The tears are threatening to return.
“You take care of him, just as much as he takes care of you.”
Kaia’s a snitch.
I nod, “I think this time it’s out of my capabilities, Boone.”
“He wants you to believe that so you don’t go through the trouble,” he responds. “So keep making a mess.”
The hit I take is brutal. I collide with the ground like a bag of bricks, and my head gets fuzzy as I roll to my stomach to collect myself. Blood drips from my forehead into my eye.
“You have to sub out,” Cosy says, looking at it. “Bring in Jessie,” she waves to the sidelines.
Fuck. Nothing today is going right.
I want to be home, in bed, with Brighton.
Stupid.
I kick the grass and meet the medical girl halfway so she can take a look at it as I watch Sunday play tag with a few of the other attackers until she finds a lane. We’re up four tries. It should feel comforting, but everything is out of whack, and nothing feels safe anymore.
The bruises forming on my knees from earlier are nasty against my pale skin, and my head is still a little dizzy from the tackle. I need a hotbath. I wish I could say that my head was in the game, but it’s not. I still have a shift to work at the Hollow, and Boone convinced me I was still employed, but something about it felt strained.
Kaia stops before the whistle blows, and I follow her eyeline to where Boone is coming across the base of the stone bleachers. She looks at me as I stand.
Something’s wrong.
When it does finally echo through the air, I move past the celebration huddle toward Boone.
“What happened?” I ask him before he even opens his mouth.
“He’s gone.” Boone’s shrug looks wrong on him.
“What do you mean he’s gone?” My voice trembles as more than one emotion bubbles up. Fear, anger, abandonment.
“Riona called me, losing her mind because he sent her some text saying to keep Daisy safe and he’ll be back as soon as he can.” Boone shakes his head and looks over my shoulder at the girls standing and watching. “Now, when I call his phone, it goes to voicemail.”
“Okay— uh, there’s a list in the top drawer of the kitchen cupboard, beside the fridge. It has a few numbers on it that I’m pretty sure are guys from group. Call them.”
“Rhea,” he says, reaching out.
“Just go,” I snap—then wince. “I’m sorry. Call them, thank you.”
Boone nods and starts back toward the parking lot.
“Everything okay?” Kaia asks as I turn and storm back across the field. I need a cold shower and to strangle a grown man with my bare hands.
“It’s chill.” I slam through the locker room door and ignored them chasing after me.
“Ithought Mom was supposed to get me?” Reid climbs into the Bronco with a scowl on his face.
“What’s that from?” I ask him, pointing to the black eye.
“Got in a fight after a dirty hit.” He brushes me off as I pull from the curb."What's that from?" He points to the gash above my eye. "Answer the question, Ree." He pushes when I stay silent.
“Bad tackle. and I don’t know. She called in a panic—said she couldn’t be here—so I came. But I have to go to the condo, and you’re coming with me,” I say to him and merge into traffic.
“The swamp?” he teases, but I don’t find it amusing today. “Whoa, what’s up your ass today?” He asks, his tone changing a little when he sees my reaction.
