Lox's POV...

It's not every day I have a heart to heart with a thirteen year old.

The fact that Chase is sitting with me having a serious conversation is a miracle in itself. The kid usually asks questions because he's curious about his surroundings, but he doesn't usually seek me out first, usually it's Liam, Greya or Fynn he goes to. Probably because I'm difficult to have a conversation with. My stuttering requires patience and what teenage boy has that.

"I'm worried about Greya and you're the only person who can convince her to do the right thing, for her." Maybe he's really thirteen going on thirty.

Greya's gone to the grocery store to pick up the food for our dinner with the Collins later and because I'm physically recovering from my seizures the other day, she asked Liam and I to bring Chase home in a few hours. So, here we are.

"Why d...do y...you think I can c...convince her?"

"You were the one who convinced her to move here and play for UCLA so you can convince her to accept the spot on the women's national team."

Liam's sitting in the recliner listening but not involving himself. I wish I could remember back when Greya was deciding to play for college, but I don't have those memories. I know I would've done everything I could to get her to play and I probably did, hence why Chase thinks I can do it again. I'd like to believe I can.

"I d...don't know bud. I d...don't remember what h...happened back then or h...how I convinced her."

Chase sighs and Liam sits there smirking.

"It doesn't matter if you remember or not. She listened to you because she loved you and you told her you'd be there for her. Greya loves you still and if you tell her you'll be with her, she'll go."

It occurs to me that even though I had told her I'd be with her three years ago, I presumably died and somehow she came here and played for UCLA anyway.

"I w...wasn't with h...her Chase. When you b...both chose to move h...here and she now p...plays for the college team, it w...was without m...me. I th...think you c...convinced her of what sh...she should d...do. She w...will always do what is b...best for you b...because she loves you s...so much and m...maybe she'll listen t...to you."

"She only listened to me because you both died. But you're not dead and she's not going to leave you now that she has you back and because of your stroke and stuff. She doesn't want to move me around because I'm blind and doesn't want to move away from you because you can't walk and ...you know." He waves his hand in my direction, pointing out all my handicaps.

Liam almost chokes as he coughs at Chase's remarks. The kids blunt and intuitive but doesn't quite understand the full picture. Greya has raised him and his blindness is a factor in her decisions, but not everything. At least I hope not.

I'm not sure how to answer him. Chase has seen, well not seen but been around and knows how much Greya has helped me. Just as he can't see and relies on people to help him, I too rely on people to help me. What he's saying is mostly true. Greya does things that would better our lives over something that may better hers. She's selfless like that. Though I think of playing for the national team is what she truly wants, she'd find a way to make it happen like she does everything else.

"He does have a point," Liam shrugs.

"Y...you stay o...over there and b...be quiet." He's not helping one bit.

Chase laughs.

"I th...think you and I h...have the b...best sister and g...girlfriend anyone c...could ask for. We're l...lucky to h...have her. As m...much as I wish w...we didn't n...need her help b...because we have a d...disability, I don't think th...they are the only r...reasons for her n...not playing for th...the national team. Maybe y...you and I c...can figure out w...what she really wants and h...help her choose what's b...best for her too."

"Yeah, alright. We can try."

Two hours later and we're all at Greya's. Mr. Collins, Chase, Fynn, Liam, and Cohen are all in the living room watching football while Mrs. Collins and Greya are in the kitchen preparing the food.

I walk into the kitchen to offer my help and to be with Greya. I haven't seen her all morning and I miss her. Plus I'm not a fan of football knowing that's what Jack played.

Apparently Liam was great at the sport too so I can see why he enjoys watching it. I'm sure he misses playing too but we haven't talked about it. We should talk about it though because I don't want him to miss out on anything more.

I rest my crutch against the kitchen table so I have at least one free hand to help with dinner.

"Hey Loxley, how are you feeling dear? I heard you had a few seizures the other night," Mrs. Collins is watching me limp closer to them while she mashes the potatoes.

"I'm d...doing better, th...thanks. I can t...take over and h...help Greya so you can spend t...time with Cohen."

I catch a sad smile on her face when she looks at my bad arm, so I reach for the masher she's holding and nod at her. She releases the potato masher into my hand and steps away, her smile quickly changing to a pleasant one.

I don't blame her. She's known me basically my whole life and seeing what being shot has done to me makes her sad. I'm like a son to her and I'm sure she wishes she could take all of this away like any mother would want to do. Except for mine. If she wasn't crazy, maybe. Mrs. Collins is more my mother even if I don't remember everything she's done for me, I can see the love in her eyes.

"Thank you Lox. You two let me know if you need me and I'll have the boys help bring out the food when it's ready."

As soon as she walks away, Greya comes up behind me and wraps her arms around me, resting her head against my back.

"Hey handsome. Thanks for keeping an eye on Chase this morning," she says.

I turn around and hug her properly.

"Any t...time Love." I kiss the top of her head

Her arm slides down my back and she gently grabs my left bicep, her thumb pressing into my arm muscles until she reaches my bent elbow and steps back from me slightly so she can see my face.

"How are you doing really?" She asks while trying to flex my elbow.

I push a piece of her hair behind her ear and brush my thumb along her soft cheek. "A l...little sore, m...mostly stiff, but n...not bad. How are y...you doing? You've been q...quiet since my seizures and the l...letters. I can s...see the wheels turning in th...that beautiful mind of y...yours."

"I'm scared that your mother is telling the truth. What if your father knows where you are?" I pull her into my chest and hold her.

"I'd n...never put you or Ch...Chase in danger. We'll figure th..this out."

"I wasn't thinking of what would happen to me or Chase. I'm worried about what could happen to you again or you leaving. I couldn't handle that again. Maybe you, me, Liam, and Chase can move together, a place he can't find us."

"We're not g...going anywhere. We're finishing c...college, Chase and Liam are s...staying here for school, and you're going to p...play for the women's n...national team and b...become a super star."

She wiggles out of my arm and looks up at me. "A super star huh? I'm not sure about any of that."

She walks over to the oven and checks on the ham she's been baking.

I finish with the mashed potatoes and begin scooping them into a casserole dish. She's avoiding the topic of soccer. Understandable as we do have more pressing issues to worry about at present.

"You can talk t...to me about y...your offer to play. If y...you have worries about i...it or t...trouble deciding, you c...can talk to me about anything."

"Thanks. And I will talk about it. Not today though. I want hear what Mr. and Mrs. Collins know and make sure you and Liam are safe."

"One th...thing at a t...time, right?"

"Thank you handsome," She sets the ham on top of the stove and walks back over to me and kisses my cheek. "I love you. Now let's have the guys bring all this food out."

While we eat, the Collins explain that my mother is having increased hallucinations and that my grandfather says he's been keeping tabs on my father and recently learned that my father has been sick but remains secured and away from the general prison population, so he hasn't had contact with anyone. We should be safe here.

Although I have no reason to believe otherwise, I need to be 100% sure that my father isn't looking for me or anyone else I know and love. Which is why I spend the next hour having a private conversation with Mr. and Mrs. Collins on Greya's back patio.