Total pages in book: 100
Estimated words: 96249 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 481(@200wpm)___ 385(@250wpm)___ 321(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 96249 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 481(@200wpm)___ 385(@250wpm)___ 321(@300wpm)
“I should be with Mama making arrangements or whatever, but I couldn’t do it. I ran out once they pronounced him dead. I don’t think I can handle this. First, Brooke, now this. What do I have left?”
I move to sit beside him on the porch bench. Suddenly, my problems seem so small. This summer has been hell on Cliff. He can’t seem to catch a break.
“We’ll get through it together. You’re gonna make it. I promise,” I say as I wrap an arm around him and tug him into my chest.
Cliff and I were born a month apart. Me being the oldest, but we’ve always been as tight as brothers. My uncle Travis has always been a sounding board for me.
I’m going to miss him. Not for the first time, I wish I could start this day over and fix it all. Instead, I’m left feeling the heaviness of loss.
“This can’t be happening,” Cliff mutters. “Why does God hate me? I knew Brooke was too good for me. I was willing to accept that. But, Daddy… what did I do so wrong?”
“Come on now. None of this is your fault. You get all that right out of your head.
“Life happens. We have to take the good with the bad and hope that in the end, we get some semblance of what we desire.”
“I don’t know what I would do without you, cousin. This shit is about to drown me. I thought I was going to start breathing again.”
He shakes his head against my shoulder. I give him a squeeze. He doesn’t have to say anything. I’ve felt his pain whenever we talk or see each other.
“It will get better,” I reassure him.
“Yeah, but I have this feeling like it won’t get better until after it gets a lot worse.”
I have nothing for his words because, for some reason, they ring true. There are so many unknowns for us. My father, being the oldest, owns the family ranch, but Uncle Travis has always had a hand in running the place.
Cliff has been working under him since we graduated high school. I can’t imagine what he’ll do now. Cliff loves this ranch, but I can’t imagine continuing to work it will be easy.
Still, this is Cliff. He wouldn’t want to start something fresh and new like I would. That’s not him.
CHAPTER 39
The Struggle
Trevor
Four months later…
I take a sip of my beer with a frown on my face. This party is the last place I want to be. We won the game, but even at 8–1, this season hasn’t felt right to me.
I’m not as excited as I used to be. Not that I’m not playing amazing. I need to put all this pent-up anger somewhere.
I haven’t spoken to Lynn in months, not since that night. She came to my uncle’s funeral but stayed at her daddy’s side. I didn’t get a chance to say a word to her as I remained with Cliff and was dealing with my own grief.
I’ve wanted to call, but I also want to give her space to do her thing. She’s the one who said she’d see me next summer. I’m respecting her wishes. Doesn’t mean I have to like it.
“Hey, Trev,” Corinne says as she comes over to stand with me and my teammates.
I groan. If she’s here, that means my ex is somewhere around here too. I don’t know why I thought I’d catch a break tonight. Donna has been on my ass all semester, wanting to get back together.
I’m not interested. Corinne has been coming to campus more and more. I’m not sure what that’s about and I honestly don’t care.
“Hey, Corinne,” I say to be polite like my mama raised me to be.
“You guys were great out there. The game-winning touchdown, you were showing off,” she says with a wide grin.
“That my boy was,” our QB says as he comes over and clamps a hand on my shoulder. “I’m hoping the Cowboys are watching. Wouldn’t that be awesome? We both get drafted there and take this show on the road.”
I slide my gaze to Patrick and give him a smile. I still haven’t told anyone this is it for me. Now more than ever, I know it is. Cliff has been struggling back home. My cousin needs me.
After graduation, I’m headed home to help out. I think having me there will help Cliff to heal and move forward. It will give him someone to lean on, if nothing else.
His mama’s health hasn’t been the greatest in the last two months. That’s why I asked him up this weekend. He needed the break.
I glance across the room and find him with red cheeks and nose, talking to some guys. He’s wasted. I shake my head and look back at Patrick.
“Yeah, that would be something.”