“Are you okay?”Henry asked, his brown gaze full of unconcealed emotion.
“Cold and angry that one of my teammates did this.It couldn’t be the person messing with me at home.Could it?”
“I don’t know, but you need to lodge a complaint with your team management.You’re lucky they didn’t take your phone.”
“You would’ve come for me,” Maia said, feeling this in her gut.“But you’re right.As soon as I’m dressed and warm, I’ll call the head coach.Rose can get things started.”
“I’ll be outside with Isabella.No one will get inside without us seeing.”
“Thanks.”Maia tugged on a pair of track pants and the matching sweatshirt Isabella had given her.Instantly, she felt warmer, but she couldn’t stop shivering.
She scooped up her remaining possessions, packing them away in her gear bag.Thankfully, her pair of runners remained tucked under the seat where she’d left them, and she pulled them on.Henry and Isabella were waiting near the door, holding a hushed conversation.They broke off on noticing her.
“Did you want to go straight home?”Henry asked.“Everyone will understand if you do.”
“No,” Maia said.“I value everyone’s support, and I want to thank them for coming to watch my game.I’m not letting this ruin my day.Besides, I want wine.I’m back from concussion problems, and that’s something to celebrate.”
“Let’s go.”Approval shone in Isabella’s eyes.“They have a pizza calling my name.”
The three of them walked into the restaurant.Levi spotted them first and let out a shout of welcome.
Henry chuckled.“My brother does nothing quietly.”
“He’s a kid and a boy.Noise goes together with those two things,” Isabella said drily.“Kian thumps and hollers a lot.”
No one blinked at her casual dress, everyone greeting her with smiles and hugs.After being alone for so long, she found emotion getting to her because this felt like a family.
Jacey had saved chairs, and Maia slid into one next to London.The children were sitting at a nearby table, engrossed in their pizza and chatter.
“Despite what you and Laura had concluded, I was sure the culprit was your ex-boyfriend, and he arranged for someone to persecute you while arranging for alibis for himself,” Henry said and pulled a face.“History giving me tunnel vision.Now, I think this might have something to do with your team.”
Everyone looked at Maia.
“Why?What reason could they have?We’re a team.I’m a stranger, but I’m gradually winning the girls over.”
“But, Maia,” Isabella said.“Only someone in your team would know the inner workings of the after game routine.You weren’t that much behind the other players.Why did the entire dressing room empty while you were showering?Unless you had a really long shower.”
“The water was almost cold,” Maia said.“I was five minutes tops because I hate cold showers.”
“How many teammates were still in the dressing room when you arrived?”Jacey asked.
“Maybe five.It surprised me.Usually, there’s a line for the showers.”
The server arrived bearing two large pizzas, cutting into the conversation.At the next training, she’d ask questions, as would the coaches and team management once she’d made a formal complaint.
Megan and London handed out pizza slices, and everyone fell upon their meal as if they were famished.Maia savored the meaty, cheesy goodness as she tried to make sense of events.
The kids drifted over to their parents, and they cut the conversation short, but whoever was doing this was escalating.It was obvious the perpetrator was capable of violence.Torturing a puppy wasn’t normal.This situation had gone beyond a prank, and she refused to ignore what had happened today.As soon as she got home, she’d call Rose.If the other girls hated her for it, then so be it.
Chapter 24
Henrypretendedhewasfine.He ate pizza, joined the conversation, but agitation swept him.What if he couldn’t keep Maia safe?And was his new theory right?Would another woman act with such malice?So many questions.They churned through his mind and built fear upon fear, throwing him back to the time of Jenny’s murder.
Maia’s reentry into his life had plugged the massive hole in his heart, and he’d felt happier.More centered.Whole, but these attacks on Maia were getting to him.
“Henry,” Maia said, jerking him back.“I’m heading home now.I want a hot shower and need to contact the coach.That will be a tough phone call because I’m accusing my teammates.No one wants to be a tattletale.I’ll have to tell her about the other things happening.”She stopped and swallowed hard.“What if Rose doesn’t believe me?”
“One, you’ve reported everything to the police, and two, Isabella and I had to break the door to open it.The broken lock is there for all to see.”
