Everyone congratulated me.
Taylor was crying. She came in fourteenth out of seventy runners.
Coach Langdon had a frazzled look in his eyes, even after the medals were handed out. Our team took first, and wondering if I could get some favoritism, I asked if Taylor and I could ride back with Logan and Nate. He said no. We needed a team-bonding ride back, but that was fine.
We stopped for food on the way, and so did many of the runners’ family and friends who’d traveled to our meet. We took over an entire restaurant, and the whole time, I just wanted to talk to Mason.
I’d only gotten a few words in with him over the phone before, and it hadn’t been enough. People kept coming over to me, and I couldn’t hear. Then he had to go.
After eating and going to the bathroom, I slipped outside for some privacy and called him again. I didn’t know if I would catch him. It was around six, so he’d either be in the weight room, or already heading home to rest before his game tomorrow.
“Hey.”
I sagged in relief. “You picked up.”
He chuckled. “I’d pick you up any day of the year.”
I smiled. “You sound like Logan.”
“I have a sense of humor. Sometimes.” Then he grew serious. “I hear some major congratulations are in order.”
He’d already said it, but I loved hearing it again. My throat swelled up. “Thank you.”
“Even the guys heard about it here.”
I clutched the phone tighter in my hand. “Really?”
“It’s a big deal if we might have an Olympian at our school.” He was somber. “Your life’s not going to be the same, Sam.”
He was warning me.
I nodded. “I know,” I whispered. I’d watched him go through it. “I can’t believe it, but it might not happen. This was just the first race. It might’ve been a fluke.”
“Stop.”
“What?” But I knew what he meant.
“You know it wasn’t a fluke. You know the rest will be the same. The only difference now is that everyone else knows how good you are.”
Those damn tears. I felt them again. They were threatening to spill. “I heard your voice in my head.”
“Yeah?”
I laughed. “It was telling me to go.” It had also been my voice, and my mom’s too, but I kept that to myself. I didn’t know what it meant, and I didn’t want to give her any credit. She didn’t deserve it.
“I hear your voice in my head sometimes too.”
“You do?” I sat down on a bench. Some people had started to leave the restaurant, heading for their vehicles.
“I do. When I’m holding back, and I have to make a good play or something. You’re always yelling at me—why am I holding back? Why aren’t I going for it?”
“Are you messing with me?”
He laughed softly. “Kind of. I never hold back when I need to make a great play, but I do hear your voice. You’re always urging me on. You make me stronger. It means a lot to hear that I do the same for you.”
I fell silent. I just held the phone and listened to him on the other end.
“I love you,” he said.
“I know. You tell me often.”
“I feel it often. I mean it every time.”
“I love you too.”
The door opened, and I heard Logan’s voice.
“I should go. I think Logan’s looking for me.”
“Tell him I’ll be at the parking lot to pick you up. I want that privilege.”
“You’re still there?”
“I am. I’m waiting.”
He wasn’t alone. When the bus pulled up to the building, the entire football team was waiting. The family and friends who had gone ahead of the bus joined them, and they all started clapping as we got off.
I started crying. I couldn’t stop. I stepped forward and just stood there. I was dressed in the warm-ups the university had given us, and I held my bag in one hand. I covered my face with the other. I hated crying, but I hated crying in front of others even more.
Mason broke from the crowd and came forward. He lifted me up, and I wound my legs and arms around him.
Then I let everything go.
“Honey, your father and I are coming today for Mason’s big game. I only wish we’d known about your first run, or that you were even on the team. We had no idea. And that’s so exciting, hearing about how fast you ran. I’m not surprised at all.”
Malinda was gushing in my ear as I tried to dress and talk at the same time. I’d slept late since Mason didn’t wake me when he got up to go in earlier.
My stepmother kept going. “And don’t you worry about making room for us at the house or even cooking. We’ll get a hotel room. I already have it reserved, and we’ll be treating you to dinner. All of you.”
I paused. “Dinner?”
“Of course. We have to celebrate your run and Mason’s first game.”
I was scrambling, trying to remember if we had any set plans. Last night had been a blur. Coach Langdon and my track coach both mentioned celebrating with the team. I couldn’t remember when they’d said it was happening, but then again, I hadn’t known Malinda and David were coming to town until she called this morning.
Mason’s game was at two. I had to find Logan, Taylor, and Nate, and we all had to head to the stadium to get seats.
No—I jerked upright from reaching for my shoes on the floor.
That was it.
Coach Carillo had mentioned us joining him in a private box for the game. How did Coach Carillo have a private box? I frowned, trying to remember what I’d said in return.
Actually Mason had stepped in, saying, “She’ll probably be sitting with my brother and a few others. Can she get back to you tomorrow?”
Coach Carillo had bobbed his head up and down. “Sure thing. That’s understandable.”
And then we’d gone home. There’d been more celebrating, but Mason had to go to sleep right away. And since Mason had to sleep, Logan suggested going out for some drinks. But I declined. I wanted to be with Mason.
Now tonight was supposed to be the main celebration night. And Malinda and David were joining the festivities.
This should be fun.
After hanging up with Malinda, I finished getting dressed and reached for my phone. I needed to call Logan, but instead saw a bunch of text messages from my biological father, Garrett.
Hey! Sharon and I are coming to Mason’s game. It’s last minute, but my firm has a private box. Did you and the others want to join us? Seb stayed back in Boston with the grandparents.
Shit.
I texted back, Do you have room for me, Logan, Taylor, Nate, Malinda, and David? They’re in town too.
He replied almost right away. There’s a few seats, but there’s standing room. As long as they’re okay standing? We’ll have food and drinks too.
I typed back, Sold.
Maybe I should’ve chosen my track and cross-country coaches, but it didn’t feel right sitting with them over family. The jaded part of me wondered if they would’ve asked if I hadn’t run so fast yesterday. I was guessing not.
Heading out to the kitchen and living room, I stopped to see if I heard anyone. Nothing. There was complete silence.
“Logan? Nate? Taylor?” I called.
Still no answer.
I started upstairs and knocked on Nate’s room first. “Nate?”
I heard a crash from inside, followed by a curse and a grumbling, “Yeah?”
“We have Mason’s game soon. Are you up?”
I was lying, but everything would take longer. This was a major D1 game. Traffic would be backed up, and getting into the stadium would take forever. Since Taylor and I were on an athletic team now, we’d gotten special parking permits for spaces closer to the stadium. I hoped we could park there today and cut back on some of the walking. I also wondered how many other athletes might be thinking the same thing.
I went to Logan’s door, but it opened
before I could knock.
He peered out at me. He kept the rest of himself hidden, and he said, “I love you, Sam. You’re my sister, but if you yell for me in the next half hour or knock on this door, we’re going to have problems.”
I didn’t need to guess. “You’re having sex?”
“Yes. Go away.”
The door slammed in my face.
I turned around, and a girl was slipping out of Nate’s room. Her hair hung loose, and she was holding her shoes. Her dress had twisted up, only covering half of her body. I listened and could hear Nate’s shower running. This girl was trying to sneak out.
“Hey.”
She screamed, jumping around to see me. Her eyes were wide, and her face drained of blood.
“Oh.” She cursed, raking a hand through her hair. “Fuck. Hi. I’m Valerie.” She started to hold her hand out, saw it was still full of her shoes, and cursed a third time. She switched her shoes to her other hand and held it out again.
I waved. “You don’t have to worry about being formal. Do you need me to call a cab?”
“Could you?” Her voice was hopeful. “Oh, that’d be wonderful.”
She kept sneaking glances back to Nate’s door. After the third time, and after her eyebrows pulled together in apparent confusion, I asked, “Do you remember last night?”
She bit her lip, following me down the stairs and into the living room. “I remember going to a club with some friends. I remember shots. Lots of shots. Then we went to another bar. It was a little pub type of bar, but it was so packed. And I remember a hot guy . . .” She kept biting her lip and cringing. “Yeah. The rest of the night is a long blur, but I remember having really hot sex.” She groaned to herself. “Really hot sex. Oh boy.”
I checked outside to make sure somehow her car hadn’t gotten to the house, though if it had, I didn’t want to know how. I was relieved to see the front was empty except for Logan’s Escalade and Taylor’s car. Nate’s and mine were parked inside.
I started dialing the car company. “They’ll be here shortly, I’m sure.”
“Oh good.” She looked around the house again, bending her knees. “Uh, is there a bathroom around here? That I . . . could . . . use . . .?” Her soft voice trailed off.
I pointed down the hallway. “First door on the left.”
“Oh, thank you.” She took off, rushing around the corner.
I was just hanging up with the cab company when Nate hurried downstairs. He took the phone away from me. “No, don’t call a cab.”
“Wha—” I pointed to the phone. “They’re coming.”
He cursed, then yanked it to his ear. “Hello?” He waited a few seconds, then said, “Yes. I want to cancel that cab. She didn’t know she didn’t have to call it.” He frowned. “Of course she’s safe. Here.” He thrust my phone back to me. “They want to make sure you’re okay.”
I took the phone. “I’m fine. I was calling for him, but it’s not needed. Thank you.” I hung up and frowned at Nate. “What are you doing? She wanted a cab.”
“Where is she?”
The toilet flushed down the hallway.
He looked that way. “Oh.” Then he leaned closer to me. “I’m not doing anything shady, but I’ll take her home. I don’t know who she is. I want to find out a little more about her before sending her on her way.”
“Why?”
“The bar was filled with reporters last night.”
I touched my chest. “Because of me?”
“What?” He frowned, shaking his head. “No. Not you. That’s not news yet. For the game. I don’t remember a lot about last night, so I want to make sure this chick isn’t a reporter.”
The door opened then, and Valerie came out. Her hair had been smoothed; it was even glossy somehow. It had looked mostly blond before, but I saw some reddish tints to it now. Her dress was back in place and covering all it was supposed to be covering, and her shoes were on. She had a clutch in her hand that I hadn’t seen before. She started toward me, but saw Nate and jerked backward.
“Oh.” She caught herself on the doorframe to keep from falling. “Oh, hey.”
He waved to me. “I hope it’s okay, I had her cancel the cab. I’ll give you a ride home.”
I hit his arm. “The game.”
“Yeah.” He pushed my hand away distractedly. “We’ll be fine. I’ll be back.” He gestured to her. “Is that okay? Can I give you a ride home?”
“Sure.” She came forward a few steps, walking stiffly. She held onto her clutch with both hands in front of her. “But I don’t go to Cain U. I don’t live here. I’m in town with some friends for the game.”
“You are?”
His relief was evident. I hit him, just because.
Nate shot me a look. “What?”
Her eyebrows drew together again, and she lowered her head slightly.
I gestured to her.
Understanding dawned. “Oh! No. I thought you were a reporter. If you’re with friends for the game, I’m hoping you’re not a reporter.”
“Why would you worry I was a reporter?”
“Because there were a lot at the bar last night.”
She shook her head slowly, like she was trying to remember. “I think that’s why my friend wanted to go to that bar. She has a thing for one of the ESPN commentators.”
“But you’re not a reporter, right?”
She shook her head. “No. I go to Gammit.”
That was the team we were playing today.
I forced a smile, grabbing onto Nate’s arm. “Do you mind if we have a moment?”
She stood there.
So did we. And then her eyes got wide again. “Oh!” She pointed to the door. “You want me to—okay.” She power-walked to the door. “I’ll be right out here. Don’t forget about me.”
As soon as the door closed behind her, I let go of Nate’s arm. “You like her, don’t you?”
He lowered his voice, sneaking a look at her on the other side of the door. “The sex was really good last night.”
“Good enough that you want to threaten Mason by telling her who you are?”
“How would that threaten Mason?”
This girl was a stranger. He might want to stay in her pants a while longer, but there was a reason we were a tight-knit group. Not just anyone got in. And this wasn’t normal for Nate. I felt an underlying alarm to press this point to him.
“Nate.”
Then he held his hands up. “Okay. Okay.” He backed up, and his tone was serious. “I got it. I know what you’re saying. She won’t know anything about Mason.”
“Do you?”