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conversation. I wish her luck and tell her that I will call after the tournament to let her know how we did.
    “I won’t be holding my breath waiting for your call, dear brother. If you win, I’m pretty sure the beers will be flowing all night, and you’ll be right there with them!” I can only laugh when she hangs up. She’s not wrong.
     

     
    We play friggin’ brilliantly and win the championship round. Now it’s time to party. I’m hanging out with all my mates and members from the other rugby teams. In rugby, when the match is done, everyone drinks together. The drinking and camaraderie are some of the best parts of the sport. To have a drink with the guy on the other team who knocked you down to the ground and threw a few punches at you is a big part of the game—you shake hands and raise a pint with each other.
     
    I feel pretty high from the win and my brain is getting fuzzy from the multitude of drinks I’ve had. Jack brings me over another one. “Hey dickhead, you need to call Bean Stalk!” Jack turns to our teammate Dave. “This should be good. He’s feeling the brew tonight—should make for an interesting conversation.” Grumbling at them, I make my way out of the pub. Looking at the time on my phone, I try to mentally calculate what time it is in Boston. Pressing send, I hope she’s still up. As it rings, I try to compose my slightly inebriated self.
    What I didn’t expect is hearing a different voice on the other end, a beautiful voice that lifts me up instantly.
    “Hello, this is Sam speaking.” It’s been awhile since I last spoke to her. She would answer Jenny’s phone occasionally, and we would briefly talk, but I never really listened before. My mind was always too wrapped up in my grief, so I guess my attention was off.
    I’m taken aback at how amazing her voice sounds. She sounds soft, sweet, but sultry. Sultry … where did that come from? It takes me a moment to get myself together and respond. “Hi Sam. It’s Ben.” It’s all I can manage to say without sounding like an idiot. I haven’t experienced a reaction like this in a long time, and it scares me shitless.
    “Ben? You still there?”
    Shit, snap out of it! “Ah … yeah, hi Sam. Sorry, you caught me off guard. I thought Jenny would answer.”
    Sam lets out a chuckle combined with a snort. “Yeah… well your sister took the whole bar hopping for grad night a little too seriously. Pairing shots of tequila with beer at each bar we stopped at is not one of her better ideas.” Her laughing sounds so light and fresh. “She’s passed out at the moment. I wouldn’t be surprised if she’s praying to the porcelain gods sometime real soon.”
    I have to laugh. This is so very Jenny. “Well, okay then. Should I be worried?”
    “You do remember who you’re talking to, right? She’s my girl! Everything will be fine. She’ll have one hell of a hangover in the morning, but some ibuprofen and a greasy breakfast should cure that.” Laughter ripples through me, but I notice that I’m the only one. I hear Sam’s breathing change while she let out a long sigh.
    “Are you okay, Sam?
    “Yeah, I’m fine.”
    “Well, that long sigh makes me think there’s something bothering you. I know it’s been awhile since we talked, but if you need someone to listen, I’m here.”
    My mind drifts back to another time Sam answered Jenny’s phone. It had been about six months after Beth’s death, and she told me that she was sorry. She said that I could just talk and she’d listen. I remember thinking then that she was the only one who didn’t give me advice. She only wanted to listen, and that was refreshing.
    “Thanks Ben, but there’s almost too much to say. You’d need at least a day to hear it all. I’ll be fine, though, thanks for the offer.” There’s some rustling in the background and a loud moan. “Guess who is up and running for the bathroom? I should go and check on her. I’ll tell her you