“Don’t let him get to you. He’s not worth your energy.”
She lets out a long sigh, settling back against her chair. “I don’t get why he hates me so much.”
“He’s threatened by you, plain and simple.” I tap my shoe against hers. “Little dick energy.”
Ainsley grins. “I wonder how he’d feel if we were on the same team. He wouldn’t be competing against me.”
“I mean, I’m on his team and he’s still a dick.”
She laughs. “True.”
“Have you looked at any colleges yet?”
Ainsley glances out toward the tall trees at the far end of the yard and lowers her voice. “I’m going to PCC.”
My chin jerks back. “Community college? What? Why?”
She wings her gaze to mine. “My dad’s sick.”
My stomach bottoms out as I lean forward in my chair. “What do you mean?”
“He has cancer.”
Oh, God.“When did you find out?”
“The morning after the championship game.” She offers me a small smile, but her lips wobble. “He was waiting for the season to end before he told me.”
“What are the doctors saying?”
“They caught it too late, so it’s in an aggressive stage.” She clears her throat. “Incurable.”
My fingers twitch. “Maybe he needs a second opinion. Maybe?—”
“He’s been to two doctors, and they both said the same thing.” She sniffles, and hikes a shoulder as she blinks up at the sky. “I’m going to spend the summer with him, and make his remaining time as comfortable as possible. I don’t need to go away to some expensive fancy college just to become a teacher. I can do that here, and stay with him.”
I reach out and clasp her hand. “I’m really sorry.”
“Me too.” Unshed tears shine in her eyes, but she doesn’t let them fall. “I don’t know what I’m going to do without him.”
Guilt seeps into my veins for all the times I’ve wished my father would die. Not because I’d be upset if he did, but because I wish hers wouldn’t.
“I don’t know the right things to say, but I do know that you won’t be alone.” I squeeze her hand.
“Thanks, Landon.” She squeezes me back before pulling back her hand and setting it in her lap. “So, what about you? You’ll definitely get a full-ride between lacrosse and your grades.”
“I’m counting on it. My number one is UCLA.”
Her eyebrows jump. “Oh, so, not too far.”
I chuckle. “Nah, just the complete opposite side of the country.” I glance at the window leading into my kitchen, sadness clenching my heart. “I hate leaving my mom, but...”
“It’ll be good for you to get away,” she finishes.
She means get away fromhim.
“That black eye you had last month,” she glances to the others to make sure they’re not listening, “was from him, wasn’t it?”
I roll my lips between my teeth as I nod once.
