“I understand.” I squeeze her hand back, knowing if I had to choose one or the other, I would always choose Koren. “Thank you for fighting for me, Coach.”
“It’s not a favor. You earned it, but you have to keep earning it.”
We end the call. I stare at his name on my phone screen, feeling it deep in my gut. I’m saved.
But that means …
Someone else is on the chopping block.
Who?
twenty-three
Elijah
Buzz. Buzz. Buzz.
My phone won’t shut up.
I didn’t think I set an alarm this morning. Not this early, anyway. I usually wake up on my own. I pull one eye open as I grapple for my phone and blink at the screen. Apparently, it’s not my alarm. It’s still pitch-black outside, and the screen is way too bright. I squint as my phone vibrates again.
Missed Calls:
Coach Carlson … 2 Bill Baker … 1 Dad … 2 Granite Ice Social Media Office … 6 Koren … 1 Unknown Number
Unknown Number
Unknown Number
Texts are stacked up like a book.
I jerk upright as sweat slaps my back. My heart thrums in my throat. I open the messages.
Axl: Bro. You seeing this?
Jackson: This is insane. You okay?
Team Group Chat: Dude, you’re trending. This is bad. Is this true?
My stomach drops. I open the news app.
There it is on the front page on a major sports site.
LEAKED DOCUMENTS SUGGEST GRANITE ICE PLAYER SIGNED UNDER “PERSONAL FAVOR” TO TEAM OWNER.Questions arise after an anonymous source reveals receipts.
My vision tunnels.They can’t possibly know.
The phone rings again, and it’s Coach.
I answer but I don’t dare say hello. I only swallow into the silence as my voice stuck in my throat.
“Where have you been?” he barks.
“I—I just woke up. I don’t even know what’s going on. Can you clue me in?”
“You’re all over social media. Someone leaked a story about an accident you were in last year. The media got the body shop to produce receipts showing everything was paid for in a large lump of cash. Then your dad was interviewed and stated they didn’t know about the accident, that it never went through your insurance, and they never helped with the payment. Apparently, there is some question about where the large sum of cash came from because it was the exact week you were signed. There’s a whole lot of speculation that Bill might have been involved. I’m awfully confused. Care to fill me in?”
“What! My dad?” I snap as I stumble out of bed and start pacing with my heart pounding. My hand finds the back of my head and, nervously, I scratch it. “Uh, did you talk to Bill?”
