Total pages in book: 55
Estimated words: 53238 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 266(@200wpm)___ 213(@250wpm)___ 177(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 53238 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 266(@200wpm)___ 213(@250wpm)___ 177(@300wpm)
Our team plane got grounded a week ago for repairs, so we’re sharing planes with other teams and flying commercial to get where we need to go. You’d think it would be quieter on team planes, but commercial jets don’t have tables and chairs for guys to play poker and bitch about losing as loudly as they want. It’s supposedly an upside that we can fly out anytime on private planes, but I’m not a fan of waiting until 1:00 a.m. for the Chicago team’s plane to arrive in Tampa so we can take it to Vancouver.
“Shit,” Bash says from the seat beside me. “My phone’s almost dead. You got a charger I can borrow?”
Sebastian Stone is my closest friend on the team. Actually, he’s my closest friend, period. Me, him and Leo are the first offensive line of our team.
“You need it right this second?” I ask, my eyes still closed.
“Yeah, my phone’s almost dead.”
Who needs their phone at this hour, anyway? If I argue, Bash will bicker with me until I end up giving it to him, so might as well save myself the trouble. I pick up my backpack and unzip it, sorting through stuff in search of my extra charger.
“Did you sleep much?” he asks.
“Not enough. I haven’t had a decent night of sleep since Saturday night.”
“Yeah, I couldn’t get back to sleep after that fire alarm at the hotel Monday night, either. What was your problem on Sunday night and Tuesday night?”
“Tuesday night was last night, and we went from the game to the airport to this plane, where I couldn’t sleep because you snore so loud. Sunday night, Hallie had a nightmare so she got in bed with me. I thought she’d go back to sleep, but she wanted to talk.”
“About what?”
It takes me a second to remember everything. “How they get the lead inside pencils, whether zombies are real, why we can’t breathe on the moon and what’s on the inside of boobs.”
Bash laughs. “I fucking love that kid, man. Did you guys ever go back to sleep?”
“Eventually. But I woke up again when she kicked me in the back.”
“I keep telling you to get those girls a pet. Hallie could snuggle up with the pet when she has a nightmare and you can sleep through the night.”
“And I keep telling you that Charlotte is allergic to dogs and cats, just like Rachel.”
“So get them something else. Like an iguana.”
I pass him the charger. “You think Hallie can snuggle an iguana? That would probably just give her more nightmares.”
“Okay, so what about a pig?”
“A pig?” I furrow my brow.
“Yeah, like one of those teacup pigs. They’re tiny and cute as hell.”
“I don’t want a fucking pig in my house.”
“They’re pets. You can house-train them just like dogs. I’ve seen TikToks about it.”
I scoff. “It has to be true then.”
“I’m serious, dude. Pigs are actually very clean and they don’t sweat. They make good pets.”
I think about it for a few seconds. “I don’t know, maybe. How big do they get?”
“The micro ones stay small, like a dog. Twenty pounds or less.”
All three girls are going to grief counseling, and Charlotte’s counselor did mention to me that a pet could help comfort them. I try to be comforting, but I’m not great at it. And the bottom line is that no matter how much my life changed on the day Rachel died, the girls’ lives changed more.
They lost their mom. The only parent they’ve ever really known. Chad took off right after Hallie was born and he’s never paid a dime of child support. I’ve always made sure Rachel and the girls are taken care of, but until now, that meant sending Rachel money every month.
She didn’t want to take it at first, but when I reminded her that a mom without financial worries is a happier mom, she couldn’t disagree with me. No one but me and Rachel knew I was the one paying for Olivia’s sleepaway summer camps and Charlotte’s private violin lessons, and no one ever will.
The grief counselor told me I’ll make mistakes and that the girls’ emotions may be volatile for a while as they mourn their mom. I can always tell when Olivia’s been crying because her eyes are red and her cheeks are splotchy, but she tries hard to be strong for her sisters. I think even she, the sensible, practical oldest sister, would like a pet.
A pet will add another layer of stress to our household, but if it will make them happy, it’s worth it. I can’t be there for them physically as much as I want to because of my travel schedule, and a pet would be a constant comfort they could always rely on.
I take out my phone and search for pet pigs for sale, making sure Bash can’t see my screen.