Page 100 of Sporty Girls Don't Fall For Loners

Shaking my head, I push the thoughts away. “Of course.” I want to add, “I’d do anything for you,” but I paste my lips shut and follow her into the house.

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Zoey

As soon as Kade and I come home from the movie theater, I race up to my room to pack a few things for the sleepover while he stops at the living room to talk to Aunt Ally and Uncle Zack, who are watching a Korean drama. They must have just come home from their date.

Just as I’m about to stuff my pajamas into my backpack, my phone rings with a video call from my parents. We’ve been calling and video chatting with each other a few times a week since they left for New Zealand, but we haven’t had a chance to talk yet this week.

“Hey, Mom and Dad!” I say as I stash my pajamas into my bag. “How are you?”

“We’re great,” Mom says with a smile. “How are you?”

“We watched your game last night,” Dad tells me. “You were amazing, as always.”

“Thanks.”

Mom glances at the toothbrush in my hands. “Are you going somewhere?”

“Sleepover at Rylee’s,” I inform them as I drop it into my backpack. “Tell me about your week. Did you do anything fun?”

We spend a few minutes catching each other up on the past few days. Mom and Dad have been sending me texts and photos and videos all week, but now they tell me more details about their trip. And of course they want to know in more detail about what’s been happening in my life, even though I try to update them as often as I can.

“I love the chapters you sent me so far, Dad,” I tell him. “Your descriptions are so vivid—I feel like I’m right there in the story. And the characters are so complex and loveable. And the tension between the two main characters is so intense! I know your new series will be a mega hit.”

“Thanks so much, sweetheart. It means a lot to me. I have to admit, it’s been a while since I’ve been this excited about a book.”

“And I love it, too!” Mom says. “I beg him for a new chapter every day.”

Dad leans forward to kiss her cheek. “I appreciate my cheerleaders every second of every day.”

She smiles and squeezes his hand before turning back to the phone screen. “I saw your bag of apples. I’m so happy the school took you to Historic Edenbury and the orchard. We didn’t have a chance to go apple picking when we visited years ago.”

“It was lots of fun. And Aunt Ally’s apple pies came out delicious. Halmeoni added new apple dishes to the menu for the week. From what Mia tells me, they’re a hit. So they might keep them.”

“That’s wonderful to hear,” Mom says. “But you’re making me miss Ji-Ho’s so much.”

“Me, too,” Dad says. “One of the first things we’re doing when we get back to Edenbury is stopping off at Ji-Ho’s and stuffing ourselves until we can’t move.”

“When are you guys coming home?” I ask.

“Good thing you brought that up,” Mom says. “Because we’re thinking about coming back next week.”

“So soon?” I ask.

“I’ve been pretty inspired and have been writing nonstop,” Dad says. “I think I’m in a good place in terms of the plot and story building. And we miss you too much,” he adds.

“I miss you guys, too. But you don’t have to come home for my sake. Living with Aunt Ally and Uncle Zack is tons of fun.” Not to mention that if my parents come home, I’ll no longer live in the same house with Kade. That’ll suck.

Will he and I still be friends? There’s no reason why we shouldn’t be, but it won’t be the same. It feels like we got…closer this afternoon. Will things change between us?

“We appreciate that, sweetie,” Mom says, “but it’s time for us to come home. Do you want to visit Grandma, Grandpa, and Brock in Boston?”

My eyes nearly pop out of their sockets. “You kidding? Of course!”

“Dad and I plan to land there and visit my parents and Brock one more time before heading back to Edenbury. Maybe you can visit them, too, and we can have a small family reunion.”

“That would be amazing! Yes.”

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