Total pages in book: 113
Estimated words: 106772 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 534(@200wpm)___ 427(@250wpm)___ 356(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 106772 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 534(@200wpm)___ 427(@250wpm)___ 356(@300wpm)
Maybe that was a sign I needed to put myself out there, join a dating app or two, or finally let the ladies in town set me up with someone. The problem there was I knew everyone in town, and none of them ever sparked any type of response from me. Not like Antonia had. That had to be something.
The side door to my garage opened in a burst, startling the shit out of me. I purposely kept it unlocked so my friends could use my gym whenever they wanted. I was startled to find Cutter standing there, his face red and his chest heaving.
I went to the counter and pressed pause on my phone, silencing the music. “You okay?” I asked as I put my T-shirt on.
He shook his head slowly.
“Come on in.” I unwrapped my hands and grabbed two bottles of water, handing him one.
“Wanna talk?”
Cutter didn’t say anything as he held the bottle. I had hoped he’d come to me when it finally hit him that his mom was dying. Since he’d gotten the news, he’d been resigned. I didn’t want to push him into having to talk to me or Jerome, but I also didn’t want him to lose his shit in the middle of a game because his emotional cup had tipped over.
“We’re moving,” he said dully.
I sighed and ran my hand over my damp hair. This was something I had expected, and I immediately wished I had gone over there tonight to discuss Cutter’s summer plans. The basketball team could manage without him, but not the baseball team. He was an integral part of the rotation.
“When I spoke to Antonia this morning, she said she hadn’t made a decision on where you’d live.”
Cutter looked at me. “You knew?”
I nodded. “We had breakfast this morning and talked about it.”
“How did she seem?”
I tilted my head and looked at him oddly. “I’m not sure what you mean.”
Cutter huffed and began pacing. “Did she seem like she wants us, or did she act like we’re nothing but a fucking burden to her?”
I held my hand up but then dropped it quickly. Cutter had earned the right to cuss. His life was imploding, and a little colorful language wasn’t going to change that.
How had Antonia seemed?
Resigned?
Accepting?
It wasn’t going to matter what I said, because Cutter was going to take whatever I said the wrong way.
“Why don’t you tell me what happened, and I’ll see what I can do to help?” I motioned for Cutter to sit on the bench, but he shook his head and continued pacing.
“I came downstairs to get something to drink. Toni and Brendan were in the kitchen. I could tell they were arguing, so I sort of just waited for a moment to interrupt them.”
In other words, he was eavesdropping like any other teenager would do.
“I heard Brendan say he’s sending us to boarding school, that it’ll help me get into Harvard.” He ran his hand through his hair. “I don’t want to go to Harvard, Coach. And he said Nova will go to one, too, but she’s just a little kid and . . .” He looked at me with tears streaming down his face. “Do you think we could go to the same boarding school so she can stay with me? Who’s going to protect her if I’m not there?”
My heart broke for Cutter.
“Like, my mom’s dying, and now I gotta leave my friends and team . . . and my sister because my mom’s dying . . .”
I went to him and pulled him into my arms. He sobbed against my chest, his fists gripping my T-shirt. Cutter’s knees gave out, and I managed to get him to the bench before he crumpled to the ground. There were no words to comfort him, because nothing was going to be okay in his world. It was one thing to move—moving happened all the time; it was a fact of life—but losing your only parent wasn’t part of the deal.
Scout came over and rested his head on Cutter’s leg, knowing he needed a bit more attention. He hiccupped as his sobs eased, and angrily wiped at his wet cheeks.
“I’m sorry.”
“You have nothing to be sorry for, Cutter. I can’t even imagine what you’re going through right now.”
“I hope my mom makes it through the summer.”
“Me too.” I did, but not for the reason Cutter wanted her to. He knew how important the travel season was when it came to recruiting, especially this summer and next.
I put my arm around his shoulders and gave him a little shake. “I’ll talk to Antonia and see if we can work something out for the summer.”
“I thought Brendan liked me,” Cutter said quietly. “Guess not.”
“I’m sure Antonia’s husband likes you. This was probably just a shock to him, that’s all.”