Page 51 of Open Net

We snacked and watched another movie when another knock came. I waited for the door to open, since most of our friends just walked in, but it didn’t.

I started to stand but Chloe was already to the door. She opened it and immediately stepped out. I hurried forward until I saw who was there, hugging her. I thought I’d ran out of tears, but they poured from my eyes once again.

“Mom?” I whispered through the deluge.

She stepped back from Chloe and looked me over. “Oh honey.” She closed the distance between us and wrapped her arms around me. “Oh baby. I should have come sooner.”

She held me, and I soaked her in. Her faint vanilla scent. Her warmth. When she released me, I held her hands. “How are you here? I thought you weren’t coming for a few more weeks.”

She glanced at Chloe who just shrugged. “I got a call that my baby girl needed me.”

I wiped my tears with the back of my hand and nodded. “I do.”

“I’m here now. I’ll take care of things.”

I nodded again. I knew she would. This was the first time in my life I’d needed to rely on others. It wasn’t easy, but I’d had to forfeit control.

“Now, where’s my baby boy?” she said.

Lucy appeared behind me and made a big show of passing Jackson to my Mom. “Here’s Grandma, Jackson.”

Seeing my mom hold my baby took a boulder off my shoulders. Things clicked. This was just what I needed.

I hooked my arm though Chloe’s and rested my head on her shoulder. “Thank you.”

She kissed my forehead. “Anytime, babe.”

14

Olli

I opened my eyes to see Grant glaring down at me. His curly hair falling in front of his eyes.

“Ugh. What do you want?” I threw my arm over my eyes and tried to go back to sleep.

The bed shook. “Get up, man. I told you I’d only let you stay here if you worked on getting better.”

“I am.”

“How?” I liked him better when we were on vacation. In Mexico he was the laid back one. What happened to that version?

“I haven’t thrown or broken anything in three days.”

“Yeah, and you’ve been here for four. You owe me for that senior CLASS trophy.”

“I’ll have my people pay your people.” I rolled over, hoping he’d get the hint.

“No way, Olli.” The bed shook again. “Get you lazy butt out of bed, man. You have physical therapy and an appointment with the team shrink. Coach told me if you missed one more day, he’d trade you to the lowest bidder.”

I scoffed. “Go for it.”

The thin blanket covering me was ripped away. I shot up. “What’s your problem?”

He glared at me with more intensity than before. “You are. I’m doing you a favor by letting you stay here. I know I’m the only one that would let you in. But just because I’m letting you sleep in my guest room doesn’t mean I’m going to tolerate you being an idiot. You’re on thin ice, man. We’re all rooting for you to get better but there’s nothing we can do to make it happen. Only you can.”

“Cute speech. Have you been practicing?”

His fists clenched and I almost smiled. He might be a few inches taller than me, but his curls and dimples made me think of a little boy. Not so intimidating. What was he going to do? Hit me? I’d like to see him try to fight me.