No, No, NO!

Graham is doing phenomenally well at the start of the playoffs. Paul and I watch the first game on the new HDTV. We cheer and holler and just generally go nuts when the Comets win.

I love watching the game with my brother, but unfortunately he has to go back to school the same day as the second playoff game.

As Paul is packing early in the day, I try to stay upbeat. But he’s been here with me for almost a month and there’s no getting around that I’m going to miss him very much.

Bad enough I don’t have my man.

Now I’m losing my brother too.

With that thought, I let out a sad little groan.

Paul has just come into the living room and peers over curiously. When our eyes meet, he knows right away what’s up.

Sighing, he says, “You know, I could totally miss the first week of classes and it’d be fine. Do you want me to call Tanner and tell him to leave without me? You could drive me up to school next weekend.”

Is he serious?

“No way.” I shake my head firmly. “I’m not interfering with your schooling.”

Paul rolls his eyes. “It’s not like I can’t catch up the week after, Eden. Nothing really happens the first few days back, anyway.”

We both know that’s not exactly true.

“Paul, seriously, just go. I’ll be fine.”

He starts to zip up his big duffel bag full of clothes, then stops.

“What?” I ask. “Why’d you stop? I just told you it’s all good. I have the game to watch tonight and everything.”

“I know, I know.” A strange look crosses his face, and then he says, “I just suddenly had a really bad feeling. You sure you’ll be okay?”

“Hey…” I walk over to him and give him a hug. “The last thing you need is to worry about me. You just stay focused on school, okay?”

Leaning back, he smiles. He’ll be sixteen soon, and I can’t believe how much he’s grown. Not just physically but emotionally too. My little brother is becoming a man, and it’s growing clearer and clearer that he’s going to be one of the good ones.

Reaching out, I ruffle his auburn hair. “I’m really proud of you, kid.”

He pretends to be annoyed, mock swiping my hand away. But I know the truth. I see it in his eyes that he appreciates what I’m saying. It makes him feel good.

So I say it again. “I’m not kidding, Paul. I am so freaking proud of how you turned things around.”

“Thanks to you, Eden,” he replies softly. “You made it possible for me to go to that school. You always believed in me.”

“I still do, kiddo.”

“Thanks,” he whispers.

A horn honks outside. “Damn,” I say.

“I guess that’s my ride.”

Handing him his bag, I tell him, “Go. We’ll talk later.”

“Yeah, for sure. I’ll call you tonight to let you know I got up there okay.”

See how responsible he’s becoming?

“Thanks.” I nod. “That’d be good.”

I turn toward the window, and though it’s getting dark, I breathe a sigh of relief that it’s no longer snowing. It was really piling up earlier.

We’ve had so much snow lately, starting before Christmas and straight into January.

When I turn back around, Paul’s already at the door.

“Bye, sis,” he calls out. “Love you.”

“Love you too,” I say as he’s leaving.

And with that, he’s gone.

Ugh.

The apartment instantly feels empty, the awful silence deafening. I’m relieved when it’s time for the game to start.

Heading off to the kitchen, I gather my provisions. That includes grabbing a big bag of chips and a can of Coke.

I then make myself comfortable on the sofa and turn on the TV.

There’s a lot of pregame stuff I normally wouldn’t pay attention to, but today I do. I watch it all with rapt attentiveness, especially when they go to Graham for an on-field interview.

Damn, he looks so hot in his uniform. His gold football pants are tight, showing off his muscular legs. And with the pads under his jersey, he looks enormous, so very strong.

I sigh, recalling what it feels like to be under all that strength.

God, I miss that man.

When the game starts, right off the bat, one of the Comets catches the kickoff ball and runs it back for a touchdown.

“Yes!” I fist-pump the air. “That’s the way you start a game.”

The Comets’ success continues from there, and they end up pummeling the Dover Sharks.

Graham and the team stay on the field for postgame interviews, and I watch each and every one of them. I only turn the TV off once the guys are heading to the locker room.

Alone in the silence of the apartment once more, I realize I’ve yet to hear from my brother.

I check the time.

Hmm, it’s after ten. He should certainly be up at school by now. Even if he and Tanner stopped to eat, it wouldn’t take this long.

Worry immediately engulfs me as I recall Paul’s bad feeling earlier.

“Shit,” I mutter.

Grabbing my cell, I call my brother.

But no one answers.

I try to tell myself that I’m being silly. Paul is fine. He’s probably busy with his friends.

But then my cell lights up with an unfamiliar number, and I know immediately that something is seriously wrong.

“Hello?” I croak out.

“Is this Ms. Eden Vetterly?” the caller asks.

“Yes,” I whisper, my throat closing.

“Ma’am, this is the Mansfield Police Department. I’m sorry, but there’s been a car accident involving your brother, a Mr. Paul Vetterly.”

“No, God, no!” I scream. “Please tell me he’s okay. Please, please, please…”

“Ma’am, I’m unable to give you any medical info. All I can tell you is your brother, and the driver of the car, have been taken to Mansfield General.”

I don’t hear anything else, because I’m out the door and in my car in record time.