“You are. I can hear your face.”
“My face is neutral and supportive.”
“Your face is annoying.”
“Your face is on billboards, unfortunately.”
I laughed. The pressure in my chest eased.
Before we hung up, I sent her money anyway. She texted me thirty seconds later.
Harper: I hope both sides of your pillow are warm.
Me: Love you too.
By the time I got back inside for video, my body wanted food, my brain wanted seventeen things, and my patience had gone to live somewhere else.
Reid caught me outside the video room.
“Holloway. Stay after.”
My first reaction was automatic defense. “For what?”
“Video.”
“I watched video.”
“More video.”
“Am I in trouble?”
“No.”
That threw me off more than yes would have.
The room emptied slowly after the team session, guys clacking water bottles and chirping each other on the way out. Roman paused at the door and looked between us.
“You need a witness?”
“Leave,” I said.
He pointed at Reid. “He bites when cornered.”
Reid didn’t miss a beat. “Noted.”
Roman left laughing.
Then it was just me and Coach Reid in a dim video room with a paused clip on the screen and my leg bouncing so hard the chair squeaked.
Reid sat two seats away, not crowding me, remote in hand. “I want to look at your routes on controlled exits.”
“Because I’m cheating.”
“Because you’re reading options before the first one is complete.”
I glanced at him. “That’s a nicer way to say cheating.”
“It’s a more accurate way.”
