Maybe it’s time I actually put myself out there. Make a friend who isn’t a member of my family.
“What I am? I’m the black sheep of a lily white family. I serve the station that has my mom’s last name on it. Live in a town with the same name and none of you know who I am, do you?”
“You’re a Bradford?” Chance’s eyes squint in confusion. “No shit?”
“No shit. But I’ve never been to the mayor’s mansion and I’ve never gotten an invitation to sit at the table during any of the banquets. Probably never will.”
“I’m sorry, Rookie.”
I shrug as if it doesn’t matter, but it does.
It always has.
“Can’t make people love you or respect you.”
“Doesn’t mean it hurts any less,” Chance continues. “Seems like we might have a little more in common than we thought.”
“Part of the club nobody wants to be a part of,” I joke.
“If I have to be a part of it with anybody, I’m proud to be here with you, Rook.”
Those words mean more than he’ll ever know.