Page 38 of Chasing Football Dreams

“You want my kidney,” Eliza acknowledged, her shoulders squared as she stared at the photo of her brother.

Her mother had the audacity to nod. “We’ve tried other options and donors but none of them were a match,”

“And you think I will be a match?”

“Yes, you are blood relatives,”

Eliza laughed out loud and shook her head in dismay. “What does have blood suddenly have to do with it? You threw me away because you wanted a son and you finally have one,and now I am good enough,” She rubbed the picture between her fingers before flicking it at her mother.

“Does he even know I exist?”

“No,”

Eliza raised her gaze to the roof before slowly lowering her gaze. “Of course, not because then you have to explain what you did and end up losing him,”

Eliza sat quietly for a moment staring at her mother and then she shook her head. “My answer is no,” She finally answered and then motioned for me to get up. I didn’t blink as I got up waiting for her to get up as well.

“No?” Her mother asked, getting to her feet as well. “You are just going to let him die?”

“Why not? You left me to die,” The acknowledgement of her words broke something in her mother that made her lurch across to grab Eliza. I saw it coming and instantly caught her, shoving her away.

She blinked at my strength and I almost smiled. Yeah, I am not just a girl who prances around on the field, pretending to fling a ball around.

“How can you be this selfish to let your brother die when he needs your help?” She yelled at Eliza and by this time, she had caught the attention of the whole coffee shop.

“Selfish?” Eliza said with an unfriendly chuckle. “Says the woman who dropped her daughter off at the orphanage because I wasn’t a boy!”

“It’s—It’s---It…” Her mother stammered.

I saw a few scowls and I hated that people poked their noses where it wasn’t invited but I let it slide. I wrapped my arms around my best friend’s shoulders to comfort her. “We are done here,” I told her mother and urged Eliza to walk away.

When we got outside, Andrew was waiting for us and he immediately got out of Duncan’s SUV to embrace her. Tears fellfrom her eyes and heard her choke on them. I had to look away to cover my own. I walked away wanting to give them space and sat my ass on the sidewalk, regretting that I told Duncan not to be here.

I slipped my fingers into my hair, massaging my scalp. How can people be this selfish and unkind to their children? How can they forgive themselves for throwing away a bundle of what should be a joyous new adventure? How the hell does anyone have the heart to cast a baby away—a human that can’t fend for themselves?

How can that woman, ask such a thing of Eliza? Hasn’t she realized she hurt her enough?

I raised my head, staring down the empty parking lot.

Was I selfish for being grateful that my parents didn’t throw me away?

Chapter Nineteen

Iknocked on Coach’s Shane office door and pushed it open, pausing when I saw that his wife had reserved his seat.

I stood outside his office for a few minutes, contemplating my next move. This morning, meeting Eliza’s mother rattled me and I wanted to just talk to him. I don’t know about what. I just wanted to embrace that I was lucky enough to have a slight chance at being his daughter and that he didn’t throw me away.

“Oh, I am sorry. I thought Coach Shane was here,” I went to close the door but she stopped me when she got to her feet.

“No, wait, Zoey,” I watched her shuffle out from behind his desk.

“Shane told me about the possibility of you being our daughter,” I look at this beautiful woman who can be my mother and I wonder if I will ever match her beauty.

She eyed the locker room where the guys were talking loudly and making jokes while getting dressed. Their modesty doesn’t make me shy away anymore but out of respect— I don’t ogle anyone but Duncan.

“Don’t worry. They know,” I assured her when she almost looked like she was going to beat herself up. “I never thought I would find myself in a family who is nosy but caring as hell,”

She smiled at me. “I know what you mean. When you were taken, there wasn’t a person on the team who didn’t look for you that night. Your team is not only a trust system but you get a family for life,” She noted, her smile not falling away.

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