He shrugs. “Why?”
“Academics,” I mutter. “Know any good tutors?”
“My sister, Kennedy.”
“Knox’s girl?”
Ace scoffs. “That’s my fucking sister.”
I nod. “Do me a solid, please.”
He shakes his head. “Doing the team a solid.”
We clean up the rink and head into the locker room. Once we’re back into our regular clothes, Ace pulls out his phone and lets it ring on speaker.
“Yes, Ace,” a woman’s voice comes over the speaker.
Ace says, “I need a favor. A big one.”
“What is it?” she asks too nicely, like she’s prim and proper, not annoyed.
“A teammate is failing and needs a tutor. If he doesn’t bring his grade up, we’re screwed for the game this weekend.”
Knox’s voice fills the line. “Who?”
“Dylan.”
Knox laughs. “Etta? He’s failing?”
Ace nods, looking at me. “That’s what I said. So, Ken, are you up for it? He’ll pay.”
I laugh. “I can pay.”
“Okay,” Kennedy says.
I lean in. “Is right now a bad time?”
Knox says, “Yes, it is.”
Kennedy says, “No, it’s not.”
Knox says, “Let’s go to Dylan’s. Scott and Westley live with him. I’ll hang with the guys while you help him with homework.”
“Sounds like a deal, man. See you guys there.”
I feel a surge of relief run through my body. I grip Ace’s shoulder as he says his goodbye. “You’re a fucking lifesaver, man.”
Ace nods. “You’re welcome.”
An hour later, Knox and Kennedy show up at my front doorstep. Scott’s hollering across the entire house when Knox enters. I’ve barely seen Kennedy before, but I won’t ever forget how pissed off Ace was when Knox went after his little sister… apparently in a sneaky way.
I’m set up at the kitchen table, ready for her. She sits next to me, and we dive straight in while the guys make too much noise in the background, playing Call of Duty.
26
Cecily
Marina was already at the gym when I texted her, so I raced through my house to find my favorite workout clothes and hopped in my car. Now that I’m in my car, I can’t stop replaying Dylan leaving.
