Chapter 35 Zeke
thirty-five
Zeke
Ican’t imagine being at that game.” Avalon whispers, sinking into my chest. “Witnessing something like that, I mean—”
“I can’t imagine being his daughter. You’re there to watch your dad do what he loves, and because of some fucking asshole playing dirty you… you lose him.”
“What about her mom?” She gazes at me. “Was she there?”
“Her mom died when she was little.” I sigh. “As far as I’m concerned, he was the only family she had.”
“How are you holding up?”
“Shocked, obviously, but I didn’t lose a parent, you know? I can’t even compare how I’m feeling to how she’s feeling.”
All I know is after the game, the guys and I went home and just sat in the living room. Even Cam came over and ended up sleeping on our couch. I don’t think we fully comprehended what had happened until we woke up the next day.
It was the first thing we saw. ‘Dylan Rhodes has died at 37.’ I guess he had a tiny brain aneurysm that he would’ve never known he had until it burst. They said the hit itself was something he might’ve survived, but pair it with the bleeding in his brain…
no matter how quickly they treated him, he wouldn’t have made it.
“I know he wasn’t your dad, but he was your idol. He was why you felt like playing in the pros was possible.”
“Yeah.” I twirl her hair between my fingers. “I thought the most difficult part of the other night would be keeping up the playboy facade with the guys. I never could’ve imagined what would happen during that game.”
She wraps her arms around me, cuddling into me even more. Like she’s trying to consume my body in a comforting hug.
“Hey,” I mumble, causing her to look up at me, “I’m happy I have you. Thinking about his daughter made me realize I’m lucky to have someone.”
“What do you mean?”
“She’s all alone. Sure, Rhodes’ teammates are probably like family in some way, but I don’t know if she has someone to be with during this time.
And it made me realize how lucky I am to have so many people that care about me.
You know, if I lose my mom, I’ll have so many people in my corner. You included.”
“You got that right.” She kisses me. “I don’t plan on going anywhere.”
“Hmmm, so are you saying I’m stuck with you?”
“Completely.”