“You shouldn’t be by yourself when you’re like this.”
“Like what?” It came out harsher than I meant.
“Elevated,” she said immediately. “Breathless. Defiant. That tone.”
I laughed once, because if I didn’t, it would turn into a scream and people would look. “That’s funny, because you just told me that me being with anyone was wrong and unbelievable. So you would think that me being alone would be acceptable to you.”
“That’s it. You’re coming home this weekend. We will reset. We will make a plan. I will drive up and get you tonight if I have to.”
“No.” My throat felt like it was closing. “I’m not leaving. I have the team’s first playoff game.”
“I think I’m beginning to understand why you tried out for the mascot in the first place,” she said coldly.
My insides clenched. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I replied, but it sounded weak even to me.
“You have twenty minutes to start working through the line items I gave you. If I don’t hear from you, I will call the school for a wellness check or come up there and drag you home. Do you understand me?”
I stared at the black glass of my phone screen, at the tiny, distorted version of myself reflected there—pale and wide-eyed, hair shoved into a messy bun, the scarf I’d stolen from Matty’s closet wrapped too tight around my neck.
“Ophelia.”
“I understand,” I said, feeling completely hopeless.
“Good,” she breathed, and then softer, the wire loosening for a heartbeat. “I love you. Even when you hate me.”
“This doesn’t feel like love,” I whispered.
She didn’t answer that. “Twenty minutes,” she repeated and hung up.
CHAPTER 28
MATTY
We were walking back into the facility after practice, our cleats clacking against the concrete. Out of habit, my eyes drifted toward the parking lot. To where that one familiar car still hadn’t returned.
I didn’t care. Not about that, at least.
What I cared about was Ophelia.
Something felt off. The way she’d looked this afternoon before practice, tired and distracted, like her head was somewhere far away.
Jace and Parker were arguing about the proper Taylor Swift song ranking when the words slipped out. “I think something’s wrong with Ophelia.”
They both glanced over. Parker frowned. “What do you mean?”
I rubbed the back of my neck. “I don’t know. I think I might’ve…scared her.”
Jace slowed, studying me. “Scared her how?”
I didn’t answer right away. I knew exactly what I’d done—and that it might’ve beena lot.
“Well, I tattooed her,” I said finally.
There was a beat of silence—Parker blinking, Jace’s mouth parting in surprise. Then Jace grinned like Christmas had come early and lifted his hand for a high five.
“Matty, my boy,” he said, grinning ear to ear. “You have officially leveled up.”
Parker just stared at me, looking intrigued. “You tattooed her?”
