Total pages in book: 96
Estimated words: 95019 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 475(@200wpm)___ 380(@250wpm)___ 317(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 95019 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 475(@200wpm)___ 380(@250wpm)___ 317(@300wpm)
Rachel flinches, as if sensing I’m not as thrilled as I should be, then shakes her head. “Sorry, I forget how exhausted you must be after today. I’m really surprised I was even able to catch you. Some of the other guys I rep went right back to the hotel for room service.”
“This is our thing,” Dad reveals. “Back when he was a little guy, if he did good during a game, this was his treat.”
“That’s so precious. That’s the sort of thing you should remember to tell the media throughout all the press you’re gonna get after you’re drafted, which I think after today, is going to be a huge deal. You know I was talking to Ted Rocker with the Eagles and Morgan Kennley with the Chiefs and…”
Rachel gets into industry chatter, which always gets Dad going, but I zone out. As she discusses who could get their pick of me, I keep thinking how much nicer it feels to work with Troy in the shop. How nice it’d be not to be in Indianapolis, but back at the frat house with my Sigma Alpha crew.
Hell, I’m even missing heading to bed and getting shit from Marty. Although, I’m sure if I were actually there, I’d realize how little I really want that, especially while Mr. Rule Follower is waiting for me to do something and fuck it all up. He’ll probably wind up making something up, like this wild idea he got into his head that I was flirting with Angie. Not that I made that any better by chatting with her after, but I’ll be damned if he thinks he gets to decide who I talk to just because he’s insecure.
“Anyway,” Rachel says, “I should get to bed because my work is only beginning. But you two have a great night, and, Ryan, I will definitely be reaching out with updates.”
Dad and I thank her, and after she leaves, I finish my pie and we return to the hotel.
As we’re settling into our queen beds—which really look more like fulls to me—Dad slides under the covers, whispering, “It’s the big time for you now, buddy.” He pulls the covers over him, his face still locked in a smile because of how the day went, and I realize, if I were left on my own to make this call, and wasn’t thinking about Dad’s feelings at all, I wouldn’t want any of this.
I simply don’t want it anymore.
And I fucking hate myself for that.
6
Marty
“How you getting along with that jerk?” Dad asks as we plant peas in a box in the garden. I’ve been complaining about Ryan the last few times we talked.
“Jerk is such a nice word for what he is,” I say, making Dad chuckle.
My Advanced Risk Modeling teacher canceled class this afternoon, so spring break started earlier than expected. My family’s only forty minutes from campus, so it’ll be nice to spend the time with them, catching up with everyone, especially Aiden.
“He’s trying to annoy the crap out of me. Been listening to stuff on his phone or laptop without earbuds and leaving protein bar wrappers and clothes around the place.” Anything to grate on my nerves.
“Anything you can do about it?”
“I’m documenting everything. He thinks he’s outsmarting me, but he’s become a nuisance, so as soon as I have enough, I’m taking it to the guys and getting him hauled out.”
Dad cringes. “Maybe you should get his friends to talk to him. They might be able to convince him he needs to do better if he wants to continue living at your frat.”
“It’s hard to imagine Ryan stepping in line for anyone. He does whatever the hell he wants.”
“Mart…”
I roll my eyes. “The heck he wants. Wait, am I not old enough to say that?”
“Sorry, Aiden’s been getting too loose with it recently, and there are a lot of F-bombs, so your mom and I have been trying to stay on top of it.”
The mention of Aiden reminds me how excited I am to spend the next week with my bro. “Speaking of, I haven’t heard much from him. Everything okay?”
Dad focuses on smoothing out soil around a few of the pea plants he’s positioned in his freshly dug holes. “He’s been busy with school and friends. You know how he can be.”
“It’s been worse this year.”
Aiden and I did everything together as kids, and after his accident, for a couple of years, we were inseparable. Even once he started getting back into the swing of things, we would talk on the phone all the time. But since he’s become a senior, it’s like he doesn’t have time to talk to me anymore.
Dad studies my face, surely sensing my uneasiness. “He loves his big brother as much as ever. I know you have a lot of worries floating around in that smart head of yours, but that’s not one you need to have.”