MYLES POV

The afternoon ended very fast and we said goodbye to my mom. By we, I mean, Ken, Mary, Cali, and myself. Ever since the parking lot, Brayden hasn't returned home. It's likely that he does not want to sit around and play teammate or maybe even answer one or two questions about what happened to us last summer.

Neither of us brought up the topic though. My mom was prudent, she only said what she knew I was okay with, and then spent most of her time with Ken and Mary in the kitchen while Cali and I drained and took down the Intex pool from the small backyard before the food was ready.

And right now, just after the sun had just set, Donovan's cozy home smells like the combination of those mints from Mary's garden. I've taken a shower and changed from what I wore this morning. Cali wants the pool returned to Scarlett. She might have not straightforwardly asked for my help, but I know she needs me to come along. After all, there's no way I would let her go there by herself.

While I wait for Cali, Ken emerges from a room I learn was an office that evening. He's wearing slacks along with eyeglasses that pinch his straight nose. When he catches sight of me around the foyer, he comes over.

"You are not leaving us are you?" He joked and I smiled, shaking my head, no.

At this point, I could trade anything to extend my stay here if it could be possible.

"Cali wants the pool returned to the girls," I told the man instead, since I can't blatantly tell him what runs through my head.

Alertness flicked in his wide eyes, and he nodded thoughtfully.

I waited for him to say something, given his complexion appears analytical, but he just offered, "Do you need a hand to set it in the truck?"

~

As we stepped outside the warm house and into the evening breeze, I inhaled the freshness in the serene surroundings.

Earlier, before I took a shower, I had carried the components to the front lawn. So now it's even easier to transfer the parts to Ken's trunk.

When the space wasn't sufficient, Ken carried the toolbox kit into the garage and made enough room for the rest of the pool parts. One beat-up truck, parked there, caught my eye immediately.

"Who's vehicle is that?"

Ken smiles and places his hands on his hips when he joins me, leaning against the back of his car. We both amusedly watch the poor truck posing in the dark, next to a new grey Honda.

"That's Brayden's. He rode it to school and everywhere in this town until he relocated. And the one next to it is Cali's. We got the first one for her sixteenth birthday. This one was replaced by the insurance company after the accident. She wouldn't even look at it. I guess it explains why it's still looking brand new."

Quietly, I watch the car, which tells a huge part of Cali's story. She might have never been in the replacement, but it exists here because she experienced a tragedy that no one wishes for.

"What happened after the accident?"
I had been curious to know and Ken seemed willing to confide in me.

When Cali told me about the accident, it was the last time I held her in my arms. She left that day, blocked my phone number, and deactivated her Instagram account. I couldn't reach her, so I only wondered how she was doing.

"She lost her mind. Chloe's family didn't press charges against her or anything but everyone thought she was accountable for the accident."

Of course, that's the reality of the world we live in. Seventy to eighty percent of our actions are judged wrongly by people and the nominal percent that they are able to calculate correctly is mostly meaningless to our lives.

"She was involved too, they should be grateful she survived." My head was shaking. Confusion streamed into my thoughts from the unmistakable unfairness.

"They were drunk, young, and reckless. This is a small town. Of course, they'll be the best cautionary tale for kids in every home around here." He exhaled. He might have said that but he didn't seem agreeable with his own words.

"Cali is not trouble. If only they got to see her and know her, they would all know she's the most incredibly amazing woman they'll ever meet." I told the doleful-looking man. He has to know there are others who believe as he does.

He turns his head in my direction, examining me, but he gives the impression of being preoccupied.

"Can I ask you something?" He probed.

I couldn't read what was going on in his mind, but I suddenly felt unease. However, I agree. There is no way I would say no.

"You and Cali..." He started and intensified his eyes on me, probably the easiest way to figure out my reaction. And God knows I am already giving it away. My eyes fall to my shoes while he continues. "Mary believes there's something going on between you two. Correct me if I am wrong, but don't hide it away from us if there's something we should know."

Definitely, his wife would know. Ever since I came, Mary had given me some quiet expression that spoke louder than words, and at the same time, she didn't fret that I wasn't the right choice for her daughter, unlike her son who sued me.

"Mr. Donovan, I am sorry for living under your roof and lying to you. I just thought we could tell everyone when Cali is ready." I admitted while raising my head to meet his reaction.

The man took the news precisely normally as though he had known, and was only expecting me to say it.

"So there is something?" He smiled and asked encouragingly.

Apart from Helen, no one was willing to understand Cali and I's situation. I couldn't even discuss it with anyone, knowing that privilege doesn't work for me. The only people who knew about us turned out to hate me for it. For example, Brayden and Nelson. Even David, even though he wouldn't confess it. But this man next to me didn't give me the glare, the disgust, or the anger I had been anticipating from him.

"I do really love her," I impulsively told him and he nodded. He lifts his stare at me and I am able to let out a relief exhale, and lean against the trunk.

"I see. Now this explains the oddness since last year," he commented.

"I won't hide it from you; most backgrounds in my story have a bead of complications, except for my mom whom you met today."

Let's just say the universe messes with us at our most elated timing.

Last summer, my central hardship came and ruined us. Deep down I know Brayden was right, it was my fault the team was crashing. I am their number one, they all trusted me, but I failed them. I cracked a hole in our midst by being absent and weak even when my body was back on the court. Even worse, the damage didn't stop, it came to the trouble of halving the base and core of the team this season. We are losing every game, and it isn't just the scores; it is in everything we do. It was our communications, our friendships, and our trust in each other. In a game, every one of them believed they were on their own. They forgot the true meaning of the word team. Rather than passing the ball between us, they hold it and try taking it to the hoop against five defenders who are a team. The truth is, we are all mutilated and confused, and it all started when I lost hope in everything.

"I would not ask deeper because I respect your honesty." Ken earnestly said to me. "But I will ask if these complications are going to harm Cali in any way?"

Something jerked into the wall of my chest. It might be my heart because it was pounding in the two seconds of stillness as Ken awaited my reply.

"No, not at all." The words were an instinct, I couldn't prevent them from rolling from my tongue.

I am looking at him and he is looking at the brand-new Honda.

"Myles, that girl has been through a lot. You should know that she will not be able to recover from any disappointment if it comes from you. She sees you like, I don't know..." He paused for a second, smiling, but he didn't look over at me. "Just how all these young girls glorified TV stars. In what she believes, she takes you to be perfect, flawless, and nothing like anyone. Don't change that idea for her." It was when he spoke the last line that he made eye contact with me. He might not have said it, but his eyes are asking me to make the promise.

"I will only strive to make her happy." That's all I want to do. It's the remorse that chained me for six months since she left and wanted nothing to do with me.

Her father smiled, showing his teeth.
"I'm glad to hear that, Myles. I might not know you very well, but somehow I am convinced you're a good person. Cali had been grieving for a long time, but with you here, she wakes up these days with an excited smile on her face and laughter filled in her tone." All the time while Ken was speaking, blood surged into every nook and cranny in my body-to places that had been wilted for a while until this moment. I must be immobilized because it was until the sound of his chuckle, and the sense of a light squeeze on my shoulder revived me from the pleasant ease his words had evoked in me, that I was able to breathe again.

He smiled broadly, quipping in a whispering volume, "Honestly, if she finds me telling you this, she will be very annoyed."

I laugh along with him at the thought of her blushing deeply.

"Thank you, Mr. Donovan." If Brayden could communicate this smoothly, and come off understandable as his father, we wouldn't have any issues.

"He's hard?"

Ken's irrelevant question stunned me.

"Who?" I blurted.

"Brayden. I suppose he's hard to convince?" Ken frowns.

I did not just think out loud, did I?

Blinking, I swallow and run a hand through my hair and out.
"He's tough..." This is Bray's father, who opened the door of his home for me. Who, right now, approved of my relationship with his daughter. I must watch my words when describing his son. "I think I am number one on his hating list."

"No way. You two just need a good talk," he implied.

Laughing at someone's words is rude. If not, I would've laughed at what Ken is suggesting. It has to be either he doesn't know his son very well, or Bray never had anything to be pissed at until last summer. He isn't willing to communicate with words, he does it with paper or his fists.

"Believe me when I say he will not listen."

"Then I will talk to him."

"I don't want to cause any..." I had immediately started but Ken interrupted, "No, you didn't. Cali needs to be happy, and ever since I knew her, it's everything pertaining to you that makes her excited. Brayden should see it from my perspective too."

This is the moment I declared I liked Mr. Donovan just as much as I like his wife. He's the kind of easygoing man who analyzes and studies the conditions of his family, making it his priority to see them live again.
"Thank you so much."

A smile is on my face when her soft voice gushes in and draws our eyes to her.

"Dad? What are you doing?"