Page 27 of Home Game

“I mean, you’re the most focused player I have ever worked with. You never lose sight of your goals. And now you have a child-swamp creature that looks like she is on death’s door, moving in with you.”

“She’s not moving in with me.”

“She’s sleeping in your bed.”

“She got jumped last night. You saw what he did to her face. She’s in a lot of pain.”

“But why is that your problem?”

I shrugged. “I don’t know.”

“Why is she here?”

“She has no one.”

“Where is her home?”

“She doesn’t have one.”

“Where are her parents?”

“They died. She grew up in foster care.”

“Ryan,” she implored. “Are you serious?”

“What was I supposed to do?”

“You’re the guy who wouldn’t even get a house plant because you didn’t want the responsibility.”

“I didn’t ask for this.”

“So send her back.”

“Where exactly am I supposed to send her?”

“She should be in the hospital.”

“She was. They were releasing her this afternoon and the only support they had for her was a book of bus tickets. You saw her. She can barely walk, she has no money, no identification.”

“But why is this your responsibility?”

I jammed my hands into my pockets. “I don’t know.”

She stood there and stared at me for a long moment. “Fuck. You’re such a boy scout.”

“It’s called being human.”

“Well, if human is the route you want to go, I’ll do whatever I can to help you.”

CHAPTER 8

ZOEY

I wokeup feeling drugged and disoriented. It was dark, quiet, and I felt like I was lying on a giant warm cloud. For one long moment, I wondered if I had died. Then pieces of my miserable life washed over me. Seeing Ryan. The hospital. Losing my bag. Ryan telling me to sleep in his bed.

What time was it? I lifted my head. A muted television sounded outside the room. I slowly crept down the hall. Ryan sat on the couch, which he had already made into a bed. He was wearing a pair of shorts but no shirt.

“Hey,” he stood up, displaying a rock-hard chest. “You’re awake.”

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