Page 104 of Game Changer
“It’s not a weakness, Jax.You should know that.”
“I’mfine, Mom.”I give her a reassuring squeeze.
“Okay, if you say so.”
We return to the living room, and we all head outside to exchange hugs and goodbyes next to the car.Their bags are already loaded into the trunk.Molly’s wearing the brightest smile, laughing at everything, so animated I know it’s totally fake.
It has to be this way.
When it’s my turn to hug her, I try to keep it casual, but man, it’s impossible.I want to kiss her again and again.Feeling her curves against me, I want to squeeze her tight and never let her go.
But I can’t do that.
Dad’s staying a couple more days after everyone else leaves.
“It’s been a long time since I was here,” he says over barbecued hamburgers that night.“This place hasn’t changed at all.”
“I know.I don’t think Grandma and Grandpa get up here much anymore.Actually, I’m thinking of buying it from them.”
“What?Really?”
“Yeah.They been talking about selling for a few years, but they don’t want to give it up.Cottages are hard to come by here.”
“True.It would be a shame to lose it.”
“I’ve been coming here every summer the last few years.I like how quiet it is.I can hike and take pictures and sometimes some of my buddies come for a week or two.So I’d hate to lose it.I think I can afford it, but I’m kind of waiting on my contract.Probably not a good idea to spend a few hundred grand on something until that’s settled.”
“Yeah, that’s smart.”
“Then I could put a bit of money into updating things.Maybe new furniture.I bought the barbecue last summer.”I nod at the stainless steel beauty I picked up in Brandon and put together up here.“And the year before that, new appliances.They never had a dishwasher.”
“It would be a good investment.Properties here keep going up in value.Even if you get married and have kids and settle somewhere else, you’d easily be able to sell it.”
“I’m not getting married and having kids,” I remind him wryly.
“What about Molly?”
I grit my teeth and drop my gaze to my plate.“We’re friends.That’s it.”
After a beat, Dad says, “You’re so full of shit, the toilet’s jealous.”
My mouth drops open.I laugh, then frown.
He grins.
“You and Mom apparently had a good talk about me.”
“Yeah, actually, we did.Parents do that.What’s going on with you and Molly?”
“Why is everyone all up in my business?”I set down my burger and reach for my beer.“Jesus, this entire family keeps asking me ‘what about Molly.’I keep telling everyone, we’re just friends.So just drop it, okay?”I take a big swig of lager.
Dad blinks in surprise, then gives a terse nod.“Sure.Okay.”
We eat in heavy silence for a few minutes, and I take a few deep breaths.Then I change the subject and ask Dad about his coaching plans for the coming season.
After dinner, I wander down to the dock on my own.I sit and dip my feet into the water.My chest feels hollow and my body weary.
I can’t believe how bummed I am that Molly’s gone.It’s ridiculous.We agreed that this was going to end.We both know why.I don’t even believe in love.So I don’t get why I feel like my right arm has been hacked off?
