“I can’t believe you sang all the songs!” I tell Zack. This weekend has shown me sides of him I never knew existed. Granted, I haven’t really known him for long, but I never imagined he’d be the kind of guy to sing Do Re Mi at the top of his lungs.
“I told you I loved this movie.”
“It’s true. He does. We’ve watched it every Christmas since before he was even born,” his mom says.
Wishful thinking has me imagining what it would’ve been like if my family was as close as Zack’s—if we had family traditions. Zack’s family isn’t wealthy, but what they lack in resources, they make up for in other things—in the intangible things that matter more than the material.
“Thank you for allowing me to be a part of it,” I say, smiling.
“You know you’re stuck with us now, right? We’ll expect you here every Christmas morning for the Sound of Music,” Zack says.
Every Christmas…
The thought makes me smile.
“Yes. It’s nice having another girl in the house,” Mrs. Hayes echoes.
“I’m sure your family will want to see you during Christmas as well,” Mr. Hayes adds.
“Time for gifts!” Zack says, jumping up from the couch.
“Yes, let’s do gifts,” Mrs. Hayes says, following her son’s lead.
Reaching over, I grab my bag and place it on my lap.
“I’m so sorry, dear,” Mrs. Hayes says. “We didn’t know you’d be here, so we didn’t get you anything.”
I smile. “Getting to spend Christmas with you all has been the best gift I could’ve hoped for.”
“Zack, why aren’t you like her?” his dad asks and we all laugh.
“Because there can only be one Emma and your life would be boring without me.”
“I guess,” his mother says.
“Okay, so Mom and Dad, here are your gifts,” Zack says, passing them each a gift bag.
“You know you didn’t have to get us anything. You’re our son,” his mom says.
“Exactly. I owe the two of you everything. Just take the gift!”
“How were you even able to afford this?” his dad asks.
“I got a little more added to the expense budget the Athletic Department gives us. I used a little of it to get you these gifts. Nothing too crazy, but I hope you both love them.”
I can’t help but admire this man standing in front of his parents with a grateful heart, making up a story to prevent them from knowing he’s been working his butt off.
“You should’ve spent it on food,” his dad argues.
“It’s Christmas. It’s not an expensive gift. Just open it already!”
“Fine!” his mom and dad say in unison as they open their bags.
I watch the awe on Margaret’s face as she looks inside of the bag. She pulls out a frame, first showing it to her husband and then to me. In it is a picture of a younger version of her and her husband with Zack—looking at his parents rather than the camera—sitting between them. With shaggy red hair, I figure he has to be around six or seven.
“This is beautiful,” Mrs. Hayes says, turning it back toward her and admiring the photo of her family. “Do you remember this?” she asks her husband.
“How could I forget? Zack wouldn’t sit still to take the photo. We took a million shots and this was the best one.”
She chuckles, wiping a tear away from her eyes. “Thank you so much, son.”
“Of course. Now, Dad, look at yours. It’s actually a gift for both you and Mom.” Mr. Hayes looks at his son suspiciously. “Don’t worry, Dad. It’s nothing bad,” Zack says chuckling.
Slowly, Mr. Hayes inserts his hand into the bag and pulls out an envelope. “What’s this?”
“You have to open it,” he says, urging him on.
Mr. Hayes opens it slowly. “You got us tickets to the game?” he asks, staring at the paper in front of him.
“I know the two of you really wanted to support me. So, I got you both tickets. And before you say anything, Coach helped me get them, so they aren’t expensive or anything.”
The moment Zack says Coach, his head spins to me. I nod, letting him know it’s okay. I don’t want things to change between us just because of my father.
His dad cuts in, stopping the silent conversation we’re having. “Thank you, son. I’m not sure we can afford the trip to Florida though.”
The disappointment in his voice breaks me.
“Keep looking,” Zack says and his dad gives him a puzzled look before inserting his hand into the gift bag once again. This time, he pulls out another envelope.
Before he has a chance to open it, Zack practically yells, “That’s flights and hotel.”
“What?” his mom exclaims.
“Now you can definitely be there to support me.”
“Son, you shouldn’t have spent—”
“You won’t take money from me to pay the bills. I want you there on what’s probably going to be the most important game of my life.” His words move me to tears, but I try and hold them back as I watch him honor his parents.
Standing up, his dad pulls Zack into a hug. “We wouldn’t miss it for the world.”
31
EMMA
“You know you shouldn’t have gotten me anything, right?” Zack says as we wave goodbye to his parents on the way to the car. I loved seeing the smile on his face as he opened up his gift. I got him a planner—as an inside joke—because of how crazy his schedule is. I also got him a Harry Potter T-shirt, which he laughed about. I wanted to remind him of that night in my dorm, the night that seemed to start everything.
I get in the passenger seat, waiting for Zack to get in on the driver side. “You invited me to meet your amazing parents and got me the final book in the Fifty Shades series. It’s the least I can do.”
I catch the smile on his face as he turns on the car and pulls out. “My parents really loved having you.”
“You think?” I remember the smiles on his parents’ faces when they opened the mugs I got them. They were holiday-themed, one wishing them a Merry Christmas and the other a Happy New Year. I wanted to make sure they were something they could use and wouldn’t feel bad about receiving.
“Are you kidding me? My mom was fawning all over you. I think Dad liked you too, but he’s a little more quiet, so with him it’s hard to tell.”
“I did notice that. He doesn’t say much.”
“It doesn’t change the longer you know him. Luckily, Mom can talk enough for the both of them.”
“How did they meet?” I ask.
“You really like romance stories, don’t you?” he says, flashing me that winning smile.
“Yes. And actually, before you start, I was wondering… Have you read Fifty Shades?”
Zack erupts in laughter. “Absolutely not.”
“Then how do you know what it’s about?”
“I couldn’t avoid the trailers. Those things were everywhere.”
“You really haven’t even watched the movie?” I press.
“Nope. Never have. Never will.”
“Got it. Back to your parents then.” I can’t wait to hear their story.
“They met in high school,” he starts.
High school sweethearts. “Wow,” I say, amazed they knew they were meant to be back then and are together still.
“Yeah. He was a football player. He was good but not good enough to get a college scholarship, so he didn’t go—he couldn’t afford to. Mom, on the other hand, was a book worm like you. Her nose was always inside of a book. Also, like you, she was a straight-A student.”
“How do you know I’m a straight-A student?” I ask, while at the same time crediting our love of books as the reason Mrs. Hayes and I immediately hit it off.
“You just confirmed it,” he says with a boyish grin.
“Who liked who first?” I ask as he turns right onto the highway.
He looks straight ahead without saying a word for a moment and I assume he’s
thinking about the answer. “I think they both liked each other, but it took a while for them to admit it to themselves. Dad was the big star football player and Mom was the smart girl, so for them, it felt like their paths weren’t meant to cross.” His words remind me of my reservations about this whole thing: nerdy girls and football players don’t run in the same circles.
“How did it happen?” I know asking this might give me more hope than I should have, but I’ve started it now and when I start something, I finish it. Especially stories.
“My mom got sick of waiting for him to make a move.”
“She made the first move?” I try to imagine what Mrs. Hayes did to get Mr. Hayes’ attention.
“Yeah. Dad’s always been an introvert, even as a football player. I think Mom realized he’d never do anything, so she went ahead and did it herself.”
“What did she do?”
“Homecoming.”
“Go on,” I press.
Zack chuckles. “I want to keep the suspense.”
“I don’t like suspense. I like to know as quickly as possible, so proceed.”
“Fine, fine. Basically, during lunch a couple of days before the homecoming game, Mom stalked up to the football players’ table in the cafeteria. She had her books in hand and her bag on her back. The guys, according to Dad, were going on and on about the upcoming game, but he saw her approach and watched her every move. He said all the conversations around him no longer held his attention—this girl did. The cafeteria went silent. She didn’t care though; her eyes were fixed on dad’s with steely determination, and…” Frustratingly, he stops, just when the story’s getting good.
“And what?”
“She told him he was taking her to the homecoming dance.”
Did I hear that right? “Wait, she told him?”
“Yup. She didn’t ask. Her exact words were, ‘Hayes, you’re taking me to the homecoming dance. I’ll be ready for you to pick me up at 8 PM.’ Then, she gave him a slip of paper with her address.”
“What did your dad say?” I ask, wishing I had the courage his mom did. She put herself—her heart—on the line without knowing if she’d get rejected. What if he turned her down? What if his friends made fun of her? I guess she just knew what she wanted and went for it, damn the consequences.
“He said, ‘What color corsage should I buy?’”
I laugh. “Seriously?” I ask, falling in love with their story.
“My dad was outside her house at 7:30 PM that day and the rest is history.”
“That’s beautiful.”
Zack nods. “It is. My parents have told it to me a million times. They both wonder whether they’d be here if Mom didn’t go after what she wanted, if my dad would’ve ever made a move. While he’d like to think he would, I think we all know that he probably wouldn’t have. Mom and dad use their story to teach me that you never know what can happen unless you try. If you want something—you have to go out and get it.”
ZACK
Even without looking at Emma, I can feel her mulling over my words.
“It’s that simple?” she asks.
I shrug as I pass a slow-moving vehicle. “Yes and no.”
“Explain,” she says, seemingly intrigued.
“For my mom, it wasn’t easy to build up the courage to go after what she wanted.”
“Was she afraid he was going to say no?”
“Of course she was. She knew she liked him. She thought she’d seen him check her out every so often, but she didn’t know for sure. That’s why I say it’s not really that simple. My dad could’ve said no. She could’ve been rejected in the middle of a crowded cafeteria. Homecoming, and the rest of high school for that matter, could’ve turned out completely differently for them.”
“And yet knowing all the risks, do you think she made the right choice?”
“Absolutely. For starters, if she hadn’t, I wouldn’t be here,” I joke. “More importantly though, if she hadn’t put it all on the line, they wouldn’t be together.”
I wait for her voice to fill the car once again. “They really love each other,” she says, and I can sense the wishful longing behind her words.
“They do.” Despite all the curve balls life throws at them, I’ve never seen my parents not love each other fiercely. In that way, I feel I’ve been privileged.
“What would you’ve done if you were in your mom’s shoes?”
I think about her question, giving her an honest response. “Back then, I probably would’ve waited for the other person to ask me instead of setting myself up for failure. Luckily, my mom has more courage than me and my dad combined.”
Emma laughs. “I can see that.”
“Okay, I was kidding. No need to agree with me.”
“You said it!”
“I know. I can say it, but when you say it, it sounds like you’re telling me I’m not courageous.”
“Well…are you?”
Her question implicates more than just this moment, more than just my parents’ story. “I think you already know I am,” I tell her. Back then, I wouldn’t have done what I did last night. Three weeks ago, the thought of being with someone wouldn’t have crossed my mind.
“Give me an example of how. I can see how your mom grabs the bull by the horns, but how do you?”
The tone of their conversation has switched from lighthearted and playful to something more serious. “Do you really need me to give you an example?” I ask, making sure she understands my unspoken meaning.
“I do.”
I smile. “I’ve done what no one else would’ve dared to.”
“And what’s that?”
“I started falling for my coach’s daughter.”
32
ZACK
Throwing on the only clean shirt I have left, I walk out of the room, checking for an email from Emma. Despite it only being three days since we got back, we haven’t been able to see each other because I’ve had to pick up a few more shifts to pay off my credit card. She’s still helping me study though. She’s been giving me assignments via email, and I make sure to get them done. The last thing I want to do is have my parents go to a game I’m not even playing in.
I worked this morning, but I have a rare night off, so I’m spending it in the parking lot of the Children’s Hospital. I have no idea what I’ll be doing there. Zoe talked me into it, telling me it was something called Good Night Lights. I agreed to go because I figured Emma would also be going, and I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to see her again.
The thing is, I have no idea where I stand with her. When she’d dropped me off at the house, I’d meant to kiss her. I wanted to, but I don’t know what the rules are now that we’re back to our normal lives. Instead of being an adult and asking, I’d panicked and jumped out of the car like it was on fire. I was relieved when I got an email from her the following day, though. It meant things were back to normal—whatever our normal was.
Descending the stairs, I walk into the living room to find Colton and Jesse watching the Sports Center highlights. “Are you guys ready?”
Jesse shuts off the T.V. “Yeah, it’s time. Let’s go.”
“Are we picking up your girls?” I ask. The question I want to ask is, ‘are we picking up mine?’
“Nah, they’ll meet us there,” Colton says.
“Ah, who else is coming?” I can’t stop the words.
Jesse gives me a suspicious look.
Does he know? Girls talk, right?
“You, Colton, me. Zoe, Mia, Kaitlin… I think Zoe’s roommate is coming too.”
Colton clears his throat. “I mentioned it to Chase, but I’m not sure if he’ll show. We told some of the other guys about it too.”
“The more the merrier. The kids will love it,” Jesse chimes in.
“So, what do we do exactly?”
“It’s really easy. We drive to the Children’s Hospital, park our cars, then at 8 PM we flash our headlights at their windows,” Jesse explains a
s we walk out to Colton’s car.
“Why would we want to do that?”
Jesse climbs into the backseat. “The kids will flash their lights back. It’s a way to let them know people care, and are supportive of their battle.”
Curious to see where the idea came from, I ask, “Have you done this before?”
“I haven’t, but Zoe read an article about Good Night Lights happening in a hospital in Rhode Island. She was moved by it and asked the Children’s Hospital if we could do the same. They jumped at the chance, so we’re sort of launching it.”
EMMA
After a drive spent vaguely answering Zoe’s question about being at Zack’s house for Christmas, we arrive at the hospital.
“Are you excited?” she asks, our conversation no doubt already stored somewhere else in her mind. I’d be lucky if she just forgot about it altogether, but considering I hadn’t told her about my holidays until earlier today, I’m sure she’ll have a lot more questions for me when we get home.
I nod. “So excited!” She’s been talking about Good Night Lights for so long now that I’m happy we’re finally getting the opportunity to do it. If it was up to Zoe, I know we’d be out here every Wednesday night flashing lights at the little kids.
“Jesse just texted,” she says, staring at her phone. “They’re on their way.” We walk toward the front of the car, leaning against the hood. “Do you want to know who’s coming?” she asks in a sing-song voice.
“You told me Mia, Colton and Jesse were coming.”
“Yes, but there are more,” she exclaims. I bet she’s excited she got more people to join.
“Is Kaitlyn coming?”
“Yeah, her too, but someone else.” Why did she say it like that?
“Chase?” I ask, a little less sure.
Zoe shakes her head. “You really suck at this game. It’s Zack!”
I don’t react, regardless of how much I want to. “That’s cool,” I tell her as nonchalantly as I can.
“Really? Just cool?” she says skeptically.
Bragan Boys (Bragan University Boxset) Page 54
