Page 128 of Sporty Girls Don't Fall For Loners

I think about it for a few seconds, then raise my shoulders. “I have no idea.”

“Grandpa?” Brock asks.

He rubs his chin. “I believe their skin is rough.”

“Exactly. It feels like sandpaper. Wanna know why? Because they have special scales that help reduce friction while they swim.”

“That’s pretty cool,” I say.

“Understatement. Sharks are more than cool. They’re freakin’ amazing.”

I smile at how animated he is. When Brock gets going on sharks, it’s hard to get him to stop. But I’m fine with sitting here for hours listening to him spit out random facts about sharks. Because right after the accident, he didn’t even care about sharks, which was one of the things he loved most in the world. That itself made me realize how broken he was.

“One more fact?” he asks. “Please?”

“Go for it,” Grandpa says.

“Oh, all right,” I agree.

“Awesome. I’ll make it a good one. You know whale sharks, right? They’re the largest species of sharks—the largest fish in the world. They have spots and stripes all over their bodies, and each pattern is as unique as a fingerprint.”

“That really is amazing!” Grandpa says.

“I just learned about it last week.”

I throw my arm around him. “My brother is so smart.”

He wraps his arm around my waist. Then he starts the engine and we continue sailing, soaking in the beautiful world around us and basking in each other’s company.

***

“Two orange slushies,” the guy behind the booth announces as he slides the two slushies across the counter.

“Thanks so much,” Brock says as I pay. We each take a slushie and continue walking along the boardwalk. Brock takes a sip. “This is good!”

“Not as good as Madame Freezie’s or Mikey’s.”

He takes another sip as he considers it. “I’m not that crazy about slushies like you, but yeah, I can see that. I do miss Madame Freezie and Mikey’s,” he adds with a sigh.

“You won’t miss them anymore if you come home,” I say as he and I find a bench to sit on. I place the bag of gifts I bought for my friends next to me.

Brock puffs out a breath, causing his bangs to blow out of his eyes. “And here it comes. I’m surprised you didn’t say it sooner.”

“I miss you a lot, Brock. So do Mom and Dad. I know things are hard and I don’t want to push, but we don’t feel like a complete family without you. I’m going to leave for college in two years. These are our last years to spend time together.”

“We’re together now,” he points out. “And you and Mom and Dad always visit over the summer.”

“You know that’s not the same. Don’t you miss us?”

He looks away and sucks down his slushie. Then he mutters, “What kind of question is that? Of course I miss you guys.”

“Look, if you’re not ready, I get it. But if you’re avoiding something…or someone…”

“I’m not avoiding anything or anyone,” he says, maybe a little too forcibly. “My therapist said it’s up to me to decide when or if I want to return.”

“I know,” I say. “The decision is yours and yours alone. And like I said, I don’t want to push. I just wish…” I sigh. “I wish things could go back to how they used to be.”

“How?” He finally turns around, his eyes full of pain. “How could things go back to how they used to be if I’m not the same?”

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