46

“Yeah, we’ll see.” He got a faraway look in his eyes, like he couldn’t imagine a time where he and Pen didn’t have to help raise their kid brother and sister.

“Well, when me and Lily get settled, you’re all invited to come and visit us.”

“Does that invitation come with VIP tickets to your first game?”

“Don’t get ahead of yourself. I might not even make the roster yet.”

“You’ll make it.” Bryan gave me a reassuring nod.

“Only time will tell.”

I didn’t want to think too far ahead. All I could do was apply the mantra that had gotten me through four years of college football. Play hard. Fight hard. And hope like hell it was enough.

“It’s hard to think that in another four years, we’ll all be in the next stage of our lives,” Cole said. “Weddings, kids, careers.”

“You got something you want to tell us, Kandon?” Aaron arched his brow.

“Don’t look at me. Me and Sofia have no plans to put down roots yet. Too much we want to see and do.”

“Vera won’t last forever,” he said.

“She’s still got plent