“It’s a degenerative disease of the brain due to excessive trauma. It starts with headaches, which is what Cam has. The more concussions he gets, the worse it will get. CTE can cause personality changes and forgetfulness, as well as extreme aggression and depression. I hate the idea of Cam ending up like that,” Courtney told them.
“Not to mention suicidal thoughts,” Maddie added, grimacing. “It’s all horrific. He needs to give up football now.”
Cam had a brain injury? The words were still sinking into Mia’s own mind. He’d never mentioned it, not once. And he had time to mention it. When she was in his arms, telling him about her broken marriage and separation. He could have said something then.
She was torn between sympathy and annoyance at him not telling her. Sure, they were casual, but she was a caring person. She could have helped or at least listened to his worries.
“It’s okay,” Becca said, rubbing Mia’s arm. “He’s going to be all right.”
“I’m the one who should be comforting you.” Mia shook her head at the whole situation. “You’re his sister, after all.”
“We’ve had a bit of time to come to terms with things,” Becca said with a shrug.
“So has Cam, but he’s still fighting it,” Maddie added.
Mia shifted uncomfortably on her seat. She liked these women, and she hated that she was hiding something from them. But what was she supposed to do? Tell them that she and Cam had a secret fling going on?
She wasn’t a solution to his problems. She had enough of her own. Not to mention Josh and Michael’s lives to consider. But it hurt to know he was hiding this every time they saw each other.
“You know what?” Maddie said, clapping her hands together. “This is supposed to be a birthday party, not a wake for Cam’s career. We need more wine, and more music. What do you say?”
“I think we should go get the guys and make them dance with us,” Courtney said, the corners of her eyes wrinkling up. “Before they end up giving each other black eyes.”
“Good idea.” Van nodded, shifting one of Maddie’s twins on her knee. “I’ll tackle Tanner, you two take Gray and Logan. Becca and Mia, you put on some loud music. I really want to dance.”
“Sounds like a plan.” Mia smiled at them, happy the subject was changing. If they were dancing, they wouldn’t be talking which was a good thing. Because right now she had a lot to think about.
Nobody was answering the front door. Cam rapped again, but all he could hear was loud music. He turned the doorknob, but it was locked.
He could’ve called Gray or Logan and ask them to let him in, but instead he opted for hopping the high fence that separated Gray’s driveway from his backyard, landing steadily on his feet. He walked around to the back of the house where no doubt his family would be celebrating in the kitchen.
He could hear them before he saw them, the sound of music mixing in with the laughter and low buzz of conversation. It made the corners of his lips curl up. Weird how much he’d wanted to fly home rather than stay in Boston and watch the game.
Now that he knew his future wasn’t with the Bobcats, not for now at least, he wanted to be far away from the team he’d been a part of for so long. Yeah, last night he’d gone over to Dan Motion’s house and hung out with the quarterback and the rest of the team. But it felt more like a school reunion twenty years after he’d left. They had football in common, but little else.
The official press release confirming his retirement would come out tomorrow, so it didn’t overshadow the Bobcat’s game today. But the rest of the players already knew – Coach Mayberry had informed them – and one by one they’d hugged Cam tightly and wished him well.
And now he would have to build that kind of camaraderie all over again with a new team. Wherever that ended up being.
“It’s a good offer,” Derek had said quietly about the L.A. team as they’d left Marty’s office on Friday. “I’ll put feelers out to find out more about their plans, but my gut tells me you should grab this by the balls.”
Cam had nodded, but said nothing. Derek was right, it was a good offer. But L.A. felt so far away. Sure, he had friends there, the same way he had friends all over the country. It’s what happened when you were in the public eye.
He didn’t know why he was in such a funk about it. He should feel relieved that his future was almost secured. He’d still be part of the game, part of something bigger. And sure it would take time to build up a new team like that, but he was never phased by challenges before.
Maybe it was because he’d actually been enjoying spending time with his family for once. For the past decade, his brothers had been scattered all over. Gray in L.A., Tanner running his own business in New York, and Logan with him in Boston.
One by one they came home. Found love and happiness in the same town they grew up in.
There was a little part of him that envied them for that.
Through the kitchen window, he could see his family doing what they always did – goofing around together and having fun. Tanner and Van were doing some kind of complicated twist that resulted in her stumbling against the breakfast counter as Tanner tumbled on top of her. Gray and Maddie were moving smoothly, their bodies so accustomed to music and rhythm that their grace was innate. And then there was Logan and Courtney, holding George in their arms as they boogied together, making their baby giggle and clap his hands with glee.
Cam’s mouth dried when he saw her. Mia was dancing with Josh, her blonde hair flying out behind her as Josh held her hands and spun them round and round. Her eyes were sparkling, her head tipped back with a giggle that made Josh twist her faster.
Even Michael was grinning, sitting at the breakfast bar with his phone held up as he videoed them all.