Total pages in book: 155
Estimated words: 152045 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 760(@200wpm)___ 608(@250wpm)___ 507(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 152045 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 760(@200wpm)___ 608(@250wpm)___ 507(@300wpm)
“What do you think about it?” she asks. “My dad not wanting me to race motorbikes.”
I draw in a breath and meet her eyes. “I think your dad loves you and he’s scared for you.” I drop my eyes to her mouth, feeling my heart quicken. “And…you’re just as stubborn as he is, and you’re going to be really glad when he takes his place in your corner eventually.”
She looks away, her chin trembling a little.
“He’ll come around, Dylan.”
“Do you think so?”
I nod. “Yeah.”
The expression on her face relaxes, and she opens my driver’s side door, stepping on the hinge and stepping onto the hood behind me. She slides down the glass, and I rise up a little, letting her in as she fits me between her legs and wraps her arms around my stomach.
She hugs me. “Thank you.”
I lean back into her, and we watch the game in silence.
I guess I don’t have any room to give advice or to tell her that everything will work out when I didn’t trust that at all. I just left.
I shouldn’t have. I have just as much right to be in that house as Kade does.
“Do you want him to win or lose?” she asks me softly.
I swallow hard as I watch Kade get into position and turn his head in my direction, knowing I’m here.
I want to win.
Which means he’d have to lose.
That’s not what I want. I don’t want him unhappy.
“I always want him to win,” I tell her.
We watch as the fourth quarter moves on, and the Pirates lead forty-nine to thirty-eight with one minute left in the game. The Knights have the ball with first and ten, and even if they make a touchdown, it’s unlikely they’ll make two, even if the offense can get on the field again before time runs out. I watch Kade throw, a Knight sacking him, but I don’t watch the score or listen to the announcers.
And I only know the Pirates won when Dylan shoots her fists into the air, cheering.
“Whoo, whoo, whoo!”
Farrow and the rest of the Rebels scowl in our direction, but I just chuckle, pulling her arms back down. “I think that’s sufficient.”
“I would cheer for the Rebels if they were on the field too.”
Yeah, it’s a bye week for us. No game till next Friday.
Half the stadium cheers, players congratulating each other on the field, and people start to leave the stands, heading for their cars.
My brother will talk to our parents outside, shower, and go out with friends. Rivertown and High Street will be swarming with activity. They’ll all be looking for him.
“Is it okay if you catch a ride with Farrow?” I ask her. “I have something I need to do.”
She holds my eyes for a moment, and I can tell she’s suspicious. But then she just says, “Okay.”
I hop off the hood, and she slides off, stepping toward Farrow and only releasing my hand when she has to.
They all leave, but I stand there for a while longer, waiting for the traffic to dissipate. Maybe Kade will come back out. After his shower, alone. Without his friends.
He doesn’t.
Everyone leaves, the stadium nearly empty, and the long stream of taillights slowly disappear down the road.
When the night is quiet again, I get in my car and drive home. Past High Street and the party on the sidewalks, and down the dark highway to the mansions on the northwest end.
One of the garage doors is open—the one my father uses—and I see my grandpa’s Audi, his driver sitting inside, tapping away on his phone.
I park and walk up to the front door, turning the knob. It opens, and I step inside, smelling food instantly.
Portraits and paintings decorate the walls, all the same ones I remember from the last time I was here. The black and white one of Kade and me covered in mud when we were five after playing in the rain sits on the foyer table. His arm is around me, both of us with our silly grins, having lost our first teeth.
I stroll past the staircase, hearing talking and laughter in the kitchen as my grandfather, mom, dad, and A.J. come into view.
I lean in the doorway arch. “Hi.”
Everyone pops their heads up, A.J. gasping. “Hunter!”
She races toward me, and I barely have time to catch her before she crashes into my stomach. My mom and dad smile, my dad shrugging out of his jacket.
I tug my little sister’s ponytail, seeing that she’s dressed in my old Pirate jersey, probably because she was just at the game. “Hey, Captain,” I say, gesturing to the family. “Everyone’s still alive, I see. Good job.”
She’s the one in charge. We’ve all known it since her birth.
She takes my hand and pulls me toward the kitchen island. “You have so much college mail.”