“I’m sure family would help out if you asked. Aunts, uncles, cousins…” He trails off when I shake my head. “Your friends?”
“They work. They don’t have time to babysit for me every day.”
Besides… it’s not as if I was really there for them. When I think of how I treated Ash when he was down, because I was blind to anyone’s troubles but mine, I wince. As for Tyler and Zane… I was already too caught up in Dad’s comings and goings, Teo’s recurrent sickness and the ever-mounting bills to do much for them.
Payback is always a bitch. And talking about work and time… I glance at my watch and do a double take. Fuck.
“Coach, I have to go.” I rise from the creaking plastic chair. “I’m already late for work.”
“Okay, listen.” Coach rubs a big hand over his face. “Think about it. Do something about it. I really want to help you. You’ve shown great promise, and you’re a good person. Bear in mind, this offer won’t be open forever. Second chances exist, but you need to fight for them. This is it, Dylan. This is your second chance. Take it.”
Second chances. Why does my mind immediately flash to Tessa? Stupid, Dylan. That ship has sailed. And it was your doing.
“Dylan?” Coach is observing me. “Are we on the same page?”
I sigh, nod—because what the fuck can I say?—and hurry out.
***
I leave work early, which earns me a major stink-eye from the gym manager, to pick my bros up from the bus stop. No way am I letting Miles get beaten up again. Putting aside the danger to my little brother’s life, which is my number one worry, child protective services could take him from my custody.
After Dad took off, I fought for the right to look after them, but I’m not their official guardian. That’s still Dad. If they find out Dad is gone and I can’t take good care of my brothers, then they might be put into foster care, and I…
I’d die before I let that happen. Over my dead body. This is what’s worth fighting for, much more than a scholarship and college.
Second chances. The words echo in my head, and I do my best to ignore them. Not now. Not important.
Priorities. Miles and Teo depend on me. They come first.
The school bus arrives, and I watch Teo climb down. I take his hand. He gives me a tiny smile, and I kneel to check his temperature. Not one hundred percent sure, but he seems okay.
I grin, elated, and together we wait for Miles who’s approaching us slowly.
“Okay, buddy?” I ask, and he nods.
“Will you always come get us?” he asks, hope in his voice, and man, I wish I could say yes.
“We’ll see,” I say carefully. Dammit.
His eyes shift away, but not before I see sadness flash through them.
“We gonna have hot chocolate and marshmallows?” Teo is tugging on my hand.
“After dinner,” I say automatically, waiting for Miles to take my other hand. He’s staring at it—at me—suspiciously. “What?”
“Did you lose your job? Is that you’re here?”
A snort escapes me. Christ. So not funny when your ten-year-old brother worries about money in the house.
“I didn’t lose my job. I just left a little early to pick you guys up.” I ruffle his blond crew cut and grab his smaller hand in mine. “Ready? That hot chocolate and marshmallows won’t wait forever.”
With a chorus of “hot chocolate” from both Teo and Miles, we cross the street and walk toward home. Teo is singing something over and over again—I can’t catch the words—and Miles is silent. When I squeeze his hand, he doesn’t squeeze back.
I open my mouth to ask what’s on his mind, when he lifts his other hand and points. Right at our house.
Someone is standing outside, a tall, broad-shouldered figure. He seems to be peering into the house through a window.
I frown. Who can that be? It’s not Dad. Is it one of his buddies, from this new church he’s joined? A drunk? A burglar?
Dark is gathering. I slow down, pull my brothers closer and wrap my arms around them as I try to think what to do.
Then the stranger turns around and lifts a hand in greeting. A second person appears from behind him—a woman.
“Dylan!” she calls and waves at us.
Audrey. And Asher.
After a few seconds spent gaping, my brothers squirming in my hold, trying to escape, I manage to shut my open mouth and start walking.
“What are you guys doing here?” I ask as we take the path up to the front door.
“Zane said you won’t make it to the concert tomorrow,” Audrey says and squats down, smiling at my brothers. “So we decided to come visit.” She winks. “We brought chocolate cake.”