Page 55 of Perfect Score

Didn’t I skate through the pain of losing my parents?

There were days I was so numb to life that I could barely feel my fingers or toes, but I went out there to make sure that I had a career so that the courts would have a hard time denying me Tessa’s legal guardianship.

They didn’t have to let me or my grandmother take her. I was just newly just eighteen and still in high school, and my grandmother was living in a retirement facility that didn’t allow for anyone under the age of fifty-five to live full-time. The courts could have sent Tessa into foster care. And if I hadn’t just signed a multi-million-dollar contract to show I was financially capable of caring for my sister, and if my gran hadn’t moved out of the facility and into my parent's old house with us in order to help me with Tessa during my out-of-town games, I don’t think I would have won my case.

Did Liam give a shit about any of that?

Nope.

He only saw me as his competition.

Zoey’s eyes dart between mine. It’s the first time I think she’s really seen me since we ran into each other yesterday on our flight.

Then someone clears their throat because we’re holding up the line, and Zoey breaks eye contact, spins around, and marches for our table like she’s on a mission to put some space between us before I start looking more like a human again, and less like the monster from her past.

Gran sees us heading for the table and makes a beeline for our table.

She takes a seat and fills us in on all the gossip going around as Zoey and I scarf down our food.

I ask her about her yoga classes, steering us away from the pole dancing class that she took this morning.

The fewer details I have about my grandmother and her friends sliding down a pole, the better.

Before we know it, it’s time for Zoey and me to leave.

I don’t like having to eat and run but we need to make it to ice skating with the rest of the group.

Gran will be at the wedding at least, so I’ll get to see her again before I leave town.

With both of our plates empty, I take the last sip of my iced water.

“It was good to see you, Gran, but we’d better get going. Zoey has a lot to do for the wedding and we're supposed to meet everyone for ice skating in twenty minutes.”

“Of course. I’m sure that Phoebe could use her sister right about now. We don’t want to hold you back from your sisterly duties for this weekend,” she says, patting my hand that’s resting on the table and then looking over at Zoey on the other side of me. “Tell your folks that I said hello, will you? I’m looking forward to seeing them at the wedding.”

“I will,” Zoey nods.

I stand and then pull out Zoey’s chair.

She looks at me but it's not the usual confusion when I do something nice for her. There's a faint smile across her lips.

Her smile widens when she remembers that my grandmother is watching, and then lifts to her feet.

We say our goodbyes, and as Zoey is giving my grandmother a final hug, another hopeful dance partner shows up at my grandmother’s side and asks her to dance.

We’ve been keeping her from her friends and it’s about time she gets back to entertaining everyone again.

Zoey and I heed out of the ballroom and towards the exit.

“Oh shoot! I forgot to ask her for the brownie recipe,” Zoey says, snapping her fingers together.

“I’m sorry to break it to you but no matter how much she likes you; you’re not getting that recipe. You might as well come to terms with it now before she breaks your heart.”

Zoey doesn't head my warning and heads for Gran.

"Sorry to interrupt, but I forgot to ask you for your brownie recipe," she asks gran.

I notice a few other women dancing, starting to eavesdrop, no doubt wanting the recipe for themselves as well.

---