Total pages in book: 120
Estimated words: 116254 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 581(@200wpm)___ 465(@250wpm)___ 388(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 116254 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 581(@200wpm)___ 465(@250wpm)___ 388(@300wpm)
Do it. He’s your friend.
And you need to vent.
Breck frowned and rubbed the top of his head. Looked this way and that, then finally met Ned’s eyes. “My situation.” He exhaled. “It’s kinda fucked. I—”
His phone started vibrating with an incoming call.
“Shit.” He pulled it out of his pocket. Dad. Ugh. Literally the last person he wanted to talk to right now. He’d been getting way too excited about all Breck’s upcoming commitments.
He hit decline and shoved it back in his pocket. “My old man,” he muttered. “I’ll call him back later.”
Ned snickered. “Sorry, Dad.”
Breck grinned a little and nodded his head.
“So, you were saying?” Ned prompted. “Your fucked situation?”
“Right. Yeah.” Breck rubbed his mouth. “I—” His phone went off again. “Goddamn it.” He dug the thing back out and eyed the screen. “Fuck,” he groused.
“Your dad?” Ned chuckled.
“How’d you know?”
“You get that look on your face when shit’s got to do with him. Is he really that bad?”
Breck grunted. “You tell me.” He gestured for Ned to stay quiet as he turned on the speaker. “Hey, Dad. Sorry I missed your call.”
“It’s okay. Listen, I just got off the phone with your agent…” Not even a Hello, how’s it going, son? Just hit the ground running with all his business-speak.
Breck sighed and parked his ass on the couch. Ned flicked him a sympathetic look.
“… the Portsmith Invitational is right after you get back from Hawaii. Which means we need to book our flights pronto, so I need to know your schedule. I’ll call the airlines and—”
“That’s okay, Dad,” Breck quickly interrupted. “I’m gonna catch a plane with some of the guys on the team.”
A brief silence followed. And then, “You sure that’s a good idea?” Dad didn’t sound thrilled. “At this stage in the game, you should have some quality support.”
“My agent will be there.”
A discontented noise came back at that. “Fine. Whatever,” his dad finally muttered. “But you better keep me posted every step of the way.”
“Of course.” Breck nodded, rubbing his brow.
“Anyway, so then when you get back from that, there’s Draft preparation training and team workouts the following week. So more flights to book. I’ve got vacation time saved up, so I could probably accompany you for the duration—”
“No, don’t worry about it. I got that one covered, too.”
“But—”
“I’m good,” Breck insisted. “I’ll be with my boys.”
“That’s what I’m worried about. You party way too much when you’re with them. I’ve seen some of the pictures posted on social media. You’ve got to stay focused, Breck. On top of your game.”
“I know, Dad. Don’t worry, I’ll be smart.”
“You better be. You’ve got one shot at this, Breck. One. Shot.”
“I know. I won’t fuck it up.”
Dad grumbled something, then continued. “Anyway, once you’re back from training, you’ll get another small break before it’s time for the Chicago Combine...”
Breck rubbed his head and tried not to feel overwhelmed.
“… so I’m thinking during that break your mom and I can come by and help you move your stuff. Your lease is going to be over soon.”
Breck stiffened at the thought of moving back home. How had his living situation after graduation not even crossed his mind? The answer to that was obvious, in hindsight. He’d had way too much other shit going on.
His anxious gaze cut to Ned. And God bless that man, he came through for Breck like a gilded champ, quickly gesturing that Breck could stay at his new place for as long as he needed.
Thank you, Breck mouthed with an I-owe-you-big smile. “Uh, thanks for the offer, Dad, but I’m good there, too. Ned’s moving into his own apartment in July and is letting me crash with him ‘til the Draft.”
“What? Are you serious?”
“Yeah. It’s all good.”
“But… Your mom… She’ll be so disappointed. She’s been so excited to have you back for a while before you’re shipped off to whatever team signs you.”
Breck frowned at the thought of making his mom sad. “She’ll still see me. I’ll come visit soon.”
“Will you really? Don’t make promises you can’t keep.”
And didn’t those words make Breck feel like shit. How many times had he promised to come by but it never panned out?
“Yeah... I’m sure.” This time he’d make it happen.
“All right, I guess.” Dad didn’t sound pleased.
And then Breck sensed it. His old man shifting gears. Moving from briefing mode to start in on more lectures. Breck tamped a groan and slumped back on the sofa, bracing for another round of ‘do this, this, this, and this, but do not do that.’
“On a side note…”
Here we go.
“… a reminder on public conduct.”
Breck slid Ned a look. Ned winced and rubbed his jaw.
“No wild parties, Breck. I mean it. I remember how things were with my fraternity brothers. Even Ned’s gotten a little too wild and crazy these days, if you ask me.”