I couldn’t ask any of them.
So instead I just said “Oh.”
Chip blew out another sigh.
“I guess I should be used to this.”
“Sorry.”
I didn’t know what else to say.
I thought maybe Chip didn’t want me to say anything else. Just listen.
Sometimes people just need you to listen to them.
Chip shrugged and turned back to the window. I watched him for a second. The sunlight silhouetted him in gold and caught the fine hairs at the nape of his neck.
My chest gave a little squeeze.
I shrugged myself, and blinked, and turned away.
Our game against Poplar Grove High School was a complete and total victory for us.
I almost felt bad for the other team.
Almost.
Gabe got a hat trick in the first half, while James and Jaden each scored a goal in the second.
We shook hands with our vanquished opponents, and then Coach pulled some of the guys (including Gabe) aside to talk to a pair of track-suited adults in the first row of the stands. I couldn’t make out the logos on their breasts, but it was pretty clear they were recruiters.
As we walked to the guest lockers, Chip put his arm over my shoulder.
He’d never done that to me before.
It reminded me of the way Sohrab always did that to me.
“Good game, huh?”
“I guess.”
“What do you mean?”
I shrugged. “I only touched the ball twice. But Gabe was awesome.”
“Yeah.”
Chip’s arm left my shoulder, but then he put his hand on my back.
“Um.”
“Hm?” Chip said.
“I didn’t say anything.” I swallowed.
The silence between us hummed against my skin where Chip’s hand warmed it.
Poplar Grove High School’s locker room smelled so sterile it made my eyes water, like someone had poured ammonia over every single surface, and then maybe added some rubbing alcohol on top of that, and then filled the sprinkler systems with bleach and ran that for a couple hours too.
