When I see my sister in the stands, I jog over, but I almost stumble when I realize who she brought. Dani is wearing the letter X across her snug-fitting shirt.

I turn back to my sister. “Shit. You went all out. You haven’t done the t-shirts since high school.”

After our “heart-to-heart” last week, I was sure Clem wanted to murder me in my sleep, so I was more than surprised when she called a few days ago and asked for tickets to my game. She told me she wanted to move forward, that she wanted me in her life. I can’t even express what that meant to me.

Clem reaches over to give me a hug. “It’s my way of making up for missing so many games this season.”

The girls are wearing the letters that spell my name, but I’m only drawn to one. “X marks the spot.” I don’t intend to say those words out loud, but I do.

My sister’s eyes follow mine, and I realize she sees me staring at Dani, who is talking quietly with Jenna.

Clem nudges me. “No, Jax.”

I get the message. Off limits. I want to tell my sister that I know, that I remember what happened the last time, but I don’t.

But damn it, Dani looks good. Fresh-faced, wide-eyed, laughing with her friend.

I half listen to my sister talk about my game, and as I’m about to head back to the field, she punches me lightly. “Go kick some ass, Apple Jacks.”

I smile and then look up into the stands. I don’t know why I look. Nothing ever changes. My mother never comes. You’d think it wouldn’t bother me anymore, but it does. This is the game I play. I pretend to still be her son, return her calls, see her when she beckons, and the bills get paid. Yeah, there’s a lot of love. Part of me doesn’t understand why my sister couldn’t do the same thing—do things my mother’s way—but the other part respects the shit out of her for cutting the cords.

As I run back, I swear I can feel Dani’s eyes on me. Either that or I’m turning into a fucking nutcase. She wouldn’t even look at me when I was standing two feet away, so I don’t know why she’d be staring now.

One thing is for sure, though. Having Dani in the stands makes me play like my life depends on it. I score two goals, including the game winner. My coach is pleased as a fucking peach when I walk up to the bench.

“Son, good game. I liked the fire I saw in you.” He pats me on the back and leans toward me like he wants to impart some kind of parental advice. “You’re an amazing athlete and my best forward, but you’ve been missing that spark. You had it today. Keep it up. Don’t let anything distract you.”

The way he says that gets under my skin. I want to tell him that I’m not the screwup he thinks I am, but it’s not worth it. But he’s right that something’s been missing. I don’t know if it’s because my sister and I have cleared the air or the fact that her roommate came, but today I cared, and I haven’t cared about anything in a long time.

My roommate Nick joins me on the walk back to the locker room. “I forgot how hot your sister is.”

I turn to him, and in all seriousness, want to threaten every bone in his body. “She’s off limits, dickhead.”

He smirks and punches me in the arm. “I know. But how about her friends? Damn, they’re gorgeous, especially that one with the pink in her hair. You know how I love those BU girls.”

That doesn’t make me feel any better.

I shoot him a dirty look. I know he’s just jerking my chain, but I’m still pissed about it. My sunny disposition takes another nosedive later that day when Daren stops by my condo.

“I need to talk to her,” he says gruffly.

I don’t need to ask who. I know he saw my sister in the stands today.

“Do you really want to do this?” He just got engaged to my sister’s former best friend, and now he wants to talk to Clementine? “I think she has a boyfriend now. Some guy named Gavin.”

“Yeah, I met him. He looked like he wanted to punch me.”

My head jerks toward Daren. “When did this happen?”

“At your game during half time.” He smirks. “He didn’t look excited when I hugged her. Either time.”

I bark out a laugh. “You’ve got balls, brother. I should deck you for him.”

“Yeah, but you won’t. I don’t want to make the moves on her. I’ve put her through enough shit. But I need to apologize. I never manned up to her and said what needed to be said, and when I saw her today, that all came crashing back to me.” He wipes his hands on his jeans. “Jax, I miss her. She was always there for me, and I fucked up, royally. But I know you two haven’t been the same since I screwed up. That’s not fair to you guys.”

I walk toward the window and pull back the curtain.

“What are you doing, Jax?”

My head turns up toward the sky. “Checking to see if pigs are flying since it looks like you got your head out of your ass.” I duck because I know what’s coming. The pillow whizzes past my head, and I laugh. “You’re losing your touch, Heisman.”