it on to Instagram.
“Why do you do that?”
I shrugged at Garnet’s question. “Hey, you want to take a picture together?”
“Hell no, and don’t get that song stuck in my head.”
“Do you mean... Let me take the selfie?” I sang out.
“Hashtag you’re a bitch.” Garnet’s small smile appeared and mine followed.
“Now you have to,” I leaned over to her, and she huffed, but did smirk in the photo.
We ate our food and I looked around, people watching. For a Friday night, the mall wasn’t as busy as I thought it would have been.
“Well, is there anywhere else you want to go?” I pulled my attention back to Garnet.
“Nope.” She shook her head. “Are you going to go out?”
“Probably not. I usually stay home when Dart is away.”
Garnet furrowed her eyebrows. “What are you going to do when he goes to the NFL?”
“Dart isn’t going to the NFL,” I informed her. “Dash will; that’s his goal. Dart has already talked to Dad about joining the real estate business.”
“What?”
“Yep,” I confirmed. “Dart and I discussed it this summer with Dad. When we graduate, we’re moving back to North Carolina.”
Garnet look shocked. “How did I not know this?”
“I’m not sure. We talked to Dad and he’s excited for Dart to join the business, and I’ll apply for my RN license and take the exam when we move.” I couldn’t be happier about this. When I suggested it, I wasn’t sure Dart would go for it. I was shocked when he was excited about the idea. Dart knew Dash was going to the NFL. There were too many scouts watching him that he wouldn’t be drafted.
“Wow, you’ve got it all planned out, don’t you?” Garnet leaned back, crossing her arms.
“Garnet, you’ll figure out your plan, too. You’re smart, pretty, and fun. There will be so many opportunities for you when you graduate.” I tried hard for my voice not to crack.
My baby sister really wasn’t little anymore, as I studied her face. The soft features I remembered were now gone, and had been replaced with a colder look.
How was I going to fix her?
Chapter 13 – Dart
I stretched my legs out in front of me. The sun was bright on the UAB field, and I was pumped to play today. I knew it was going to be tough, but I had a good feeling about this game.
By halftime, thanks to our defense, we were holding strong with a seven-point lead. I was sweating, and my legs were tired, but I knew I could push through the next two quarters.
“Damn, you think you can quit showing off?” Dash slapped my shoulder pads, sitting next to me in the locker room.
“Shut up, you got the touchdown.”
“Oh yeah, I did,” he chuckled.
“Ass,” I teased him as Coach began to talk.
When we hit the field for the last half of the game, I felt my second wave of energy pulse through me. I was ready to win this game.
And we did.
The team was full of excitement when we loaded up on the bus and headed to the airport. We were joking and laughing with each other. It all died down by the time we boarded the plane, heading back to Huntington.
I laid my head back, and I felt Dash flop down in the seat next to me.
“Now, who’s showing off for the NFL?”
“Don’t start, Dash. You know that’s not the case.”
“Yeah, yeah,” he joked, settling into his seat.
I thought he fell asleep when the plane took off, but when it leveled off, he turned his head to me.
“What do you think about Garnet?”
His questions seemed a bit odd. “Well, I think she’s a good person, just trying to find herself since her mom died. She reminds me of how you acted after Dad and Mom passed. Why are you asking?”
Dash closed his eyes, turning his head forward. He didn’t say anything for a moment.
“Dash?”
He remained quiet.
“Dash,” I faced him. “What’s up?”
He shook his head. “I told you I went to that reading and then grabbed a bite to eat with her, right?”
“Yeah,” I was confused where he was going with this. When he told me the next day about his evening with Garnet, I didn’t find anything odd about it. They seemed to connect with each other.
“Well, I didn’t tell you everything.”
“Did you have sex with her?”
“Why do you always jump to that conclusion?” He asked with a slight hurt tone.
I raised my eyebrows at him, because I knew he was faking.
“Okay, okay,” he gave up. “But, no I