Page 138 of Bleacher Report
“Don’t be silly. Now’s as good a time as any. I feel healthy as ever. Let me get a pen,” Mom says, disappearing back inside like she didn’t just casually flip my world upside down.
I stand frozen as Bonnie steps in, brushing snow from her coat.
Mom returns a minute later, pen in hand, ready to sign away her house and her role as boss of the local salon like it’s just another Sunday.
“I can't believe you’ve been planning this,” I finally say.
She feigns interest in my confusion as she signs the first page. “Once I heard how serious things were with Peyton, I started looking at treatment facilities near Seattle.”
“So you wanted me to go back?”
She nods. “Seattle’s your life now. I just needed to catch up.”
I stand in the driveway, reeling.
A while later, after Bonnie leaves and the bread is cooling on the counter, I step onto the porch and pull out my phone.
I have a flight tomorrow. I need to be back for our home games at least, but with the news of my mom moving to Seattle, I know that I need to let Tom know that I won’t be taking New Jersey’s deal.
There’s one other thing I need to do.
Hunter: Hey, can I still pick Jesse up tomorrow for PT like usual?
Abby: You’re going to be back in Seattle tomorrow?
Hunter: Yeah. Flying out tonight.
Abby: Sure. He’d love that.
The next morning, I show up at Abby’s house. Jesse greets me first, his cane in hand, and I’m happy to see that he’s using his wheelchair less and less.
Abby steps outside too, her arms crossed.
“Got a minute?” she asks.
I nod, stepping closer to the front stoop of their house. The look on her face saying that this is serious. I hope that what happened between Peyton and I won’t change her allowing me to work with Jesse.
“Go jump in the truck, Jesse. I’ll be there in a minute.”
He nods and heads off.
“So when does the trade happen?”
“What trade?”
“The one with New Jersey. And are you planning to tell Jesse about it today? I just want to make sure you let him down easily. He’s going to be really disappointed in losing you.”
“I told them no,” I say, shaking my head. “I’m staying here. My mom is moving here for treatment. Is that what Peyton told you was happening?”
“She told me that your mother didn’t want to move, and that New Jersey offered you a spot, so this was the best option for you,” she says in a huff. “You’re telling me that you're not taking the trade and moving to New Jersey.”
“No. I’m not. I’m staying here. It’s where I’m the happiest, and I have more than just a team I want to be here for…including Jesse.”
“Oh God…just wait until Peyton realizes that she gave up the syndication deal and you're not moving.”
“Wait…what the fuck? She gave up the syndication deal? That can’t be right. She had a meeting the day after Christmas with the network.”
“Peyton left some things out,” Abby says, taking a step closer. “She’s going to kill me for telling you, but I think you should know.”
