She shrugs, unable or unwilling to meet my eyes. Instead of her usual bright smile and high spirits, she’s completely wrung out. Even when separating from your family is the right thing to do, it’s bound to be heart-wrenching. I long to hug her, but I’m not her boyfriend anymore.
Instead, I get drinks for everyone, and we all sit down at the table.
Is this it? Becks eyes Sinc and Andy, who are holding hands.
Yeah, sorry. Ethan has homework to do. And he wants to watch the game, I explain.
Becks groans and turns to Cleo. You told Mats? For fuck’s sake, is there no secret you can keep?
But instead of a snappy comeback, Cleo just mumbles an apology, more proof that she’s in bad shape.
Then Bergy appears and slides in beside Jinx. What’s happening? he asks.
Knudy takes charge. We’re going to concentrate on figuring out what we can do to rehabilitate Nellie’s reputation.
What about the playoffs? Becks asks.
Unfortunately, we can’t do much about that, Knudy says. We’ll have to survive the first game and hope she can come back for the second.
It’s important to stay in shape in the meantime, Becks insists.
Maybe we can arrange for extra practice sessions for Cleo, I suggest.
But she can’t practise with the team, Knudy explains.
I could practise with her, I offer.
Me too, volunteers Sinc.
Bergy nods. Me and Swanny could come too.
Knudy makes a note on her phone. I don’t think there’s anything in the rules against practising with other college players, but we can double-check.
It’s odd to have this conversation about Cleo when she’s here and not saying a word. She raises her head and softly says, You guys don’t have to do all this for me.
Becks snorts. Obviously, we don’t have to. We want to. We fucking care about you, she says, in the least sentimental tone ever.
I have a suggestion that could solve a lot of Cleo’s problems, says Andy. The gleeful tone of her voice means that this will be big.
I’d like to write a profile on you. She turns to Cleo. Remember when you told me that I shouldn’t profile you because you hadn’t experienced hardships, like Ella? Well, now you have a very dramatic story, and I’d like to tell it. But the key is proof. I can’t write a story that’s just he said/she said. I’ve done some investigating, and there’s a place in Minneapolis where they do rush drug testing. Apparently, people need results quickly for new jobs. If Cleo gets her tests done there, they can have her results ready in twenty-four hours.
That could be in time to make our first playoff game, Woolly says eagerly.
But don’t you have to test right after a game? Knudy asks.
Andy consults her phone. In this case, we’re looking specifically for ephedrine or pseudoephedrine. They have tests to find even the smallest traces of those drugs. As long as Cleo has never taken any.
She finally lifts her head and shows interest. I can’t even spell pseudoephedrine. And I don’t take anything, not even cold medicine or Tylenol.
Will that be expensive? Knudy asks.
I’ll have to price it out, Andy admits. Then we can decide on next steps.
We could do a GoFundMe, Becks suggests.
Or just ask the team. Everyone would pitch in twenty bucks if it meant getting Nellie back, Jinx says.
Wow, great idea. Bergy smiles at Jinx, and she edges away slightly.
