Page 26

CHAPTER 26

ZANDER

My body acts like concrete as I get off the floor and stiffly walk toward the door. I slip my shoes on in the awkward silence, avoiding her sad gaze.

How did we go from teasing each other and tussling to me getting kicked out?

I hate leaving her like this.

Shit, should I even be going?

All she’s asking for is a little commitment.

A little? She’s asking for a lifelong promise.

Can I honestly give that to her?

My future is up in the air as I wait to find out if the pros want me. Coach Jones says I’ve got a shot, but there are no guarantees.

What if it doesn’t come through? I don’t even know what I’m going to do with myself.

But what if it does come through?

Can I expect Sienna to drag Zoey around after me? I don’t exactly have a say on where I play .

The door clicks shut behind me, and I don’t bother looking back.

I clomp down her front path, the cold night air biting at me. I forgot my jacket.

Fuck it. I’ll get it another time.

Because I will see her again.

It’s just a matter of how.

As a friend?

As Zoey’s father?

“Fuck!” I fist the back of my hair, kicking the tire of my SUV and slumping against the driver’s door.

She’s asking a lot, you know? Considering we’ve only just reconnected!

Anger fires strong and fierce.

She was the one who left me in the end. She ghosted me! What if I do something to piss her off and she does it again, taking Zoey with her and leaving me high and dry?

Or what if I do something to hurt her?

I can’t break her heart again.

Fuck it, she deserves better than that. Better than me.

Beeping the lock, I jump into my SUV and squeeze the steering wheel until my fingers hurt.

“Ahhh!” I yell, slapping the wheel and cursing up a storm before suddenly going still.

Huffing like a rhino, I stare out at the dimly lit street, indecision riding through me like a hurricane.

I have a game tomorrow.

I need to focus on that.

But there’s a girl in that house behind me who owns my heart, and am I seriously about to drive away from her?

The game .

The girl.

That’s always been my battle, right?

How the fuck am I supposed to handle both?

And which is more important to me?

This is your life we’re talking about.

Your future.

Snapping my eyes shut, I clench the wheel and mutter, “Fuck this!”