“Maia,” London said.“You were incredible.So fast!”
“That’s my doing,” Isabella said smugly, making everyone laugh.
“We’re going for pizza,” Jacey said.“Do you want to come?”
“Tell me where, and I’ll meet you there.I need to collect my gear, and hopefully, the water is still hot.”
The dressing room had emptied fast, and two shower cubicles were free.The girls looked almost ready to leave.Maia glanced down at her muddy knees and decided she might as well shower, even if the water was cold.
She set out her spare clothes and grabbed her towel and shower gel before stripping rapidly, aware of the ticking clock.The water was lukewarm, and she lathered up a washcloth with her orange-scented shower gel and washed away the mud.A loud crash made her jump, but she relaxed when no further noises sounded.Someone had dropped something.The wooden floors in here echoed badly.
She dried off with equally brisk efficiency, wrapped her damp towel around her, and after collecting her shower gel and washcloth, she exited the shower.Wow, everyone had left already.She hustled over to where she’d left her clothes and paused.
They were gone.
Everything.
Even her dirty gear.
Maia gawked at the empty cubicle.The empty bench.She checked her bag, but not a stitch of clothing lay inside.Her dirty boots sat underneath her bag, but even her socks had vanished.
She plucked her phone from the side pocket, thankful she still had a way to communicate her problem.Strange.The last remaining girls had left while she was in the shower.Was this a prank on the new girl?She called Henry.
“Hey, sweetheart.”
Her stomach curled at his lazy greeting.“Henry, I have a problem.”
“What?”The word emerged crisp and alert, and she imagined him straightening, his attention laser-focused.
“I took a quick shower, and when I returned, my clothes had disappeared.Every.Single.Item,” she gritted out.“Everyone has left.When I find out who is responsible, I’m gonna speak my mind.This is beyond childish.And they took my playing uniform.I don’t know if I can get another set.”Aware she was rambling, Maia shut up, but she wanted to hit someone.
“Just a sec.”
She heard him speaking to someone.
“Isabella has a spare set of clothes.”
“Thank you,” Maia said.“I’m gonna need an enormous glass of wine.”
“We can do that.I’ll drive Isabella over.Five minutes.”
Maia spent her waiting time pacing, trying to work out who had done this.It had to be a team prank, didn’t it?
A shudder worked down her spine.She’d been alone in the shower.Vulnerable.
A crash sounded, and she whirled toward the exit, prepared to run or fight.Do something.Another thump echoed through the changing rooms.
“Maia, are you here?”Henry sounded panicked.
Maia hitched her towel tighter and hurried to the entrance.“What was the banging?”
Isabella stood beside Henry, her beautiful eyes narrowed in anger.“Someone locked the door.”
A frigid blast swirled through the opening, and Maia shivered.
Isabella thrust clothes at her.“Get dressed while Henry and I scout the area.If I find anyone skulking behind the trees and sniggering…”
She didn’t complete her sentence, stalking from the changing rooms, but Maia got the gist.Isabella was infuriated on her behalf.
