I turned my phone over and sent another text.
Gina
Please talk to me. I don’t know what you’re thinking right now, but it’s clear you don’t understand…
It’s the tenth time I’ve sent essentially the same message. The status under the blue bubble goes fromdeliveredtoread, and then silent.
Tears coat my cheeks, and I exhale a moan. My thumbs move rapidly, and I text again.
Gina
Please, Owen
It’s all the same. No reply.
Pushing against my thighs, I walk slowly down the sidewalk in the dark, back to my house. It’s also empty. Of course, Maverick is out celebrating this win. It’s a huge night. They beat their old team in a game that was pure fire. I had so much fun watching them. I was so happy.
I take Spanky out in the backyard, waiting as he runs around and uses the bathroom. When he’s finished and trots back to me, we return to the house. I check his food and water, then I slowly climb the stairs.
I go through the motions of washing my face, brushing my teeth… I walk across the hall to my bedroom, take off my boots, take off my clothes.
When I take off my new jersey, though, I stop. I hold it in my hands reading the wordStoneover and over. I remember his chin lifting and I could almost hear his proud laugh all the way up in the stands when he saw me wearing it.
I hug it to my chest, chewing my lip as hurt and angry tears burn in my eyes. Is he actually ghosting me right now? I crawl beneath my blankets, angry and sad. I didn’t do anything wrong.
They’re leaving in the morning for Tampa. They’re going to be gone for three days. I can’t live like this for three days, but what can I do? Why won’t he let me explain?
Taking out my phone, I send one more text. Then I drop my head against my arm and switch off the light.
“What happened to you last night?”I’m at Haddy’s house.
She’s sitting across from me at her kitchen table, nursing Lucy while I stare into my coffee cup.
The guys left this morning, and even though I set an alarm and got up when I heard Maverick moving around downstairs, it was too late.
My plan was to intercept Owen when the guys met up to ride to the airport together, but Maverick told me he left on an earlier flight.
He didn’t want to see me.
I didn’t say it out loud to my cousin. I only hugged him and made up an excuse for getting up early to see him off—something I never do. Then I went upstairs and crawled into my bed again.
For a half hour, I tossed and turned. Then, I got dressed and walked over to have breakfast with Haddy.
Now I hold my mug in both hands, gazing into the chocolate-brown liquid as if it can help me feel better.
“Did you and Owen have your own little private celebration?” She smiles curiously. “Come to think of it, I didn’t see him after the game at all.”
My throat closes, and I can’t take it anymore. Shaking my head no, I inhale a shuddering breath. “No… We didn’t do anything.”
I blink down, and tears fall onto my cheeks.
She reaches across the table, covering my hand with hers. “Gigi, what happened? Did that idiot Baxter do something to hurt you?”
A thick lump is in my throat, and all I can see is the anger burning in Owen’s blue eyes right before he turned and pushed away from me, into the waiting crowd.
“Owen saw us. He… he saw us, and he was so angry, he left. Now he won’t speak to me.”
Haddy’s brow tightens. “What were you doing?”
