We slowed to a walk as a vague memory of a seriously unimpressed deputy sheriff dimly flit through my brain. "I thought they didn’t find him."
"Oh, they did. In this one-horse town? His name's Chann, short for Channing, and he's a deputy marshal."
I stared.Is she serious?
"I couldn’t really talk about it, but he met me at the sheriff’s office and apologized for alarming me." She shivered and clutched her jacket as we slowed to a walk. "He’s seriously the sweetest guy."
"That’s like,literallyinsane."
"Crazy or not, he’s my date." She retrieved her bag, hefting it over her shoulder.
"A hot older guy, huh?" I sighed and picked up my sports bag. Another shudder grabbed my spine and shook.
"Well, not too much older. He’s not really happy being a marshal, so he’s applying to SWAT school. Like, he’s seriously hardcore."
Fitting, actually.
Kanami stopped mid-stride. She fished something out of the pocket of her duffel. "Oh, uh, here. In case anyone needs the bathroom before they go." She handed me a set of keys, her eyes straying to the long building situated behind the bleachers and off to the side. "I’m desperate for a hot shower."
Sounds like heaven.
"Maybe I’ll get to take one with Chann." She waggled her eyebrows and did a little shimmy. "Happy Valentine’s Day to me. Don't wait up."
"Have fun." I watched her leave. "Wait, you're not going to the group date? The one you've been hounding me over, and?—”
She picked up her pace into a jog.
“You did this on purpose.” I stamped my foot into the ground, only to have cold rainwater splash my socks and soak into the tops of my cleats. “I know you can hear me!"
Out of the corner of my eye, Seager grabbed the front of Maddox’s shirt at the same time he raised his fist. "Oh shit!"
I broke out into a run.
Chapter Eleven
MADDOX
Eight Months Ago
Strikers Football Locker Room
Itapped on the window to Coach's office, opened the door and stepped inside.
"Close it."
I pushed the thing shut. He didn’t look up. Just popped another handful of sunflower seeds into his mouth and chewed.
"You can sit, I'm not your drill sergeant."
I tried not to sigh. The man had no idea what military life was like, but kept trying to "relate" to me. I remained at ease. Whatever this was about, it definitely wasn't life or death.
"I expected it to be a no-brainer to have you step in and lead the team this year." Coach Kenbrough rubbed his hand over his jaw. Dark eyes squinted. "But there's tension. Onthe field, off."
I sucked in a breath and held it. "Tension, sir?"That's a word for it.
"Jamison, that’s a late hit! Take a lap." Coach Craiger barked.
Mackey stood over me. Sweat dripped down his jaw onto my practice shirt. "Better learn to stay down, asshat. There’s more where that came from."
