His brows raise. “I’m sure your family would love that.”
Drat.He has a point, but also, my fear of my family’s reaction shouldn’t prevent me from inviting someone who clearly needs Jesus to church. If inviting him means I come clean to Jackie, then so be it.
“Don’t worry about that. Do youwantto come?” I hold my breath, waiting for his answer.
“Actually ... yeah.”
I smile. “Then come. I can text you the info, so your driver has it.” I pause. “Or you can invite your mom with you, and she can drive.”
He groans. “Please don’t make me bring her along.”
“You’ll survive all the love and attention.” I let out a soft chuckle. He’s so cute when he’s like this.
What is up with you? First the adorablecomment,now cute? You’ve got to stop cataloging hislooks.He’scertainly not going to return the favor.
As much as I want to factor everything Jabari does by his own merits and actions, I still have twenty-twenty vision. Jabari Hall is the very definition of a good-looking man. Spending so much time with him, talking every single day, it’s all starting to mess up my mind and maybe even get the attention of my heart.
Remember,he cheated on Jackie.
“What time does your church start?”
I swallow. “Ten.”
“Oh, that’s not a bad time.”
“I think you’ll like it.” I hope he loves it. I’ve been praying for his heart to soften toward God since the very first comment he uttered about religion. If he accepts Jesus into his life, I will throw him a party and buy a cake. My own version of the fatted calf.
“We’ll see.” He hands me the remote. “Now pick a movie.”
“JurassicParkorMy Big Fat Greek Wedding?”
He scoffs. “JurassicParkof course.”
“This better not make me fall asleep.” I find it on his streaming app and hit play.
“If you fall asleep during this movie, you obviously need the nap.”
I grin and settle into the cushions.Let’s see if this is as good as I remember.
17
Jabari
She’s fallen asleep.
I say Val’s name a few times, then nudge her gently, but nothing. Right now, the desire to see what she looks like in her sleep pricks at the wound of knowing I can’t. Still, I wonder if she wears a soft smile on her lips. Does an air of pure peace settle upon her features? The Val I remember from ten years ago wore black-rimmed glasses and always had her nose buried in a book. I never fully looked at her because I’d been focused on Jackie.
I regret that now.
Unfortunately, macular degeneration has filled me with many regrets. But the majority of my grief is directed toward hockey. The sport has been my whole world ever since I joined my first hockey class. The freedom I find slicing the ice has always been therapeutic and very needed. Now what do I have?
I blink at the feeling of wetness on my face. Cautiously, I swipe at my cheek and realize I’m crying. Before I can fully comprehend what’s going on, more tears flood my face and drip down my chin. A sob gathers in my chest, and a fisted hand covers my mouth, but it does no good. The sob breaks free, and the tears come faster.
And Val wakes up.
“Jabari?”
Her arms are around me and pulling me to her chest in an instant. I curl my hands around her waist. I’m not sure why I haven’t mourned my eyesight until now. I’m not even sure if that’s why my heart feels like it’s ripping in two. Maybe it’s the loss of hockey, the loss of everything I’m not even sure I fully understand. I’ve never been benched in such a horrific way.
