Trapped and Tackled (Knoxville Coyotes Football #3)

19. Leni

Chapter 19

Leni

“It’s about time,” my sister answers the phone the following day.

I twirl a strand of hair around my finger and tug. “I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be sorry, Leni. Be real with me.” Lincoln sounds hurt and that makes me feel worse.

But also, I know we’ll be fine because we’re sisters. We’re ride or die for life.

“I miss you,” I admit.

“I fucking miss you, too, you little shit.” She goes off on me. But then, she snorts. “But I’m happy you called. What’s been going on?” She gentles her tone.

“I had to leave Craig,” I say slowly.

“No shit,” she remarks. “How bad was it?”

“Bad.”

Silence ticks by for a beat and I know Lincoln is wondering how hard to push me for information. “Are you ready to talk about it?”

“I’m getting there,” I admit.

“Does Marlowe know?” my sister asks. My closeness with Marlowe never bothered Lincoln. She’s always known our sister bond is strong, despite our close friendships or our ability to confide in others first. She always said as long as I had someone to talk to, she wouldn’t press me too hard.

I clear my throat. “And Talon.”

“Talon?” my sister asks. Then, she sucks in a breath, and I know it clicked. “The football player?”

I smile. “Yes.”

“Mom didn’t tell me that!”

“How often do you and Mom discuss me?”

“At least once a day,” she says easily.

I snort. “She must have known I was getting ready to cave and call you.”

“Probably,” Lincoln agrees. “I’ve missed you, Leni. I want to hear everything about Talon. But…are you okay?”

“I’m getting there. So much has happened, Linc. And for so long, I was too embarrassed to admit it.” I sigh. “How much time do you have?”

“For you? Eternity.” Lincoln’s tone is serious. Filled with compassion and understanding I don’t deserve.

Crossing my legs, I lean back against the pillows on my bed and confide in my sister. I tell her about my final months in New York City, the fight with Craig that spurred me to call Mom, and coming home to Tennessee.

I share about the debutante ball organizing committee and Grandpa McIntyre. The things Marlowe is dealing with and trying to process. Dad pushing Talon into my life and appointing him my chaperone for a weekend.

“He didn’t!” she gasps.

“He did.”

Lincoln snorts. “And then it backfired.”

I laugh with her. “Epically.”

“Carry on,” she says, more warmth in her tone now that we’re past the part where I left Craig.

“We spent two nights together. At a quaint little inn by the lake. He took me to a water park. He saw the text messages from Craig and now, he knows everything. He even came clean with Dad.”

“No,” Lincoln breathes out. “Holy shit, Leni, that’s for real for real.”

“I know!” I exclaim. “He left a key for me at his place and I’m going over to cook him dinner tonight.”

My sister’s quiet for a beat before she says, “Are you sure that’s a good idea, Len? You don’t want to fall back into an old pattern, doing the same shit you tried with Craig.”

I shake my head, even though she can’t see me. “Trust me, I get where you’re coming from. But this is nothing like that. He wanted to take me out to dinner, and I offered to come by so we can have a night in. Lincoln, Dad’s going to demolish him today at practice.”

“Oh, damn! I didn’t even think of that. Do you think Dad will bench him?”

I drop my head back against the headboard. “I hope not.”

“You definitely need to cook him dinner. Maybe even dessert.”

I chuckle. “I’ve got plans for dessert,” I say saucily.

“Oh my God! There’s my sister. Welcome back to life, Leni. I’ve fucking missed you.”

I laugh louder. “I’ve missed you too, Linc. When are you coming home for a visit?”

“Well, I haven’t said anything to Mom or Dad yet but…”

“But?”

“I finished my master’s degree.”

“Yes, I know. We’re all wondering what’s next…?”

She laughs. “I accepted a job offer.”

“In Germany?” I wonder.

“London!” my sister exclaims.

“Oh wow! That’s amazing, Lincoln. Tell me about it.”

As my sister begins to fill me in on her life—her interviewing process, her new job, the guy she had two dates with—I relax further. The pieces of my life are starting to fall back into place and I’m discovering my new normal.

It’s even better than I thought.

When Lincoln and I hang up after an hour on the phone, I do so with a smile on my face.

Then, I spend a few hours working on debutante ball preparations since it’s quickly approaching. I do some market research for the wedding planning company I’d like to launch. Eventually.

I check my phone, pleased that there are no new text messages from Craig. Did he finally get the message? Is he putting us in his rearview mirror the same way I have?

A little after lunchtime, I bound down the steps. I need to head to the grocery store so I can buy some ingredients for tonight’s dinner—pasta alla Norma and a green salad.

“There you are!” Mom exclaims when she sees me. “What have you been up to today?”

“I talked to Linc.”

Mom beams. “I love hearing that.” She pulls some produce from the fridge and starts to chop vegetables. “We’re having a stir-fry for dinner.”

“Actually…” I bite my bottom lip and gesture toward the reusable canvas bags on the hook near the back door. “I’m cooking Talon dinner tonight.”

“You are?” Mom’s eyebrows rise. “What are you making?”

“Pasta alla Norma.”

“A great choice,” Mom says encouragingly.

“You’re not upset?” I lean forward, propping my elbows on the kitchen island and snatching up a slice of red pepper.

“About you and Talon? No.” Mom passes me another pepper slice and takes one for herself. She pauses in her chopping to regard me thoughtfully. “Leni, you came home a shell of yourself. The past few weeks, I’ve watched you find your way again. First, with the organizing committee. Then, with Marlowe. Now, with Talon. I know he has something bigger to do with you learning to trust yourself again. I also know there are things that you’ve chosen to keep to yourself about your relationship with Craig.” She sighs and snaps her pepper slice in half, dropping both pieces onto the cutting board. “I hate watching you suffer, baby girl. And I am here for whatever you need. If you want to talk, I won’t judge.”

“I know, Mama.”

“I’m just happy to see you happy again. And if that is because of Talon, how could I be upset? I’m grateful. I also know, from your dad and from my own interactions with him, that he’s a really good guy. I’ve known that for a while. Dad does too; he’ll come around.”

“Eventually,” I agree.

Mom smiles. “Need any help with your groceries?”

I tilt my chin toward the cutting board. “What about your stir-fry?”

She shrugs, pushing the cutting board farther onto the kitchen island. “It can wait. I’d rather be with you.”

“I’d like that, too.”

My mom reaches for her purse while I slip on some sandals and grab a few reusable bags. Then, we head out to her car, together, to go to the farmer’s market and grocery store.

It’s familiar and effortless. All the tension and fear I carried around my first few days at home has evaporated. Another missing piece snaps into place, and I feel an injection of lightness into my veins.

It’s pure sunshine.