I spent the week keeping my promise to Adam and avoiding him like the plague. I would, however, get the almost imperceptible head nod from him if we passed in the halls.

Several times I had tried to call and talk with Paris but it was no go. She was completely avoiding me. Not that I blame her. I was still scheduled to work, so unless she chose to take the night off, I'll be seeing her face to face and I'm pretty sure that's exactly what she has planned.

As I exited school my phone rang. "Brynn! How are you?"

"I have never been better!" she tells me rather excitedly.

"Really? How come?"

"My dad went to file a Motion to Modify Temporary Orders today and was told that because the Order was a TRO, Temporary Restraining order it is only in effect for a max of 14 days. This weekend ends the order unless he chooses to renew it, which of course he doesn't."

"This weekend?! Are you telling me that I could see you as soon as Monday night?! Hug you?! Hold you?! Kiss you even?!"

I hear Brynn's laughter and it's a balm to my soul. "Oh no, that's not what I was saying?"

"It wasn't?" My good mood deflates, like a day old birthday balloon.

"I'll be seeing you bright and early Monday morning!" Brynn starts giggling and I'm wondering what I'm missing.

"Monday morning? Brynn, how can I see you Monday morning we both have school?"

"I know! Isn't it great! So do you want to meet me at the bus stop for old times' sake or under our tree?"

It took a few seconds for my brain to catch up to realize what Brynn is trying to tell me. "Hold up?! Are you... are you coming back to school? Back to Lenape?!"

"YEP!" Brynn just can't stop laughing and I can't stop smiling.

"Holy crap, Brynn! Meet me at my house and I'll drive you to school on Monday. To be on that bus and have to sit in my assigned seat, having you that close but that far away at the same time would kill me."

"Perfect! Oh, Finn, I can't wait to see you again. I miss you so much!"

"I miss you more!"

"I wouldn't be so sure about that?!"

"I am me. So I'm sure," I said, laughing.

"So, you going into work tonight?"

That fast my good mood fled. "Yeah."

"She hasn't answered any of your calls has she?"

"No, I'm on radio silence, total blackout where Paris is concerned."

"Just be gentle with her, Finn. To be ditched on prom night has to be quite a blow."

"I know. And to make matters worse it was her first dance ever that she was allowed to attend. What a memory maker I turned out to be?"

"It was my fault. I panicked and ran. You thought I might be ending my life. It doesn't exactly give a lot of time to consider other people's feelings."

"Thanks for the excuse but I should have never agreed to go, to begin with. She never intentionally meant to ask me. She had to get permission from her dad first and he said something and it just sort of snowballed from there. Adam's right. It's not fair to Paris. I'm thinking of taking a different job this summer."

"But you love working there? Wait... did you say, Adam? You're taking advice from Adam?"

The disbelief in Brynn's voice was almost comical. "Yeah, I'm having a hard time believing it myself but it's true. Paris knows we can't be more than friends but that doesn't necessarily mean she doesn't care for me as more than a friend. Sticking around is just mean."

"Would you like the female point of view?"

"Yes, please."

"Be honest and upfront with her but you walking out of her life... let that be her decision. You shouldn't make that decision for her. She understands that you and I are together, but she may not be ready to lose your friendship, so why hurt her further. Best to let her walk away from you."

"What if she doesn't? I don't want her stuck thinking, what if..."

"Paris is too smart for that."

"So is Adam," I counter. I hear Brynn sigh heavily into the phone.

"He is but I honestly don't think he would have tried to hold onto me as hard if I wasn't constantly pushing him away."

That was a mouthful and something definitely to consider in my dealings with Paris. "I promise I'll be gentle with her."

"I know you will." And I can hear the smile back in her voice.

"Monday..." I say as the word pops back into my mind and fills me with anticipation.

Brynn giggles. "Monday."

"I think it's going to become my new favorite day of the week after this."

"Mine too," Brynn admits.

"How's Gran?" I asked.

"She's good. I've gotten to spend nearly every day with her. They've done scans and it was a minor stroke but they don't see any further damage or blocks. With luck and some new medication, she should be okay. I know I have to lose her someday but I'm just not ready right now, you know?"

"I know." I really didn't because my life isn't filled with the loss that Brynn has experienced but I could imagine.

"Have you told her? You know about having cancer?"

"No, not yet. I know I will have to but I need her to concentrate on getting well and I would just be a huge worry on her already full plate."

"I guess I get that, but you know she's going to be mad as a hornet when she figures out that you kept this from her."

"She'll get over it," Brynn said without apology.

"Guess she'll have to."

"Exactly."

"Is she going back to the assisted living place?"

"Not sure about that yet. I've been talking to my Dad. I really want to take care of Gran. I don't like the idea of her being alone. Her house hasn't sold yet. She owns it outright. Dad just has an apartment. I have been trying to convince him to let us move in with her, and we all live together... you know as one big happy family?"

"Really?"

"I know it's a long shot, but I thought perhaps I can work on getting my home health aide certification over the summer. She could become my full-time job."

"What about you Brynn? Who's going to take care of you?"

"The first time I tell you I'm planning for the future and that's what you ask me? To stick to the present."

"Just saying, one thing at a time is all. We have to get you both well."

"And what better way for me to convalesce then by having my family surrounding me and my boyfriend a short drive away?" Brynn argues.

I grin and shake my head. She had me there. "It sounds like a plan to me."

"I knew you'd love it."

"That because you know I love you."

"Yeah, that might have had a little to do with it, but I love you more."

"Oh really?" I challenge back. "Well it just so happens I'm pretty sure I love you most of all."

"Nope, can't happen because I love you to infinity and back."

"You do, don't you? You just can't get enough, you stalker."

She bursts out laughing at that one. "Me? Stalking you? I'm not the one with the restraining order on me."

I chuckle. She's always one up on me. "Are you saying I'm stalking you?"

"If the shoe fits..." She giggles. "Come on, Finn. Admitting to it is one step towards a cure."

"Who said I wanted to be cured?" I question in my sexiest phone voice. I hear the air that rushes from her lips.

"Monday?" she says in a way that holds so much promise.

"Monday," I say planning on fulfilling those promises.

____________________

I enter the back of the building. Mr. Brock meets me moments after I enter. "Finn, can you and I talk a moment please?"

"Absolutely." I follow him into his office.

He sits behind his desk and waves his hand for me to have a seat, so I sit. I did not catch a glimpse of Paris anywhere in the kitchen and wonder if he's planning on letting me go.

"I think I know what this is about, sir and I wish to apologize to you and Paris."

"I understand why you lied, Finn."

"You do?" I couldn't help being surprised.

"You were protecting Paris and my son, but you shouldn't have taken the blame for the fight you weren't in."

"The fight?" Oh man, he thinks this is about the fight? Wait... the fight?! "You know?"

"Mike finally fessed up. Guess the guilt of letting you take the fall got to him. I want you to know I'm going to petition the school board to let you back in the game."

I sat up a little closer to the edge of my chair. "Sir, with all due respect. I really wish you wouldn't."

Mr. Brock looked a mixture of confused and surprised, which resulted in a rather odd contortion of his facial features.

"Why ever not?"

"To tell the board about me would mean the truth having to come out about your son. I'm already set with what I want to do with my life and it has nothing to do with basketball. This scholarship means everything to him and I took the blame because I wanted him to have that opportunity."

"But Finn it should be you out there with your team. You deserve to be there and they deserve you to be there."

"Tyler has taken that position and it's been an adjustment for him but I've been watching him in practice and he's starting to believe he can be more. He's a good leader and I think he can take them to victory."

Mr. Brock is still frowning at me. "I'd rather Mike, earn it."

"That's just it Mr. Brock. He has earned it. He works twice as hard as everyone else on the team. He's the shortest guy out there but he's quickest on his feet. He's an amazing player. He shouldn't have to lose out on life for making one stupid mistake."

"You got a good head on your shoulders, kid. Something my son could benefit from."

"Were still friends, Mr. Brock. Who knows maybe I'll rub off on him?"

Mr. Brock chuckles. "One could only hope."

"So... we're good?" I question.

"Well..." Mr. Brock hesitates a moment before saying, "there is the matter of Paris?"

Here it comes. This time I chose not to jump into the conversation but felt compelled to ask, "Paris?"

"Finn, I know my baby girl is... well she's growing up. She is a beautiful young woman but I'm not entirely sure she's ready for a relationship with someone older and obviously more... mature."

"I see." I stay cool wondering where he's going with us.

"I'd appreciate it if you'd let her down gently. It's rather obvious she has a crush on you and well... I just don't want to see my little girl get hurt."

"I... understand."

Mr. Brock sighs in relief. "This has been a good talk, Finn. Now if I could only find another dependable driver like you, my troubles would be over."

"I think I may be able to help you there too, Mr. Brock," I said smiling as the thought just popped into my head.

"Really? If you get me out of this jam there's a raise it for you."

"I have someone in mind. Let me run it past him and I'll get back to you."

"Sounds perfect. Thank you, Finn." Mr. Brock held out his hand and I shook it.

Okay, not exactly how I was expecting this talk to go but not bad either, I thought as I entered the kitchen.

Things were looking up until I heard...

"Give me one good reason why I shouldn't hate you for the rest of my life?"