AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Zane and I find a bench away from prying eyes and sit. “It’s not your fault, Jay,” he says looking up at the smog filled sky.
“If Haley hadn’t answered the fucking phone-.”
“Then this probably still would’ve happened,” he says cutting me off. “You didn’t do anything wrong, Jax. You were trying to move on.”
“What a fucking joke?” I chuckle dryly. “I knew I wouldn’t move on from her. I definitely knew it wouldn’t be Haley. Zee, it won’t ever matter how much time passes, I won’t move on from Zoey. In the process, I’ve hurt a really nice girl.”
“It’s been a year since I’ve talked to or seen my sister. Not knowing if she was alive or dead. I had no way to find her. No way to help her through her pain. I’ve spent that year watching you be a ghost of yourself. You’ve played like your life depended on it on the field, but everything else has suffered. It’s been killing me watching you in so much pain.”
I look at him wondering how much he’s been trying to hide from me. ‘Trying’ being the operative word because I’ve seen him hurting too. “You’ve lost as much as either of us, Zee. Your sister, your best friends, your parents. You’ve tried to hide behind your jokes and humor, but I’ve seen how much this shit is killing you too.”
He leans forward with his elbows on his knees. He drops his head into his hands. His shoulders begin to heave as he softly sobs. “How the fuck are we going to tell her about Mom and Dad?” he asks without looking up.
I suck in a breath. When the fuck did this become our lives? Tragedy and hurt. “I don’t know, but we have to do it sooner than later.”
He sits up, scrubbing his hands down his face and then running them through his hair. “We’ve got phone calls to make. Might as well do it now and get it over with.”
I reach into my pocket, retrieving my phone. “Coach first, together.” I say dialing the number.
We listen to it ring a few times before the deep, gruff voice comes on the line. “McCabe,” he answers with anger lacing his voice “You weren’t at practice this morning.”
“Yes, sir, I know. I’ve got Zane here with me. We need to tell you a few things, and let you know we may not be back this week.”
“This better be good, McCabe,” he growls.
Coach was very aware of what happened last year, but we did a quick recap before bringing him up to speed. “You know, you boys wouldn’t take any time off last year. Not after Zoey. Not after Valen’s parents. You missed a couple of practices, and that was it. It shows dedication, but family comes first. You stay there with Zoey. Help her and bring her home.”
I feel like some of the weight has been lifted off my shoulders. Coach supporting us means more than he will ever know. The truth is though, I wouldn’t have cared either way. Football career be damned, I am not going back until Zoey is with me.
We thank him for his understanding and end the call. I look to Zane, a twinge of guilt washes over me at what I’m about to ask him. “Would you mind handling Leslie and Drew?”
He looks at me curiously but nods. “No problem, but why?”
“I need to call Rory and my parents,” is all I say. He nods because that really said it all.
Jax
I have to find a private place to make this phone call. I’m not entirely sure where I’ll find it, but I have to try. I know once I get on the phone with my big brother, I am going to breakdown. I’ve been trying to be strong for Zane and Zoey, except for that slip up with Maddox, but I feel it coming.
I don’t want Zane to see. I’ve worked hard this past year to keep at least that much from him. He didn’t need to have to comfort me while grieving his parents and sister. I tried to be strong for my best friend. My brother.
But for someone who’d shed very few times in his life, I’ve spent quite a bit of the last year in tears. I fucking hate it. It makes me feel like a damn pussy which I know is pretty stupid. Sad and angry tears because both emotions consume me fully. No one knows. No one has seen.
Except Rory.
He’s been there for both of us this year. He’s been the real rock even though he loves Zoey too. He’s pushed me more times than I can count to stop holding it in and holding back which is kind of weird knowing who he is.
“Jax, what’s wrong?” he asks on the first ring.
“What makes you think anything is wrong?” I ask intending to joke but sounding flat.
“You and Zane both leave town when you have practice. Something is wrong?”
I narrow my eyes knowing he can’t see and shake my head. “I’ve told you that it’s creepy that you have people following us.”
“And I’ve told you that I need to make sure your all safe. I’ve got too many people who would try to get to me through the people I love.”
I groan a little, but he doesn’t notice. Instead, I hear him saying something to my mom. “Are you with Mom and Dad?” I ask.
