Total pages in book: 77
Estimated words: 71814 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 359(@200wpm)___ 287(@250wpm)___ 239(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 71814 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 359(@200wpm)___ 287(@250wpm)___ 239(@300wpm)
“We should get back to it,” Garrett said as he clasped his hands together, seeming as antsy as the rest of us. If we just stood around, our minds would race, and doubt and anxiety would creep in. The best way to prepare was to train, and we only had one full day left to prepare ourselves.
When Friday came, there truly was no telling what would happen. Anything could happen. We could lose. We could win.
But the biggest defeat we could suffer was if we lost Zoe, and I refused to let that happen. Even if that cost me my life.
Chapter 26
Cohen
Voices drifted from the day room as I wandered out of the locker room, water drops glistening in my damp hair. My body slightly ached from my workout today, but I felt primed and ready to go for tomorrow. I was ready to kick ass.
“I’m bummed I can’t help more,” Tobin sighed, as I walked into the day room where Paolo, Zoe, and him were hanging out after a long day. He had his hurt ankle propped up on the coffee table in front of him.
“We’ll be sideline buddies,” Zoe joked as she sat beside him, her shoulder bumping against his.
Tobin cracked a smile and put his arm around her shoulders.
“I guess that doesn’t sound too bad,” he replied.
“You have the most important job, Tobin,” I commented as I sat down on the other side of Zoe, while Paolo remained seated in a cushioned chair across from us. “You have to look out for Zoe.”
Zoe smirked and cocked an eyebrow at me.
“Who said I need a babysitter?” she questioned me.
Even that little spark of defiance lit a flame within me. Even with tomorrow looming just ahead, I couldn’t ignore how drawn I was to her and her addictive attitude. That was why the thought of losing her killed me on the inside.
“It’ll help the rest of us focus if we know that you’re in good hands,” I explained. “We’ve all lost people in all sorts of ways. We won’t want to lose you too.”
Paolo nodded in agreement.
“You’re part of our lives now. We don’t want that to change,” he told Zoe. I could tell he harbored the same care for her that I and the others did.
That was one of many complicated problems in my life. My budding feelings for Zoe and how the other guys seemed to be feeling the same way. I wasn’t going to compete over her or anything like that because the guys were like my brothers, but I was curious if she felt the same way about any of us.
Or all of us.
“Change… my life has changed so much since the moment I stepped foot back in this town,” Zoe admitted, a sense of vulnerability lingering in her words. “It has scared me to death, but… I also think it has been for the best. It’s helped me heal from everything that happened before.”
“You just have to keep moving forward,” Tobin added. “Try not to let the past get to you.”
“And do your best. Even if you’re scared,” I told her.
“Which is way easier said than done,” Paolo muttered. “There are days when I don’t feel like the greatest dad in the world. Those days I get swept up in my grief or my self-doubt. I just want to make my kids proud.”
Tobin nodded in agreement.
“I’m the same way about my dad. He’s not even here, and I’m still trying to make him proud,” he sighed, sounding tired. He then looked over at Zoe. “I’m sure you can relate.”
Zoe’s eyes grew distant for a moment.
“We all strive to be as good as the best people we know and to be better than the worst ones we know,” she said, her hand still lingering on my arm. “How in the world do we not lose ourselves in that, though? It’s all I can think about sometimes.”
“I try to focus on the present. The things I like. The people I enjoy being around,” I spoke up as I shot Zoe a smile. “That helps me drown out the noise.”
Zoe slid her hand down to mine.
“Well, you need to teach me your ways because I seriously need to shift my focus elsewhere before I go crazy,” she insisted as she bumped her shoulder against mine. But she didn’t pull away. She continued to lean against me, our eyes locking.
“You should try to relax,” Paolo commented as he closely watched us.
“Maybe we could help you. Take your mind off things,” Tobin suggested, his hand moving to rest on the back of Zoe’s neck under her hair.
Zoe’s breath hitched as she looked between all of us.
“I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t tempting. You guys are the only ones in the world who can draw me back from the edge,” she admitted, exposing a hint of vulnerability that made me want to wrap her up in my arms.