Jace

I talked to my parents about what Dallas told me. They contacted Grayson and met with him at his office. To check for inconsistencies, Grayson reviewed Dallas and Braydon's contract with a fine tooth comb. Jules talked to her parents and told them what happened. Since Marla was a cop, she enlisted Ricardo to help dig up dirt on the coach and the therapist. Everything was a mess with my brothers.

While our parents worked on the current situation with my brothers, I focused on the house. Owen installed and inspected a new furnace and air conditioning unit to meet city codes. We demoed and renovated the bathroom upstairs. Odin installed an en-suite bathroom in the master bedroom.

Jordin and Demarco replaced drywall, mudded, and painted. Dexter ran new electrical wires before replacing the outlets, switches, and light fixtures. He also installed a new breaker box to bring it up to code.

Troy replaced old pipes with PVC pipes and added a clean-out for the sewer system. He also helped Odin install pipes in the en-suite bathroom, so I had running water.

Devin helped me install the custom cabinets and countertops Dad made for the house. We secured the upper cabinets before installing the bottom one and cutting holes for electrical boxes and the plumbing.

The renovations were moving along with the hours we were putting into it. Jules and the spouses would bring us dinner, so we ate. It helped so we saw each other. Without everyone's help and support, I would have never accomplished renovating my own house.

*******
Julia

Everyone worked longer hours on the house so Jace could finish the renovation on time. We brought them food and drinks so they didn't starve trying to finish the house. It wouldn't matter, anyway. This is Jace's dream.

I dragged Casp to the bakery to help me bring coffee and treats to everyone. He grumbled because it was cutting into his time with Charlie. What time? It's not like he could date. He just turned seventeen. He still had eleven months ago before Odin let him off his leash.

"How did I get roped into helping you?" Casp asked, carrying several boxes of pastries while I had coffee cups and two containers of hot coffee to the car.

"You have the muscles." I smirked.

Casp rolled his eyes. "Don't remind me. My mom flips out when she needs to buy me bigger clothes. She keeps asking when I'm going to stop growing."

I giggled. "I love Sofie."

We placed the food and drink on the backseat before climbing into the front seat. I turned on the car and drove to the house.

"When are you moving in with Jace?" Casp asked.

"Probably not for another year. My dad is finally fine with Jace just strolling into our house."

"Jace should be the least of your dad's concerns. The guy doesn't have one bad bone in his body."

"My dad had difficulty relinquishing control since he enjoys reminding me he was a teen father."

Casp rolled his eyes. "Does Dexter realize you're nothing like your bio mom?"

"Yes, but I can understand his point. Our bio moms were big ass losers."

Casp chuckled. "No shit. I'm glad I never met my biological parents. From what my folks told me, they were assholes."

"I still remember when you flipped out when you discovered your parents adopted you."

"Yeah, don't remind me." Casp sighed.

"Casp, we got lucky with our parents. They love us. I don't care how I got my mom. She's still my mom." I shrugged, pulling into the driveway and parking.

We got out and grabbed the food and drink from the backseat before heading inside.

"You are a lifesaver, pumpkin," my dad said, taking the coffee and cups from me.

"What about me?" Casp asked.

"Eh, you're okay, " my dad said, shrugging and walking into the kitchen.

I laughed as Casp rolled his eyes.

"Ignore, Dexter," Odin said, helping Casp with the boxes of pastries.

Jordin walked over and kissed the top of my head. "If you keep bringing us goodies, we'll gain weight."

"But you like goodies," I said.

"I didn't say to stop bringing them." Jordin smiled and winked before heading into the kitchen.

A pair of arms slipped around my waist from behind me as Jace rested his chin on my shoulder. "Thanks, Jules."

I leaned against Jace and smiled. "You're welcome."

Teamwork makes the dream work.

******
Bradley

Hazel and I sat in Grayson's office while he handed us a list of everything wrong in the contract. We read through it and furrowed our brows.

I shook my head and looked at Grayson. "What can we do?"

"I filed an injunction with the courts. But I suggest you file for conservatorship of Braydon."

"What's that?"

"It would give you total control over Braydon's life."

"What?" I knitted my brows in concern.

"You and Hazel would make all legal decisions regarding Braydon, including financial and medical. A regular conservatorship can take six months, but an emergency conservatorship can take three to six weeks. It's your best option while we file a lawsuit against the coach."

"How can people take advantage of a person with a mental illness? It doesn't make any sense." Hazel shook her head in disbelief.

"There are unscrupulous people who don't care about the person. They're looking for a payday. It happens more than you realize."

Hazel and I exchanged glances, knowing we had no choice.

"File the paperwork. We won't lose our son," I said.

"I'll file for an emergency conservatorship. Once a judge approves it, I'll notify the other parties. Don't worry. You'll bring your boy home."

The problem is that while we fight for what's best for Braydon, someone else will betray our family. This will set off more problems than needed, especially for Braydon and Emerald.

******
Braydon

I sat in Gwen's office while we talked. She had prescribed me new medication to help with my paranoia and anxiety. It's taking a while for my meds to adjust.

"You seem anxious, Braydon," Gwen mentioned.

"I feel out of sorts." I rubbed the armrests before leaning on my thighs with my elbows and resting my hand on the back of my neck.

"There's always an adjustment with medication. How are things at home?"

I lowered my hand and lifted my gaze to Gwen. "Why?"

"Support is key when you're adjusting to new medication. Are you getting the proper support?"

I blinked and shook my head. "Yeah. Why?"

"It's vital that your mental health is a top priority."

"It's fine."

Gwen leaned forward and rested her forearms on her legs. "Braydon, you can trust me. If you need additional support, I'm here for that."

I looked at Gwen, wondering if it wouldn't hurt to seek additional support.

Gwen leaned back and crossed one leg over the other. "How is Emerald handling everything?"

"Emerald is fine." I sat back and shrugged while rubbing my hands on my jeans.

"Dealing with someone's career is hard. When you incorporate a mental illness, it makes it quite difficult for the other person."

"Emerald hasn't said anything." I shook my head dismissively.

"She might not say it, but it doesn't mean it doesn't bother her. Think about it."

I looked at Gwen, wondering if she was right. Does it bother Emerald that I play baseball and have schizophrenia? Does she refuse to tell me that it bothers her?

******
Dallas

I stopped by the store to grab Darby sherbet since she wanted some. I found Darby and Emerald on the couch when I got to the apartment. Darby was running Emerald's back while Emerald had her head hung low. "What's going on?" I closed the door and walked toward them.

Darby looked at me. "Braydon came home and asked Emerald if she had a problem with him."

"What?"

Darby nodded.

Emerald lifted her head with defeat written across her face. "Braydon kept questioning me about supporting him. He thinks I have issues with his career and mental issues. I told him I didn't. He doesn't believe me. We got into a fight."

"Braydon knows that's not true," I said.

"That's what I said. He doesn't believe me."

"Let me get Darby her sherbet. Did you want some?"

"No, I'm good. Thanks."

I nodded, grabbed a bowl from the cabinet, scooped sherbet into it, and put it in the freezer. I brought the bowl to Darby. She took it and dug in. At least her appetite is good, so that was a plus.

I heard a knock on the apartment door. I answered it and stepped aside. Braydon walked in and approached Emerald. He kneeled before her and apologized to her. It's become a habit with Braydon: He picks a fight with Emerald and then apologizes to her.

Darby ate her sherbet and watched them but said nothing. Braydon would pick fights with Emerald and accuse her of things after his therapy appointments with Gwen. At first, I thought nothing of it, but it seemed like a weekly occurrence.

The worst part was that the coach played Braydon more because he attended his therapy sessions with Gwen more. The monthly sessions turned into weekly sessions. I didn't like it.