Sidelined: The QB and Me

Bonus chapter • Dray 8

Drayton's birthday !

D R A Y S • P O V

"Happy birthday bro." Grayson gives me a light slap on the shoulder when I bump into him at the early hours of the morning on Friday. He hasn't started his day. The way he rubs his tired eyes as he lingers by the bathroom door is clear that he's still in sleep mode.

I shuffle past him towards the staircase so that he can take a piss. "Thanks man."

I appreciate the fact that he doesn't linger or give me a pitiful look. He knows that this isn't a day that's particularly smooth to get through and it starts the same way each year.

My heart feels heavy as I slide open the door to the room which was originally been built as a study. Instead we'd turned it into a place of memorial. Pictures are hung of my little sister. Her keepsakes are scattered in an organised fashion and her favourite toys are displayed on shelves.

I don't come in here too often. It's painful. Like the most painful thing I do to be honest. Every time I'm in here it's like a fist settles in my stomach and a band tightens around my head, making it hard to feel anything but despair.

Since I told Dallas the truth about Abby, a little of the guilt had lifted. Which I found to be miraculous. But she had a way of making me see that it wasn't entirely my fault. No matter how sincerely I believed it was. I don't think I'll ever feel completely guilt free. But it was a small start. A little part of me felt a fraction more healed.

I fall down into the couch and stare at the large canvas picture on the wall. It's a photo of Abby and I when we were about ten. Dad was about to play against the Eagles - cowboys won of course - and we were dressed up for the occasion. Our faces striped with blue paint and Abby's ponytails wrapped in blue ribbon. Both of us were drowning in old cowboys Jerseys with Dad's number on the back. Damn, did we look happy, leaning over the fence beside the benches where the players rest and refuelled.

We had no idea we were making a memory. One that would stay with me forever. We just knew we were having fun.

I remember clear as day the conversation that we'd had during that game.

"Ah damn it Smith!" I yelled. "Ya missed Holland. He was wide open."

"Drayton, language." Mum scolded. She thinks she's clever but I saw that smile.

"That's gonna be you one day Dray." Abby gave me a nudge with her elbow as she leaned over the fencing.

The whistle was blown and the players were moving back to position.

"Ya reckon?" I asked, watching Dad move down the green field. Man, he is so cool.

"Yeah definitely," she nodded with enthusiasm, waving at one of the players as he walked past towards the waterboy. "One day when we're grown, you'll be the one that's on the field. Girls love quarterbacks. Right Mom?"

Mom didn't answer. She rolled her eyes but once again, I caught that smile on her face. She thinks we're hilarious.

"And dad won't be playing anymore. He'll be old and won't be able to run anymore." Abby and I burst out laughing at the thought.

"Will you come and watch all the games?" I asked Abby and smiled when she started nodding with a big grin.

"Duh! I have to meet my future husband somehow. I think I'll marry one of your best friends."

"Abby!" Mom huffed, running her hands over her face as though the thought of Abby getting married made her stressed out.

"What?" She asked innocently. "It's just the most likely situation Momma. We are twins. So I'll be the same age as all of his friends. And obviously I'll be his number one supporter at all of his games. I'm just being realistic."