Page 17 of A Scoring Chance

“Ah, ah, ah. No, you didn’t. I need every single detail. Nothing is insignificant.” Alise wags her finger in my face, the brightness returning to her eyes.

“Fine,” I huff as I notice Darius waving at us from the bottom of the bleachers. “I’m going to shower and eat first.”

“Shower first ‘cause you smell like the farm. No offense.”

“None taken.”

“However, you can tell me every detail while you eat. I already told Auntie, and she wants to know, too.”

Ugh. The last person on this earth I need to know about whatever this attraction is between Cooper and me is my mother. “You are evil.”

“No, I love you more than anything. We both do. We just want you to be happy.”

“I am happy,” I retort, pushing to my feet and heading toward the bottom of the stands.

“No, you've been existing. You haven’t been genuinely happy for a very long time. This might be your chance to thrive,” Alise whispers, and I pretend I didn’t hear her.

The last thing I want to do is get into another debate about my happiness, especially because she isn’t wrong. I haven’t been genuinely happy for a very long time. Not only do I not have the time for it, but I also don’t deserve it.

Chapter Six

Cooper

Fuck. I never should’ve left the ice like that. I have a responsibility to these boys and the hockey club to show up for the parents’ meeting today, but right now, I can’t. I just can’t stop reliving the worst day of my life.

Growing up, Momma was a teacher. Dad worked in construction. After paying all the different sports fees and feeding four growing boys, we had little left for anything else, but we never missed out on anything. Instead of expensive vacations or elaborate birthday parties, we spent our time outdoors, together as a family. We’d go camping, hiking, and anything else our parents could think of when we had breaks from school. If it involved being outside and some sort of strenuous activity, we did it. Momma used to say that it made having all boys easier because, by the time we were finished, we’d be exhausted.

Every year for our birthdays, we got to choose what we did, and that year I wanted to hike down the Columbia River to Multnomah Falls. The hike usually took half the day, but I wanted to make a weekend out of it. Dad planned the whole thing; we’d leave early in the morning and head there, hike the trails to the falls, and then camp in Ainsworth State Park campground in Horsetail Falls.

The morning is going just like every other one of my past birthday weekends. Momma wakes up early to make me a birthday pancake cake with freshly squeezed orange juice. Yes, that’s a thing in our house, especially for me, because pancakes are my all-time favorite food. After breakfast, we’re going to pile into the car and head down the Historic Columbus River Highway to our campsite. The only issue is that Dad is kind of out of it. He’s a lot more sluggish than usual and slept in, which he never does. He never misses birthday pancakes; he loves them as much as we do.

“If you aren’t feeling well, we can go another weekend,” I say, helping him clear the table. “I don’t mind hanging out at home.”

I’m fucking lying. I sure as shit care about staying home. I’ve been talking about this trip to my friends all week. I’m even missing a scrimmage against a rival hockey club to go on this trip, which I never do. I’ve been looking forward to this since we started planning weeks ago, but I’m not about to tell him that.

“You only turn fifteen once, Cooper. There is no way we’re canceling this trip to celebrate your birthday. It won’t be your birthday weekend next weekend, will it?”

“But, Dad…” I begin, but he cuts me off.

“No buts, son. We’re going on this trip, and we’re going to have an amazing time.” He throws his arm over my shoulder and pulls me in for a one-armed hug. “I promise, I’m fine.”

“Okay.” I force a smile before ducking from under his arm and searching the house for Momma.

When I find her, I tell her about my conversation with my dad, but she doesn’t seem concerned at all. “He’s probably tired. He’s been going into work early and taking overtime to make sure he could get off this weekend for our trip.”

She probably thought that was going to make me feel better, but it doesn’t. I hate that Dad has to work so hard just to go on a camping trip for my birthday. We don’t have to go. Nothing says I have to go camping for my birthday, although I really want to. A feeling of dread weighs down on my shoulders, urging me to march right back to Dad and tell him I changed my mind, but I doubt he’ll even believe me.

Neither of my parents has ever lied to me before. If Momma and Dad both say he’s fine, he’s probably fine. I’ll make sure to pay closer attention to how he is behaving for the rest of the weekend. If there’s something wrong, I’ll notice. Besides, if there is something seriously wrong with him, they’ll tell me. I need to put it out of my mind and help get the car loaded so we get out the door on time.

The trip to the campground is thankfully uneventful. We unpack the car and manage to get our campsite set up in record time. Kyle is turning five this year, but even though he insists he’s a big boy, Dad won’t let him come hiking with us. He isn’t very happy about being left behind, but Momma promised they’d go down to the river so he could play with some of the other kids camping nearby, and he seemed okay with that.

After making sure Momma and Kyle don’t need anything, Dad, Beau, Cole, and I head off for our hike, wanting to make it up the trail and back before dinnertime.

We’ve made this same hike to the falls numerous times, and Cole stops what feels like every few seconds to take pictures with the digital camera he got for his birthday. Beau is happy to tag along behind me, although he is an impatient little shit, but not in that self-centered way most teenagers are; he literally can’t stop moving. And I—this sounds cheesy as fuck—am having fun spending time with my family, but I never stop watching for any warning signs that something is off about Dad. Sure, he is moving a little slower than usual, takingbreaks whenever Cole wants to get a picture of a new plant, but nothing too crazy. As we get closer to the falls, I finally relax. I’ve always been the worrier in the family, wanting to do everything I can to help, so I’m probably overreacting. Besides, I think Dad is about to lose it if I don’t stop hovering over him like he’s Kyle.

“Let’s take a break here for a little while,” I declare the moment we reach our destination.

“I want to go swimming.” Cole makes a beeline for the water.

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