Once is a Gamble

Chapter 4 - Nav

Hey Readers,

I am so thankful that you guys are giving this story a chance.

Hope you enjoy this chapter.

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I woke up Friday morning with a headache. I give myself a few seconds before getting out of bed and hauling myself into the bathroom.

I love my place. It's a quiet little one-bedroom with a small balcony on the side.

The best thing about it?

It's only a five-minute drive from my childhood home. I love going there to have dinner with my parents almost every night.

Yes, I love going to have dinner with my parents.

Why not? When I get food and all the love that I need. And that's doubled since my older sister, Naya, and her handsome little son, Hendrix, moved in with my parents a few months ago.

Our youngest sibling, Niles, is 22 and about to graduate college.

Yes, our parents chose all of our names and decided to use N as the first letter for everyone.

It has been a whirlwind of a few months, to put it mildly, for our family. From helping Naya move home and making sure her shithead of an ex doesn't try anything, again, to worrying about what I am going to do coming next football season.

Fuck if I know.

I've been putting off talking about anything going on with me because of how everyone has been worried for my sister. But I know that I need to at least mention something.

Maybe they'll have some idea of how to move forward.

Plus Neal and Bree will be here next weekend too.

With Sage, my brain reminds me.

I shiver at the thought of her.

It's not a new thing for me to be thinking about her. My thoughts seem to stray towards her more often than they don't.

It has been manageable since I have other pressing things to worry about. But I couldn't help myself from texting her personally last night.

When was the last time we talked one-on-one?

A long time ago.

I can't help but feel sad at the fact that she doesn't want anything to do with me.

She only tolerates being around me because of my family.

My parents unofficially adopted her when we were 10 years old. So, she has been in my life almost forever.

But she hasn't been in my life.

I'm glad she has most of us in her corner since her father doesn't seem interested.

I feel bad for him because he doesn't get to know and experience the amazing woman his daughter has become.

I am proud of her even if I had to watch everything from the sidelines.

I pull myself out of my thoughts before I spiral and think about all the times she made it clear that she doesn't have any interest in me, whatsoever.

Think back to four years ago.

How could I forget? It was the only time in recent years that she has shown any kind of interest towards me.

Even if it was only physical.