He doesn’t move. Only watches me.
I pull out my phone and scroll to a recent interview, giving Ryder time to relay the information.
“See this,” I point out my locker. “This one is mine. Each player gets their own space. On game days, our uniforms are hanging, ready to go.”
I peek at him, and he’s listening, so I continue. I take a deep breath, needing the rage spreading throughout my body to calm.
After a few minutes, Jos returns with a stack of clothes, and it takes time to convince the boy to leave Ryder. Eventually, he agrees, but only after Ryder promises him she’s not going anywhere.
The room falls silent as he leaves with Jos. Ryder blows out a long breath, glancing at me and then back at the other woman.
“Kerry, this is Cole. Cole, this is Kerry.”
The woman offers her hand, and her mouth gently curls upward. “It’s very nice to meet you.”
How can they act like all of this is. . .normal?
I clear my throat. “You, too.”
Her gaze shifts back to Ryder. “I’ll see if I can get him to eat something and give me a name while you talk to TJ and deal with Rodrigez.” Kerry raises her eyebrows at the last name, and I wonder what that means.
“Thanks,” Ryder says, and Kerry leaves us.
The room falls still, and I watch Ryder, a thousand questions ready to explode from my mouth, but she looks tired. Her eyes tip up to mine. Her cheek is red and swollen. My fists tighten at my sides, wanting to destroy whoever did that.
But in her eyes, I see. . .something. I watch her shrink from confidently holding the young boy’s hand and promising to protect him to only a shell of the woman who stood here seconds ago.
She holds my gaze for a moment before her eyes drop to the floor, and it takes everything I have not to pull her to me. I want just a minute of having her close, safe with me, where whatever this is doesn’t exist. I want to hold her and promise her it’ll be ok, but I can’t. I don’t understandanything.
Or maybe I just don’t want to.
“I have to make a few calls and be sure he settles in before we can leave.” Her voice is flat, lifeless, and I hate it.
“Ok.”
She takes a step backward, one side of her T-shirt hanging on by a few threads, and the blood-stained material plastered to her side.
“Just. . .stay here. I’ll be back.” She stops, turning back to me. “Guests aren’t allowed, so don’t wander.”
I nod, wanting her to stay right here with me.
I sit on the couch, dropping my head into my hands. I close my eyes, trying to make sense of this. Any piece of it. My empty stomach surges into my throat again, and I swallow it down.
I hear a noise and pull my head up to see Kerry and the little boy, now dressed in blue sweatpants and a T-shirt.
Kerry holds a plate with a sandwich and chips. “Think you could show us some more videos?” Her question is soft but chipper.
I sit up. “Uh. . .sure.”
Kerry moves closer, and the boy follows. She sets the plate beside me, and the boy stops two feet away.
I slip my phone out of my pocket, and he flinches a little but stays put.
“This is Cole,” Kerry says, sitting on the far end of the couch. She extends her arm to him, inviting him to sit in the large space between us.
I meet his eyes, observing me so carefully. Afraid.
I think about my brothers, and my body seizes up. The boy tucks his chin and squeezes back an inch.
