On The Rebound (Steinbeck U #1) - L.A. Cotton Page 0,115

lead Tim away, but I couldn’t just watch them go.

I couldn’t.

“Zach,” I called out, stepping forward.

He glanced back, looking so defeated, so lost. I wanted nothing more than to run to him and hug him tight and never let go.

But then he said three little words that cracked my heart wide open.

“Not now, Calli.”

“Are you okay?” Callum asked me as we sat at a quieter booth in The Pivot. After Zach and Victoria had left with Tim, the party began to wind down. It didn’t feel right celebrating when Mr. Messiah was obviously suffering so much. Dad had left not long ago, unable to suffer in the awkward silence any longer, but Callum had stayed.

“Honestly, I don’t know...” I picked at the label on my beer.

“How long?” He shuffled closer, our knees brushing. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d been this close to my brother. It felt so strange and yet, oddly reassuring.

All I’d ever wanted was a big brother who cared; a big brother who would always stand by my side and protect me from the monsters of the world.

Instead, I’d gotten a brother who only cared about himself.

“Excuse me?” My brows knitted.

“You and Messiah, how long?”

“I don’t... I...” My cheeks flushed.

“Calli, I know we’re not close by any stretch of the word, and I know I’ve been an asshole to you for most of your life, but you’re still my sister. I watched you fall in love with him before, I know the signs.”

“You—” The words died on my lips.

He knew.

Callum knew.

“But how?” I gawked at him.

“It’s written all over your face every time you look at him.”

“Oh.”

“I’m not angry. If that’s what you’re worried about.”

“I’m not... I mean, I was a little worried, but not because I want your permission, Callum, I don’t. It’s just the team has all these rules and I—”

“Fuck the rules.”

“W- what?” I almost spat out my beer.

“Calli, my best friend is lying in some facility and he’s probably never going to wake up again. And then Mom died... she just... fuck.” His eyes shuttered, his Adam’s apple pressing harshly against his throat as he swallowed. “I really fucked up. I fucked everything up and for what?”

“You love basketball,” I said, unable to keep the sadness out of my voice.

“Yeah, but more than friendship? More than family? That’s what’s important. This,” he glanced around the bar at the basketball paraphernalia littered over the walls, “it doesn’t mean anything without family.”

I laid my hand on his arm. “I’m so sorry about Declan, Callum.”

“And I’m sorry about everything. Mom. The divorce. Leaving... I’m sorry about every-fucking-thing. I was an idiot. A self-absorbed idiot and I’ll never get a chance to fix it with her. But you’re here, you’re here, Calli, and I want to do better. I need to do better.”

“Okay,” I said, tears dripping down my cheeks. “Okay.”

“Yeah?”

I managed a small nod.

“Good, that’s good. But first I need you to do one thing for me.” My brow arched, and he smiled. “I need you to go get your guy.”

“But the team...” The words got stuck over the lump in my throat.

“If the team want Zach strong and ready to lead them into the season, then they’re going to have to accept you, Sis. Because Messiah needs you... he needs you, Calli.”

I headed straight for Zach’s apartment after Callum gave me the address. His confession had spun my world. It didn’t fix everything. It didn’t fix the years of hurt and disappointment, but it was a start. There was still the small matter of Dad to deal with… but as Callum had suggested, we could take baby steps.

I checked my cell phone to make sure I had the right building. My heart beat wildly in my chest as I slipped inside. I couldn’t imagine how Zach felt after what happened at the bar. Mr. Messiah had called him Declan. That wasn’t just plunging the knife into his heart. It was twisting it and tearing open his chest for good measure.

My hands trembled as I knocked on his door. I could have called ahead but I didn’t want to give him a chance to tell me that it wasn’t a good time. When you loved someone, you loved them through it all—the good, the bad, and the downright ugly. I wanted to be there for Zach, even if he thought he didn’t want me to be.

The door opened and relief sank into me, but it quickly melted away, replaced with confusion as I stared at