Not A Player

NOT A PLAYER R.C. STEPHENS Copyright © 2023 by R.C. Stephens (Irene Cohen) No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review. This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the authors imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblances to persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental. Cover Design: Okay Creations Editor: Barren Acres Editing CONTENTS Preface Prologue Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Chapter 9 Chapter 10 Chapter 11 Chapter 12 Chapter 13 Chapter 14 Chapter 15 Chapter 16 Chapter 17 Chapter 18 Chapter 19 Chapter 20 Chapter 21 Chapter 22 Chapter 23 Chapter 24 Chapter 25 Chapter 26 Chapter 27 Chapter 28 Chapter 29 Chapter 30 Chapter 31 Chapter 32 Chapter 33 Chapter 34 Chapter 35 Chapter 36 Chapter 37 Chapter 38 Chapter 39 Chapter 40 Chapter 41 Chapter 42 Chapter 43 Chapter 44 Chapter 45 Epilogue Prologue Acknowledgments About the Author Also by R.C. Stephens Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall. Confucius PROLOGUE Logan “Mom, come on, you know it would mean the world to Declan for you to be there.” Her hip is propped up against the kitchen counter and an unlit cigarette dangles from the corner of her mouth. Declan is getting married in three days in Hawaii, and Mom feels like he doesn’t want her there. It’s clearly the negative voice in her head telling her she was never there for us, so why would he want her there now. The thing is, her voice isn’t wrong, but the part she doesn’t understand is we still love her, despite her deficiencies. She reaches for her lighter but then she looks me in the eyes and remembers that isn’t the best idea. Now she knows how bad it is for a person with asthma to inhale secondhand smoke. That wasn’t the case when I was younger, but my pulmonologist set her straight by telling her not to smoke inside the house when I’m around. Reality is, I’m not around much anymore. I’ve spent the last two and a half years at Westfall U. I’m halfway through my senior year. And yes, I know the math doesn’t add up, but I’ve finished up my four-year degree in three years. “I’ve done more harm than good. Your brother doesn’t need a reminder of my bad choices on his wedding day,” she states. She pulls the cigarette from her mouth, places it neatly back in the pack, and then wraps her hands around her waist. “He doesn’t want you there as a reminder of anything. He wants his mom to walk him down the aisle. He doesn’t have a father. The least you could do after everything we’ve all been through is to be there for your eldest son,” I say to her because, damn, when Declan and I were growing up she was not responsible at all. I was hoping at some point that would change, but it hasn’t happened, yet. Her eyes fill with tears. I place a plane ticket on the counter and push it her way. “This is a plane ticket to Hawaii with a return flight. Declan has a room on hold for you in the hotel we will all be staying at. It’s a chance to get away from this place and see the world. You’ll also be making Declan super happy since Poppy’s mom is walking her down the aisle, along with her brother.” “He has you,” she retorts, her voice thick from years of smoking. “Yeah, he does have me,” I agree. My brother took care of me when I couldn’t take care of myself growing up. I would be anywhere he needed me to be. “That isn’t the point though. You need to be there for your son. We don’t ask much of you, but he’s asking for this.” Her lip quivers and she reaches for the ticket. “Let me think on it.” She holds on to the ticket like it has the secret map with a treasure on it. “Okay, Mom. I need to get going now. My plane leaves in two hours.” I loathe coming back to Detroit. My memories of this place are cloaked in a poor, sad childhood. Mom is also not so keen about having me home or at least that’s how she behaves, but I came for Declan. He wants her in Hawaii because she is all we have and despite everything, we love her. “Have a good flight,” she mutters. I lean in and give her a half hug. I hate how she always smells like a stale ashtray. I pull away quickly and notice her lack of an attempt to hug me. I turn around and head for the door, taking my suitcase with me. I hope she decides to get on that plane, but there isn’t anything more I can do here. I take an Uber to the airport and stare out the window at the snow-stained streets and the run-down buildings. People walk down the street, despite the frigid temperatures and drug deals go down on street corners. I sure don’t miss this place. When I get to the airport, it’s busy as hell. Not that I was expecting anything else a week and a half before Christmas. I head straight over to baggage check and get in line for security. I take a deep breath thinking of Hawaii. I’ve never been anywhere other than Detroit, Westfall, and the places I’ve travelled with the team for games. My brother and Poppy left for Hawaii a few days ago with all our friends, but I made a pit stop on Declan’s behalf in Detroit to see