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I manage a smile. “Anytime.”
He kisses me and then heads for his truck. I stare at the court for a few seconds longer, then climb into my car.
CHAPTERTHIRTEEN
HOLDEN
Ishut my laptop and scrub at my face with one hand. My mind is spinning from the amount of medical jargon I just tried to absorb, my stomach tied into uncomfortable knots.
I haven’t mentioned my mom’s illness to anyone. I considered telling Cassia, but that was before I found out about her parents’ divorce. She’s got enough going on right now.
The easy option would be to do nothing. To continue with my life exactly as it is. It finally feels settled after the upheaval of the summer.
My senior year.
The beginning of the end of college.
Since arriving back on campus yesterday, it’s felt like I never left. I transferred the terrible packing job I managed—Sydney and Catherine had a good laugh watching me load the car in the condo’s parking lot—and am officially moved into the off-campus house I’m sharing with two teammates.
I should be thrilled to have Cassia nearby and a bedroom in a house where none of my few family members live. The car sex was hot, but it’s never happening again. I have bruises and mosquito bites in places I never thought I would. After being separated all summer, it feels like we have a lot to make up for.
And I should be excited about getting back on the court with my teammates. Games that actually count toward our season’s stats won’t start for a while. But practice is picking up right away and we have a few scrimmages scattered throughout the fall. I won’t lose any momentum from the intense training camp I just attended.
Everything should be good. Great, even. Classes haven’t even started for me to stress about. I have three days to chill on campus and do absolutely nothing.
I can’t stop thinking about my mom, though.
The surprised, scared look on her face.
The way her skin matched the grayish hue of the linoleum floor.
The random guy with her.
I should be relieved, I suppose, that she has someone. But it’s a glimpse into her present I didn’t get the last time when she showed up alone.
How long have they been together? What did he offer her that my dad didn’t? Does he treat her well? Make her happy?
I’m the furthest thing from a medical expert—I got a C in Biology—but everything about my mom’s appearance indicated she’s sick. Really sick. That she doesn’t have long left and any chance to get those answers is disappearing fast. That any chance to talk to her at all is fading.
A knock on my bedroom door is a welcome interruption.
I drop my hand from my face and call out, “Yeah?”
“Hey, man.” Henry opens the door and peers inside, his usual friendly smile fixed on his face. “How’s it going?”
“Good.” I’m not sure if it’s a lie or not. “You?”
“Great. Good to be back.”
“I thought you weren’t coming back to campus until tomorrow?”
“What can I say? I pictured you guys having a blast without me and got FOMO.”
I snort. “We’ve just been unpacking. Nothing that exciting.”
“Yeah. Solid progress.” Henry eyes the stack I haven’t touched. I haven’t even unpacked my sheets yet. I just tossed a blanket on the mattress to sleep last night.
“Well, I’ll leave you to it. Pizza later?”
