I turn to Jodi and Andie beside me and inform them, “I’ll be back in a minute. I need to use the restroom.”
“Okay,” replies Andie.
Jodi stands alongside me and pipes, “I’ll come with you.”
“Sure, okay.” I nod at her, and we both leave the rink and head to the staff washrooms.
“Ma–Kaeli, I really appreciate everything you’ve taught me since I joined the Boston Bandits as an intern,” Jodi speaks out of the blue as we walk down the empty corridor.
That’s sudden. My brows furrow. “It’s truly been great, Jodi. You have a lot of potential. I love having you around,” I give her a comforting smile.
We take the turn to the washroom and enter. The cleaner with a trolley greets us with the dip of his cap, his words muffled by his mask.
I thought all the workers were to do the cleaning after the game was over and everyonehad left the building.
Before I can ponder more on it, Jodi’s voice pulls me. “I love learning from you. You’re truly an inspiration.”
“Aww, you’ll make me cry, Jodi,” I say with a laugh, shutting the door behind us.
We both get to our business and enter the cubicles. Within a few minutes, I’m out in the corridor, waiting for Jodi.
She takes quite a long time, so I sigh when she’s finally out. “Oh, good. You’re here. Let’s hurry,” I say, turning to leave.
She grabs my hand, halting me in place. My head swivels to look at her.
“Kaeli, I’m really sorry.” The emotions on her face are too serious to be apologizing for taking a little longer in the restroom.
I almost laugh. “There’s no need to apologize, Jodi.”
Something like regret and pity reflects in her eyes, but before I can question her, someone covers my face from behind and presses a cloth to my nose.
My eyes flare in horror, and I struggle in the hold of whoever has captured me. I reach out to Jodi with muffled screams, but she doesn’t movea muscle to help me. That’s when it dawns on me; she was never apologizing for being late.
I scratch their hand over my mouth, drawing blood and praying that someone hears us over the scream of the arena.
But all those hopes turn to dust when Jodi’s figure starts to fade from my vision, the lights dulling.
Unconsciousness soon pulls me in its dark embrace.
Forty Seven
Ezra
Today is our final game before the playoffs against the Chicago Cicadas, and the spirits are high.
The game goes into overtime, and the refs reset. The team huddles over to the benches for a one-minute breather.
I rip off my helmet and grab my sipper, squeezing water down my throat.
“Summon some of that lady luck, Cap,” Seb slaps my back, nearly making me choke on the liquid as he grabs hissipper, too.
I glare at him, but it doesn’t seem to affect him.
“He just might be right, Ezra. Hold onto Kaeli, will ya?” Noah winks, making the other guys laugh.
Mention of her name has me searching for her. When I don’t find her, I stand and scan the entire arena, but she’s nowhere in sight.
Her camera is still there, so she might’ve gone somewhere. When I see Jodi coming down the steps and pick up the camera, her eyes meet mine.
