Parker’s parents told my dad that I wasn’t allowed to call or have any contact with her. They didn’t approve of my gay lifestyle and blamed me for making Parker doubt Jesus and the word of God. Their words, not mine. On top of that, they thought a girl playing football was an abomination. My dad told them I would keep my distance.

Now, I was curled up in a ball on the locker room floor hiding from my responsibilities, begging the person who mattered most to me in the world to defy the rules just to be with me. “Not even halfway? I mean, I can meet you at the park later today.”

“I can’t. I want to, but I have cheer practice later and then a bunch of us are going to like grab pizza or whatever.” She paused as though she said too much.

I sat up when I heard one of the outer doors to the gym open. “Well, I mean you have to have friends, right?” Even though her squad was a bunch of mean, bitchy girls, at least she had her cousin Emilia to lean on.

I rubbed my hand over my face. Everything about this sucked. When she left, my stomach was in knots for weeks. I forgot to eat for three days, which made me pass out at practice. Coach was pissed.

Hayley stuck by my side and assured me this wasn’t the end of my life. She said if we were meant to be, then Parker would be back. It was like she and my dad had a conversation about me because both were saying the same thing.

“I’m trying to fit in. Mom says it’s not healthy to mope and I need to be social. I don’t want to upset them. Dad’s pretty mad and I still need their help with college.”

“So, you’re going to let them hold you hostage for the next five or so years? I know they’re your parents, but they’re homophobic jerks. They’re going to do everything in their power to keep us apart. Forever, not just high school.” I was pouting and I knew it.

“This is hard on me too. I miss you. At least you can talk to everyone about it. I’m alone here, Sutton.”

“I know. I’m sorry. I just hate that you let them continue to make your decisions for you. Are you going to let them dictate your whole life? If you don’t stand up to them now, they’re going to forever be a pain in your ass.”

It was hard enough that she moved away, but trying to find alone time with her when our schedules were so packed was almost impossible. She had cheer and a new life to start while I hung back, fearing my heart would simply give out because we were apart.