I’m stuck in the moment and haven’t noticed the silence.
“Bloody hell, mate, it worked,” Charlotte says, ribbing Brandon’s accent.
“Told ya.” He leans a hand on her shoulder as he stares down at Summer, who is sucking away and falling back to sleep.
“You two should go,” Charlotte whispers. “Frank and Penny will be home soon.”
Giana looks at me with beckoning eyes. I know that look and would rather be alone with her than here when Franklin gets home, and Brandon tells him he gave his kid freaking Vegemite.
“Do you need a ride?” I ask Brandon.
He looks at Charlotte, then back at me. “I’ll stay with Lottie. If Summer wakes again, I’d best tell Franklin what I did.”
“Risking your life, man.” I tap his shoulder and take Giana’s hand as we head down the stairs.
“So… kids,” she murmurs before we reach the door. “Do you want them?”