I didn’t have to be a rocket scientist to deduce that he left when my mom told him they were going to have another bundle of joy.
Strike that ...unwantedjoy, at least in his book.
Nine months later, Nova was born.
At first, I was mad at her. At my mom. They took—no, they drove—my dad away. I finally had a dad, and we had a real shot at happiness, until Nova. I held a grudge for about a year or maybe longer.
While my mom was pregnant and for Nova’s first year, she stressed the importance of me being a big brother, a role model, and the man my little sister could look up to. I didn’t understand what any of that meant until her sweet voice said my name. She didn’t have a care in theworld other than she wanted me to play with her, cuddle with her, and read to her, and to be something she could climb on.
It was when Nova said my name that everything changed for me. She became my biggest cheerleader at my games. I could hear her screaming for me above all the parents. She was the first person to run up to me, hug me, and give me a high five, but most importantly, she never told me I sucked or that I was doing something wrong. For that reason, I would always be in her life and make her my priority. Now more than ever.
“I hope not,” I said to Flinn after processing his question. “What would he even do? Tell us we had to go live with him? Nova doesn’t know him.”
“Neither do you,” Flinn said.
“I know enough.”
I knew what I’d learned in those six weeks. He was a loser. He wasn’t a man, but a child who—when he didn’t get his way—bailed. I had a better relationship with Rocco, Toni’s brother, or Coach Schmidt and Flinn’s dad. Even Brendan, although I hadn’t known him that long. If I needed anything, I could call them.
I pulled the basketball out from under my head and shot it toward the sky. This was a great way for me to work on my form. Flinn changed his position as well and sat on his board.
“You can come live with me,” he said.
I shook my head. “Nova’s afraid of your dog.”
“Don’t you think your aunt Toni will take Nova?”
And not me?
My hand slipped, and the ball almost hit me in the face. I moved my head just in time; my thoughts ran wild. Would Toni take Nova and leave me behind? They were close, and Toni definitely favored my sister.
She used to favor you as well.
What was going to happen to me when my mom died?
Would I go into foster care?
I was forced to bite my tongue to ward off the impending tears from coming to the surface. I didn’t want to cry in front of Flinn. At least, not again. I had already done so when I showed up at his house this morning.
“I mean ...” I shrugged. “I guess my mom will have to talk to your parents.”
“Yeah, there’s probably a bunch of legal shit that has to happen.”
And we’re out of time.
I sat up abruptly and looked away. The tears clouded my vision whether I wanted them to or not. Flinn’s hand rested on my shoulder.
“You know you can stay with me anytime.”
I nodded and bit my lower lip to keep from crying. How had this become my life—where I cried at the park because my mom was dying, and I had no idea where I was going to live?
“I’ll talk to my parents tonight and see what’s what.”
I shook my head. “I don’t think my mom wants anyone to know just yet. She said something about waiting for the treatment and whatnot.”
“All right. I’ll wait.”
Deep down, I knew I could trust him not to say anything to his mom. Chances were, she’d find out from someone else who’d found out from someone else. That was how all the rumors were spread around town.
