Kickoff for Love by Amelia Whitmore Page A

Steve dumped her and that I can come home now. She said I don't get a choice.”
    "I'm coming home.” He said quickly. "I'll see you in about fifteen minutes, okay?" He asked. 
    I nodded, and then realized that he couldn't see me. "Okay,” I whispered before I hung up. 
    The next person I called was Andy. "Hey, honey.  I thought you were coming over.” He said happily on the other end. I let out a sob. "Ashley? Baby, are you okay?" He asked quickly. 
    "I-I c-can't co-come over to-day.” I said, crying harder. 
    "What's wrong?" He asked, his voice making me tell him. 
    "My mom just called.” I said, and then started crying harder, unable to talk anymore.  So I hung up and went up to my room to cry in my bed. 
    About five minutes went by before I heard feet stomping up the steps, stopping at my room before the door burst open. Andy was at my side within the next second. He pulled me to him, holding me as close as humanly possible. "Shhh, shhh,” He kept whispering in my ear. I calmed down eventually until I was only sniffling and taking hiccupping breaths. A few tears still slipped out, but I wasn't sobbing anymore. "Can you tell me what happened now?" He asked softly. 
    I stayed silent for a few more minutes. "She told me that I had to go back.” I said monotonously. 

 
    CHAPTER TEN
     
     
    Andy's POV

I stopped breathing. The words cutting through me like a knife. "What?" I asked in shock. 
    "Apparently, S-Steve divorced her and n-now I have to be there again.” She started crying softly into my chest. "I don't want to go.” She whispered. 
    "Then you won't. Your Dad won't let you go back to that.” I told her, trying to sound comforting. 
    She shook her head. "He doesn't know. Only you do.” The hand that was rubbing her back stilled. 
    "You never told him?" I asked, not knowing what to say. 
    "How do you tell your father that the woman he's left you with for most of your life is a junky alcoholic?" She asked. 
    "Honey, you need to tell him.” I said, kissing her forehead. 
    "How," she asked? I squeezed her closer to me. 
    "I'll help you.” I told her, unsure of what else to say. Speaking of Coach, he entered the room then. He looked like somebody had run over his puppy, which was expected. Ashley left my arms and went to him. He held her close. 
    "I can't go back to her,” Ashley whispered. 
    Coach looked helpless. "She's your legal guardian honey. I can't stop her.” He said softly. 
    Ashley let out a sob. I shook my head, unable to believe what was happening. "Coach, you need to fight for custody.” I told him. Coach looked at me like he was going to tell me to shove it. But I spoke to Ashley before he could. "Honey, you need to tell him.” She looked at me and nodded, coming to sit beside me again. I held her hand. 
    "You're not pregnant, are you?" Coach asked horrified. 
    Ashley scoffed, "Absolutely not.“ A grin almost coming across her face. Then she looked at him with sad eyes and started telling him about her childhood. He sat there, his eyes clouding over when he heard about the drugs. When she was finished, he just sat there in a trance. Once he snapped out of it, he looked at her, sadness taking over his features. 
    "Why didn't you tell me before?" He asked. 
    "Because I was too young to know what she was doing and when I realized, I was already living here. I thought that it didn't matter anymore because she had Steve and I'd never have to move back.” I held her closer to my body. 
    "I'll call a lawyer.” Coach said before he pulled her to him and squeezed her. "I'm so sorry.” He whispered, a tear rolling down his cheek. I looked away, realizing that it was a private moment. 

 
    CHAPTER ELEVEN
     
     
     
    Ashley's POV

"You're not leaving, are you?" I asked Andy once Dad left to go call an attorney. 
    "Not unless you want me to.” He said, wrapping his arms around me and holding me close. I snuggled up to his chest. I loved moments like this. Despite what