The Endgame Is You (Rixon Raiders #4) - L A Cotton Page 0,55

Dad.”

“Cameron,” Mom nudged her way between us, looking up at me with weary eyes. “Has it really only been a few weeks?”

“Yeah.” I chuckled, but it was strained.

“And Hailee,” Mom went to my girl. “You get more beautiful every time I see you.”

“Thanks, Karen.”

“Excited for the game tonight?” Dad asked.

“Yeah, but I’ll not be excited about spending the day with this little squirt tomorrow.” I tackle hugged Xander, and his laughter was like music to my ears.

“Oh, Clarke, look.”

Xander instantly stiffened at Mom’s words. “Relax,” I said. “She’s just happy—”

“Yeah, whatever.” He shirked me off and went and sat on the couch. We all watched him, silence descending over the four of us.

“Why don’t I make some coffee?” Hailee suggested, giving me a reassuring smile.

“Thanks,” I said, sliding my eyes back to Xander. He’d pulled out his handheld computer game, his thumbs working overtime as he pressed the buttons.

“How is he, really?” I asked my parents and their expressions fell.

“We don’t know what to do anymore, Cameron. He’s completely shut us out.”

“I’ll talk to him.” I ran a hand through my hair, releasing a heavy sigh. But as I watched my brother, one of the most important people in my life, I feared talking wasn’t enough anymore.

Hailee

“Are you excited to watch Cameron?” I asked Xander as we sat in our seats. It was the opening game of the season, and a big rivalry game against Ohio State, so the atmosphere in the Michigan Stadium was electric.

Karen and Clarke sat on the other side of Xander, giving the two of us some space. I’d noticed how strained things were between them and their son, and my heart ached for them all.

He shrugged, and I nudged his shoulder. “It’s okay to be excited, you know. But if you’re not, that’s okay too.”

“I just really miss him,” he admitted.

“He misses you too. So much. He talks about you all the time.”

“He does?” He stared up at me with big blue eyes, just like his brother's.

“Yeah. Cameron loves you so much, Xander.”

“But he left.” His lip quivered, but he steeled his expression.

For a seven-year-old, Xander Chase had excellent resolve. It’s why his mom and dad struggled so much to get him to open up to them.

“You know Cameron leaving had nothing to do with you, don’t you?”

He shrugged again, just as the team jogged out onto the field. The noise was deafening and Xander seemed to shrink into his chair. He leaned into me as if he needed the protection, but he didn’t get too close.

My heart swelled with pride at seeing Cameron in his maize and blue jersey.

When they had found out his mom was sick, he’d been prepared to give up his dream of football. But, in the end, he hadn’t had to. His parents were so proud of him and everything he’d achieved so far at Michigan. But senior year was his year.

At least, I hoped it was.

“They’re looking good,” Clarke yelled over the chorus of cheers and chatter. “Strong.”

“It’s their year.” I grinned at him.

“I really hope so.”

Xander peeked up at me and I frowned. “What?”

“Are you and my brother going to get married one day?”

“I...” I stuttered over the words. “Maybe. I mean, I hope so.”

Karen and Clarke smothered their laughter.

“Why?”

Please don’t say you don’t want us to. My heart galloped in my chest as he stared up at me before beckoning me closer. I dipped my head and waited.

“Maybe if you do, and you come back to Rixon, I can come live with you.”

Oh God.

My heart.

It broke for the boy looking at me with nothing but hope and sadness in his eyes.

It broke for his parents, trying so hard to be unaffected by their son’s growing detachment.

But most of all it broke because I couldn’t give him the answer he thought he wanted to hear.

“Hailee?” he said.

“Uh, it’s not something I can really answer, buddy.”

Disappointment flashed in his eyes.

“We still have to get through college and then figure out what we want to do.”

“You’ll be coming home though, right?”

Crap.

This was not going well.

I was digging a deeper and deeper hole. I glanced over at Karen, but she and Clarke were deep in conversation.

“Wherever we decide to settle down, you will always be welcome, Xander.” I chose my words carefully. “If we get a place big enough, you can even have your own room. We can decorate and—”

The announcer’s voice came over the speaker and relief flooded me.

I gave Xander a reassuring smile, but he barely returned it, and