More Than A Game

Prelude

"Jace? Can you come to the kitchen, please?" I heard my mom call up the stairs.

I pushed back from my desk and made sure to close my laptop before I obeyed my mother's request. I glanced down at my wrist and saw that it was only 5:30 in the evening. It was a little too early for us to eat dinner and I had already finished my chores for the day.

Nevertheless, I made my way down the steps and followed the sound of distant chatter. When I crossed the threshold into the kitchen, I saw everyone gathered around the kitchen table. My mom, Mike, Annabelle and my dad were all waiting for me at the table.

"What's going on?" I asked.

I could feel the tense atmosphere that was settled around us and started to make me feel a bit uncomfortable. I noticed that my dad and Mike exchanged looks. That exchange confused me even more. My dad and step-dad were civil because of me but it was still weird for me to see them interact together. 

"Why don't you take a seat Jason?"

I glanced at my mother, who spoke, and saw her give me an encouraging smile that didn't reach her hazel-green eyes. I nervously sat down at my normal seat next to Annabelle and she climbed in my lap. I kissed her cheek and immediately calmed down when the scent of strawberry kids' shampoo enticed my senses.

My mom's use of my full name, Jason, did not go unnoticed. She only used my full name when I was in trouble. I hadn't done much to get in trouble, and other than work or workouts, I hadn't left the house a ton this summer.

"Well, you know how Mike was laid off a few weeks ago?" my mom started and I watched as she bit her lip. Her hazel-green eyes that I had inherited from her looked down at her hands and I noticed they were tightly clasped together.

"Yeah..." I trailed off. The company he worked for as a CFO was bought out and they decided to make some... changes to the company. Mike was well aware that there would be a possibility that he'd be let go and had sent his resume to various companies all over the country. He was prepared for when the company gave him the boot.

"Well," Mike coughed and cleared his throat. My eyes shifted to him and I looked at the man that my mom married when I was ten. "I got a new job."

"That's great!" I exclaimed and a huge smile plastered on my face until I looked at the faces around the table. The grin quickly diminished as my dad looked at me with a pained look in his eyes.

"Jason," my mom spoke and I instantly knew that whatever she was about to say would be huge. She never called me Jason –only in serious matters like when I was in trouble for not doing my chores. I had already washed and put away the dishes and I took the trash out this morning. There was no reason I should've been in trouble. "Jason, we're moving. Mike's new job is in Florida."

There it was.

I nodded.

"Okay. When do I have to be packed by?"

"We found a house today. We move in two weeks."

Two weeks.

Two weeks left in my hometown.

Two weeks left with my boys.

Two weeks left with my dad.

Two.

Weeks.

Well, shit.

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Hi! My name is Taylor and this is my first story on Wattpad. I hope that this story goes smoothly, and if you find any mistakes please let me know. Anyways, thanks for reading!