While I agreed with that, I didn’t want my family to be of the same mindset. If they knew I was looking to move to another team, they would be hurt. In truth I wanted to stay in Chicago. I loved being close to my family and all the friends I grew up with. I loved playing for my home town team.
And then there was Summer.
“Plenty of time for me to take a starring role. Though by the time Dad retires, Conor will somehow make it onto the Rebels and steal all my thunder.”
“Sounds like your brother.” She took a closer look at me. “I know you weren’t so keen to join the Rebels at first. You did it because your dad asked.”
My phone buzzed with a text from the man himself, saving me from an awkward conversation.
Meet for lunch? Sunny Side Up?
“Looks like I have a lunch date with Dad. You want to come?”
“I’d love to, but I have a client call in half an hour.” My mom ran an information consultancy business and worked harder than anyone I knew. “Go and spend some time with your dad. Oh, and bring Landon. He’s going to lose his eyesight if he stays in front of that screen any longer.”
“Not why he’d go blind, Mom.”
“Oh, jerk off jokes. Hilarious. Don’t forget who washed your sheets during puberty.”
“Jerk off!” Tilly popped a Cheerio in her mouth and gave me the Kershaw grin.
The Sunny Side Up Diner was busy when Landon and I arrived, but Dad and Conor had already snagged a booth, so we headed over and slid into the red leather banquette. Everyone did the usual fist pumps and then all eyes turned to me.
Usually, I wouldn’t care if I was the focus of a Kershaw face-off involving multiple members of the fam, but today I was extra sensitive because of nosy Gemma and my mom’s questions about the mystery blonde. My concerns were proved to be founded when my dad kick-started the interrogation.
“So who is she, H?”
“Already got the third degree from Mom. I had nothing to tell her.”
“You tell your mother anything and she assumes you’re getting married.”
Married. Just the thought of Summer’s lucky escape made me squirm.
“Someone I met and had coffee with, that’s all.”
Conor eyed me over the menu. “Gemma said you came in with her, not that you met her there.”
“Could’ve met her outside,” Landon commented a la Sherlock, Cumberbatch style. “Or on any number of dating apps.”
“How’s that going?”
Landon smirked. “No chance, dude. You will change the subject when we decide you change the subject.”
I pursued the menu. A stack of pancakes would be nice with a couple of scrambled eggs. “This subject is at an end. I’ve nothing to say, so you may as well move on. How’s camp going?”
My dad held my gaze for a second, then took my cue. “Great. There are several flyers this year. A couple of girls, too.” Each year, more girls joined in, which we all loved to see. “With Gunnar going on vacation next week with Sadie and the girls, and Conor so busy sexting?—”
“Hey!”
My dad ignored Conor’s interjection. “It’ll be good to have someone with more maturity there. Also, I have someone else starting, and you can show him the ropes.”
Before I could enquire further, Landon cut in.
“There’s Addy.”
We all turned to the entrance. My sister and Rosie had just come in—and behind them was Summer.
I shouldn’t have been surprised. She had said she needed to sort things out with her apartment, with her job, with Carter. But a part of me had thought we wouldn’t run into each other so soon. That I could prepare.
