Maya:Are you okay?
Easton:Yeah all good. We just have some shit to work out.
It sets me at ease through the break. Then my heart leaps back into my throat in the final when Easton crashes against Ryan with another fierce check. Whatever he says leaves Ryan stunned when he speeds off with his teammate to make a play that earns Heston the winning goal of the game.
Once the game lets out, I tell the girls I’ll meet them by Reagan’s car and hurry through the building. Reporters for sports blogs and podcasts crowd the way to the locker rooms and equipment area. The arena’s security isn’t letting anyone through.
“Damn.”
I head outside to see if I can go in through the door the guys entered when the team bus arrived, whipping my phone out to try to reach Easton.
Maya:I’m trying to get to the locker area to see you but it’s totally locked down.
Easton:I’d come out to get you but Coach is on a rampage. I’m risking life and limb to text you. I’ll meet you back at campus.
Maya:Okay. Going to ride back with the girls, see you soon.
The green heart he responds with makes my lips twitch. Changing directions, I head off to meet back up with Reagan and the girls. They’re raving about the excitement of the game through the traffic jam of fans leaving that makes it take forever to leave Elmwood U’s campus.
When we reach the highway, I pull up Ryan’s contact and FaceTime him during the drive back to Heston Lake to check on him.
“Hey,” he answers.
It’s dark, but it looks like he’s in an alleyway between the old brick buildings of his campus. I frown.
“Where are you?”
“Outside.” A commotion behind him interrupts us. “Yo, shut up for a minute. It’s my sister.”
When he turns to them, I spot some of his teammates in the background. Including Johnny.
My eyes widen. His face is red and mottled, one eye swelling shut with the beginnings of a black eye. Two big guys that have to play on defense have him pinned to the wall.
“Um…”
“Don’t worry about that piece of shit,” Ryan says through his teeth.
I blink, startled at the complete one-eighty from his friendship. His hard expression cracks and he stares at me sadly through the small screen.
Oh. My stomach clenches.
Ryan knows. There’s no question about the angry hatred that blazed in his eyes a moment ago.
I don’t know how he learned what Johnny did to me, but my intuition has a strong guess.
Ryan scrubs a hand over his face. “You know you can talk to me, right?”
“I—yeah.” I swallow. “You didn’t have to?—”
“Yes I did, Maya. I’m your brother.” He blows out a breath, lifting his brows. “I hope next time I don’t have to hear about important shit from your boyfriend.”
A wet laugh leaves me as a knot that’s been tangled for far too many years finally loosens in my chest. I wish I was still at his school so I could hug him. Damn Johnny for twisting my belief in my brother. I should’ve been able to trust that he’d be on my side if I’d had the courage to tell him sooner.
“Okay,” I promise.
His throat bobs. “I’m sorry. I should’ve seen through that asshole right away.”
I shake my head. “I didn’t have the guts to tell you, so it’s not like you could’ve known.”
