Page 19 of A Scoring Chance

The minute the words are out of my mouth, she springs into action. With one arm still wrapped around me, she pulls out her phone and calls for help. At some point, the tears stop falling, and the numbness takes over. I sit there in Momma’s arms, my eyes shut tightly so I can block out the world. People are talking all around me, but I have no idea what they’re saying, and I don’t care.

“Okay. Cooper, I need you to go take care of your brothers.”

“But I need to come with you. I need to make sure…”

Momma plants a kiss on my forehead before pulling me tightly into her arms. “I need you to take care of them. Can you do that for me? I can’t help look for Dad if I’m worried about you four.”

With that, I force myself to stand and head toward our campsite. The minute Beau catches sight of me, he takes off back toward Momma. I should tell him to stop and come back. That Momma put me in charge and asked me to watch over them, but I don’t have the strength. My body moves on autopilot as I open the cooler and start pulling out food. I don’t know what I hand Cole and Kyle to eat, but neither one of them complain. Each of them eats everything I hand them, probably sensing there is something wrong. After they eat, I help them get ready for bed, reading Kyle a bedtime story before they go to sleep.

The temperature at the campsite drops as the sun disappears behind the horizon, and I start a fire, wanting to make sure my brothers don’t get cold while sleeping. I take a seat right in front of their tent, eyes focused on the glowing flames. I don’t know how long I sit there, waiting for Momma, Beau, and Dad to come back.

Dad is going to be so embarrassed about slipping and spraining his ankle. He never likes to show weakness to any of us. He is our rock, the center of our family. Nothing bad can ever happen to him. It couldn’t. Everything has to be fine. There is no other option.

“Cooper Owen Hendrix.” I jump to my feet at the sound of my momma’s voice.

She used my full name, so I know I’m in trouble. She is probably furious that I let Beau take off after her, but I couldn’t chase after him and watch Cole and Kyle at the same time.

I open my mouth, ready to explain to her what happened, but decide against it. “Yes, ma'am.”

A cacophony of sound assaults my senses the moment the words are out of my mouth. People are shouting directions and pointing toward the mountain while the night sky lights up with blue and red flashing lights.How long have I been sittinghere?I remember tucking Cole and Kyle into bed right before the sun set, which is about 7:30 this time of year, and now it’s pitch black. The fire I made is nonexistent, not even a few orange embers alive within.

“Cole and Kyle ate dinner and are sleeping in the tent. I started the fire, but…it went out. I’m sorry.” I drop my head to my chest, waiting for my dad to start in on me about responsibilities, but no one says a word. I just sit there, waiting for someone to yell at me for messing up and forgetting to stoke the fire, but it never comes.

When I look up, I notice Momma’s face is covered in tears, and Beau’s body is wrapped around hers. His face is buried in her side, his shoulders shaking slightly. It’s at that moment I know nothing will ever be the same.

“He’s gone, isn’t he?” I choke out, my throat clogged with emotions. I can’t lose it, not yet.

“Yes. He’s gone,” Momma whispers before dropping to the ground, bringing Beau down with her and sobbing uncontrollably.

My body springs into action as I crawl toward her, wrapping my arms around her and Beau and squeezing them tightly, knowing in my soul that this is my role now. My dad was the center of our family, the person holding us all together, and now it is my job.

My purpose in life changed forever that day. I had a responsibility to this family. I needed to take care of my mother and brothers the same way Dad would’ve if he were still here. It was the one thing he knew I would do when he wasn’t around, and I’ll be damned if I fail.

Through the years, everyone tried to tell me that this was a freak accident, that it could have happened to anyone, but I knew the truth. I knew there was something off about him before we left that day. It was my birthday and my word was law. All Ihad to do was speak up and say that I wanted to stay home. That I wanted to go to a Timberwolves game and have Momma make my favorites for dinner. Anything that stopped us from going up that trail because if we had just stayed at home, Dad would still be here.

I jump in surprise as someone lays their hand on my shoulder. “Coop?”

I blink a few times, trying to get rid of all the memories from that day. “What’s up?”

“Don’t what’s up me, asshole,” Alise snarls, plopping down on the bench beside me. “I’ve been texting you nonstop, and then I come into the locker room to find you sitting in the damn dark like a lunatic.”

I don’t say a word as I pat the bench beside me in search of my phone, but Alise beats me to it. “Here you go, genius.”

“You could have at least waited for me to unlock my phone,” I grumble, opening my recent text thread with her.

Lissy Loo Loo

Where the hell are you?

Lissy Loo Loo

You said you were coming right out. Did you forget?

Lissy Loo Loo

Cooper. Answer me.

Lissy Loo Loo

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