Page 40 of Sporty Girls Don't Fall For Loners

“‘Night. Don’t let the sharks bite.”

I hang up and sigh again. Brock used to be a fun and lively kid. Uncle Brayden says he was a lot like Uncle Brock was at his age. Grandma thinks maybe he has a bit of Uncle Brock’s soul in him, since he’s named after him. I don’t know if I believe that, but it’s cool that they have that connection. I’m named after him, too. My second name is Brooke.

But ever since the accident, Brock hasn’t been the same. I will never understand the kind of pain he’s been through—just imagining Mia or Rylee…gosh, I think I would die if they weren’t in my life. But it’s been two years…will I ever have my brother back?

Chapter Thirteen

Kade

I’ve been in my room for hours since I came home from school, listening to music on my phone as I play a game.

Zack came by a little while ago and offered me a snack, but I wasn’t hungry. Considering dinner won’t be ready for a while, I kind of want that snack right now.

Pulling my earbuds out of my ears, I slide off my bed and make my way downstairs.

I’ve been feeling okay lately, something I haven’t felt in a long time. Ever since I got here, I told myself not to get too comfortable, that no one cares about me, that I have no home. And even though this place is only temporary, I’m starting to see it as home.

Maybe I was wrong to claim that Ally and Zack don’t really care about me. Zack has proven how much he does, and he and his wife have been nothing but kind. Ally does whatever she can to make sure I’m happy, and Zack is constantly checking on me to make sure I have everything I need.

So…maybe life will turn out okay. Maybe I should start thinking positively and allow Zack and Ally to be there for me.

Voices float from the kitchen, and I realize Zoey and Zack are chatting. Well, it’s mostly Zack. I’m about to go in to fetch my snack, but stop when I hear what he’s saying.

“I’ve had it with that boy. All he does is give me problems. Finding him a good home? Ha. Does that selfish brat even deserve a good home? If it was up to me, I’d toss him into the streets. Let the rats take care of him. I’m done.”

My eyes widen as I stumble away from the door. W-what?

My throat burns as I try to swallow the boulder growing inside. How could he…how could he say that about me?

I thought he cared about me. I was starting to lower my guard. But he doesn’t care about me. He never has. No one’s there for me. I’m truly and completely alone in the world.

Whirling around, I stalk up to my room, my hands fisting at my sides as I try to keep my tears away.

Chapter Fourteen

Zoey

“This is what the caseworker said,” Uncle Zack tells me. “‘I’ve had it with that boy. All he does is give me problems. Finding him a good home? Ha. Does that selfish brat even deserve a good home? If it was up to me, I’d toss him into the streets. Let the rats take care of him. I’m done.’”

I gape at my uncle as my heart twists in pain. “He really said that? That’s horrible.”

With a regretful sigh, Uncle Zack nods. “People like him shouldn’t be working in this field. The poor boy was tossed from one terrible home to another, and his caseworker didn’t give a darn. The kid felt so helpless, like he had no one to turn to.”

I take a sip from the hot cocoa Uncle Zack made for me, but my throat is so dry that I nearly choke. I can’t believe there are such rotten people in the world. When I got home from practice, I found my uncle home early from work and sitting in the kitchen with a cup of hot cocoa, looking extremely bothered. Broken, lost. It seemed like he really needed someone to talk to. So after offering to keep him company, he prepared a cup of hot cocoa for me and told me that he came home early because he was very upset. He heard about a caseworker who isn’t properly caring for one of the kids in the system. A thirteen-year-old boy who became an orphan two years ago after his whole family died in a plane crash.

“So what’s going to happen to him?” I ask.

“I and many others voiced our concerns. Hopefully, they’ll look into the matter and fire that sorry excuse for a man.”

I nod and try to take another sip of my hot cocoa. The liquid manages to slide down my throat, but I’m not exactly enjoying it.

“Hey.” Uncle Zack places his hand over mine. “It’s okay. I know everything will work out in the end.”

“How can you know for sure? You’re always saying the system is broken and it’s the kids who suffer most.”

He sighs. “It’s very broken, but I believe that as long as we have good people trying to make good changes, things might start looking up.”

I offer him a smile. “People like you, you mean. You’re so dedicated to helping as many kids as possible. I wish there were more people out there like you.”

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