"Should I brace myself?" I had questioned Collin. "Or expect the same extremely warm greeting as last time?"

Collin had shot me a quick, sideways glance. "No. It's just the girls and our dad. It should be a nice, quiet civilized dinner."

Sitting at the dinner table now, I could have cut the tension between Collin and his father with the knife smack in the middle of the table beside the butter dish. Crista was massaging her temples, as if the men were giving her a headache. Alisha, who I had only met about a half hour ago, was on the edge of her seat, looking ready to grab said knife. Her black hair was that of silk, the opposite of her sister's ringlets, her chocolate brown eyes, which all three children had inherited from their father, were hidden behind a thick rimmed pair of baby blue glasses, currently askew on her nose.

"What?" Collin finally broke the agonizing silence, stabbing into his steak with his fork. "What has got you angry with me this time, Dad?"

Alisha was shaking her head warningly at her older brother, but he was oblivious to the gesture. Mr. West coughed, wiping the corners of his mouth with a napkin.

"I don't know what you mean, boy."

"Bullshit!" Collin snapped, slamming his fists against the table. "You been acting like this since I walked through the door."

Crista reached across the table to rest a hand on her brother's in an attempt to calm him, but he shook her off, turning his anger on her.

"What'd you tell him, Cris?"

She shook her head. "Nothin' Col, nothin' at all."

"You ain't playin' ball anymore?" Mr. West cut Collin off before he could continue to hound it out of his sister. I was just as shocked at Alisha appeared hearing the words. Yes, we'd had a discussion a few weeks ago about what we'd want to do with our lives, where we'd be if things had turned out differently, but I had never dreamed Collin would actually go through with it.

"I never played basketball for me, Dad! That was for you! I hate it!" Collin snapped, leaning back in his chair with his arms crossed over his chest. "That was for you and Mama."

Mr. West sighed. "Then what do you wanna do, boy? What are ya plans? How are you gonna be able to pay for school?"

"I'll figure it out." Collin huffed, avoiding every pair of eyes on him.

His dad's eyes started to grow dark. "You're not goin' on about being a pig again, are ya? Ain't no way my boy gonna be one of them."

"Did you ever think that this is my life to live, Dad?" Collin whispered. "Did you ever stop for one minute and think that I should follow my heart?"

"Not when your heart gonna get you killed, boy!" Mr. West stood, forcing everyone at the table to glance up in order to see him. "Not when it makes you one of them pigs that kill our own."

Collin shook his head, laughing bitterly. "Did you ever think that's why I wanted to do it, Dad? So I could change the stereotype? So I could be the change all these black kids need? I want to make a difference, Dad, and playing basketball won't do that."

Mr. West pointed his finger at Collin, showing no emotion. "If you decide to do it, boy, you're as good as dead to me. Don't step foot in my house."

Without another word, he threw his napkin down and stalked out of the room. Collin started cursing under his breath and stood. He shoved Alisha's outstretched hand away and walked to the front door, slamming it behind him. Crista and Alisha exchanged a long, sad look before turning to me.

"I'm so sorry." Crista sighed heavily. "Our family is a big mess, as you've unfortunately witnessed."

"It's fine." I looked toward the door. "Should we go after him?"

Crista held her hands up in surrender. "I can't be pulled in both directions. Maybe you girls should, he'll probably talk to you."

Alisha stood slowly, brushing her hair off her shoulder as she waited for me to join her. I followed her to and out of the house. Collin was leaning against his car, glaring at the ground between his feet. Alisha inhaled, as if preparing herself for her brother, then closed the distance between them.

"He didn't mean that, Col." She assured, rubbing his shoulder. "You know how much he wanted us to have everything he and Ma couldn't. That's why he's being so hard on you."

Collin nodded. "I think he meant it this time, Ali. You saw the disgust and hatred on his face."

"Then let him." Ali whispered, touching her brother's face between her hands. "It'll be his loss losing out on watching you become the best cop and man there is. But I promise, Col, he'll come around. Just let Cris and I talk to him. Ma would have never wanted this for you guys."

He took her into his arms, burying his face against her shoulder. She rubbed his back comfortingly, and for a moment I was back at Jules' wedding, out in the cold while I broke down.

But I didn't feel the shattering inside me, instead I found myself closing the distance between myself and them and touching Collin's shoulder in my best effort to comfort him. He pulled away from his little sister and wrapped one of his arms around me, kissing the side of my head.

"Thank you." He whispered to aloud. "Thanks for trying."

**

Collin was quiet on the drive back home, out of embarrassment or just anger in general, I wasn't sure. But I'd grown used to him enough to know not to try and push and pry whatever was bothering him.

"She's right you know." I eventually whispered, heading resting against the cold window. "About your dad missing out if he doesn't come around to the idea. You're an amazing person, Collin."

He smiled a little at the compliment. "Nah, not really."

"You literally took a fists and elbows to the face, chest, and back just to ensure that Logan didn't relapse." I reminded him. "That's admirable."

"He's my brother." Collin repeated as he had for weeks. "I'd do it again. I. . . that's exactly what I wish my dad would understand. I want to help kids like Logan. Like all my friend's and their brother's growing up. Not everybody gets a second chance like I did. I want to ensure that they do."

I made a gesture with my hand. "Exactly. You're an incredible person, Collin. Just know, no matter what you choose, that I have your back."

*

By the time we got back to the condo, after a few pitstops along the way, it was a little after eight. Collin mentioned that the guys were probably still up, but in the slight chance they weren't, we should be as quiet as possible.

My hand grazed the knob, but I hesitated to open it. I felt Collin grow ridged beside me, clearly feeling the same tension or whatever it was that awaited us on the other side of the door.

Opening the door, I don't think either of us were surprised to find Logan inches in front of Adam, waving a paper in front of his face. Adam, who had always backed down to both other men in the condo, was standing tall, trying to rip it from Logan's grip.

"What the hell is going on?" Collin asked exhaustedly. This was the last thing he needed after the afternoon he had.

"Adam here has been keeping secrets." Logan snapped, thrusting the paper into Collin's hands once he'd approached. Collin's eyes scanned the paper, then fell on Adam in front of him.

"Adam, bro, what is this?" Collin breathed, but set the paper back in his roommates expectant hands. "Why didn't you say anything?"

Adam's eyes finally found me in front of the door, eyes shining with guilt. "I'm sorry."

"Sorry?" I shook my head, confused. "Sorry for what?"

"I was going to tell you guys." He ignored my question, prompting Logan to explain why everyone was staring at Adam like he'd just been given a cancer diagnosis.

"He enlisted." Logan's eyes darkened. "And he ships out in two weeks."