Page 109 of Sporty Girls Don't Fall For Loners

“They were. They got married after college and had me a year and a half later.” I hold up the photo of Mom and Dad holding me as a baby.

She smiles. “You look like your mom.”

My lips tremble as I smile. “She always said I took after Dad. He loved sports, specifically football. We used to go to games all the time. He was a big fan of your Uncle Brayden. Mom didn’t share in our interest, but she always listened when I gushed how awesome the game and the players were. She…” I clear my throat. “She always gave me her full attention, even when I was telling her silly things that didn’t matter. My favorite time of the day was when I came home from school and Mom was there, waiting for me.”

“She sounds amazing.”

I nod, the rock in my throat burning. “I miss her and Dad so much.”

Zoey locks her fingers through mine, giving my hand a squeeze.

“Mom worked at a daycare, so she came home early and was always there for me. Dad worked late some nights—he was a salesman. And we wouldn’t eat dinner together because I had to do my homework and go to bed. But when he came home early, we had dinner as a family. I loved those nights.” I shut my eyes for a few seconds before opening them. “I thought my life was perfect. I didn’t think anything could ever happen to us. And then when I was ten, my life changed forever.”

I glance at her for a second, not sure I can go on. But I want to do this. I want her to know that I had amazing parents who were taken from me too soon.

She squeezes my hand again. “If it’s too much, we can take a break. Or tell me another time. Or not at all. Whatever you’re comfortable with.”

I place my hand over hers. “I’m most comfortable when you’re around. Just give me a second.”

She nods, squeezing my hand another time.

I try to swallow the fiery rock in my throat, but it refuses to go down. Zoey offers me the water bottle near her bed and I gulp down half of it.

“Sorry,” I say.

“Don’t worry about it.”

After taking another deep breath, I continue. “When I was ten, something terrible happened to my parents. I was at school—it was a normal day. Until I was called to the office. There were cops and the school psychologist and many other people who I have no idea who they were. They sat me down and told me that my parents were hurt. I didn’t understand what they were saying. What did they mean Mom and Dad were hurt? Dad took the day off and they went out together. It had been a long time since they went on a date, so they decided to spend the entire day together.” I release another heavy breath. “As they were walking down the street, someone from a passing car shot at them.”

Zoey’s eyes widen as a tremble shoots through her body. “They were shot?” she gasps.

I nod, once again failing to swallow the lump. My eyes sting, but I try as hard as I can to fight the tears. “The police believed it was random, that they were at the wrong place at the wrong time. Dad died almost instantly, but Mom…she was still alive when the ambulance came. She was taken to the hospital, but because she was shot in the head, she fell into a coma. She’s been like that ever since.”

Zoey clutches both my hands. “Kade.” Tears gather in her eyes.

She’s making it very hard for me to battle my own tears. “The doctors…the doctors told me there’s a high chance she’ll never wake up. But they also told me to be hopeful. I’ve been hoping for six years and nothing has changed.” The tears drip down my face. “Every time I visit her, I have this dream that she’ll be sitting up in her bed and smiling at me. But that’ll never happen.”

She pushes some hair away from my face, tears pooling in her eyes before cascading down her cheeks. “I’m sorry, Kade. So, so sorry. What can I do?”

I close my arms around her. “You’ve done so much for me already. Thank you for being here for me.”

She hugs me back, pressing her cheek to mine. “I wish there was more I could do.”

Shaking my head, I draw back and wipe her tears away with my thumbs. “I have to accept that she might not get better. But I won’t stop hoping.”

She brushes the tears away from my cheeks with her fingers. “She’s lucky to have an amazing son like you.”

I pull away from her, shaking my head. “I haven’t been a good son. I was so angry at the world. Such a jerk. You saw me. I was horrible to you.”

“No. You were just hurting. I understand that now.”

I want to believe her, but I’m not sure I can. “After the shooting, they placed me in many different homes. They were all terrible.” I tell her about each one, ending with the group home that was the worst of all. “Then your uncle was assigned to me and he vowed to find me a good home. He took me out of that group home and brought me to his house. He didn’t want me to suffer a minute longer in that place.”

Her smile is small. “That’s Uncle Zack.”

“He was so kind to me, but I didn’t realize it at first. I thought he and Ally were taking care of me because they felt obligated to. But they really, truly care about me.”

“They do.” She hugs me again. “I’m so happy you were taken away from those terrible homes and that you’re in a good place now. You deserve to have good things happen to you. You deserve to be happy.”

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