Chapter 144
Kieran's POV
He stood, walked around the desk, and put a hand on my shoulder, his grip firm and steady. "Whatever you're dealing with at home, I hope you handle it quickly. You have too much potential to let anything derail you. And Kieran?" He paused, waiting until I met his eyes again. "If you need help—real help—don't be too proud to ask for it. There are resources available if your family situation is putting you or your sister in danger."
I swallowed hard, my throat suddenly tight. "I appreciate that, Coach. I'm handling it."
He studied me for another long moment, then nodded slowly and released my shoulder. "Alright. I'll email you the mandatory session schedule by tonight. Don't make me regret this."
"I won't let you down." I meant it, every word of it, even as the weight of what I'd just promised settled over me like a physical thing.
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Walking out of that office, I felt the full magnitude of what I'd just done. I'd put everything—the competition, MIT, my entire future—on one massive gamble, betting that I could juggle it all without letting any piece fall. The hallway was mostly empty now, just a few stragglers heading to their last classes, and I leaned against the wall for a moment, closing my eyes and trying to steady my breathing.
But when I thought of Lily's scream when she saw Drake, the way she'd shaken in my arms, the terror in her eyes as she'd signed He's going to hurt us—I knew I'd made the right choice. I'd made the only choice I could live with.
My phone buzzed in my pocket, and I pulled it out to see Summer's name on the screen.
Summer: How did it go?
I stared at the message for a moment, my thumb hovering over the keyboard as I tried to figure out what to say, how much to tell her without making her worry more than she already was.
Me: It's approved. Independent study starting tomorrow. Coach is letting me stay on the team with modified attendance.
The response came almost immediately.
Summer: He actually agreed? That's official then?
Me: Yeah. As long as my scores stay above 85th percentile and I don't miss more than two mandatory sessions.
Summer: I'm glad he approved it. At least you're still on the team, even if you won't be there every day. When will you be back?
I stared at the screen, my fingers tightening around the phone as I tried to formulate an answer that was honest without being cruel. The truth was I didn't know when I'd be back—not really. It depended on how long it took to get Drake out of our lives permanently, how long it took to make sure Lily was safe, how long it took to find a way to fix all the things that had been broken long before I'd ever had the power to fix them.
Me: I don't know yet. But I'll text you every night. I promise.
Summer: You better. And Kieran?
Me: Yeah?
Summer: I'm proud of you. For taking care of your family. Even if it means I have to miss you.
I stood there in the hallway, the afternoon sun cutting through the tall windows in harsh slants that made me squint. I didn't stop to admire it—couldn't afford to. My mind was already racing ahead to the bus schedule, to how long it would take to get home, to whether Drake would still be there when I arrived or if he'd already done something I couldn't undo. Tomorrow, I'd start the new routine—study at home, protect Lily, deal with Drake, and somehow keep my physics scores high enough that Coach didn't revoke my spot on the team. And every night, I'd text Summer so she knew I was okay, so she knew I was still thinking about her, so she knew I hadn't forgotten the promises I'd made.
It wasn't perfect. It wasn't even close to perfect. But it was the best I could do right now, and I had to believe it would be enough.
I pushed off the wall immediately and headed toward the exit, my backpack heavy on my shoulder and my right hand aching dully in the cold. The bus ride home would give me time to think, time to plan, time to figure out exactly how I was going to make all of this work without letting anyone down—but mostly, it would give me time to prepare for whatever I'd find when I walked through that door.
But as I stepped out into the late afternoon chill, the wind cutting through my jacket and making me shiver, all I could think about was Summer's face when I'd promised to come back, the way she'd looked at me like she believed me even when she had every reason not to. And I knew, with a certainty that settled deep in my bones, that I would come back—no matter what it took, no matter how long it took, I would find a way to keep that promise.
Because losing her wasn't an option. Not now. Not ever.