Page 8 of Save the Game

I miss your face.

Look at what I have to stare at now.

He sends a photo of a man sitting in my vacated booth, and I bite my lip to keep from laughing out loud. The man looks like a werewolf, body covered in a thick coat of dark hair; he’s wearing a shirt that barely covers his belly, and there is enough food sitting in front of him to feed me for days.

Well, that’s setting the bar a little low.

Or maybe you set the bar too high. Perhaps this man is beautiful, but I can’t appreciate it because I’ve spent the last few hours looking at your stunning face.

Do you even mean what you say, or do words just fall out of your mouth?

Maxyyyyyy

You gonna send that picture?

Of course not.

You’re right. Date first, naked pictures later. What kind of food do you like?

Whatever. Why?

Because I’m planning our dinner date. Duh. Keep up, Maxy.

I’m grinning down at my phone like an idiot. Disgusted with myself, I lock the screen and toss it down onto my bed, heading into the bathroom to change for bed. I’m not the least bit tired, but I have to at least try. I’ve noticed Coach Mackenzie watching me, lately, and I know I’ve slipped up a few times where my weight is concerned. Sleep isn’t the only thing I’ve lost this past year—my appetite has all but abandoned me. I force feed myself just enough to maintain my athlete’s body, but that’s it. I can’t remember the last time food gave me any sort of pleasure.

Turning off the lights in my room, I crawl into bed and feel around for my phone. The screen lights up automatically when I lift it, showing me several notifications from Luke. Turning onto my side, I scrunch my knees up to my chest and open the text thread. There is a selfie of Luke in the diner, bent over with his arm slung around an older man. Luke’s face is split in two with a wide smile, while the other man just looks annoyed. The message under the photo reads: Reggie misses you, too. The text below that is nothing but a string of sad face and crying emojis, with a dodo bird incongruously in the mix.

What’s with the dodo bird?

Whoops. Didn’t mean for that to be in there. Must have bumped it since it’s in my most used emojis. It’s a classic.

The dodo bird is one of your most used emojis?

Obviously.

What’s yours?

Wait, let me guess. Is it this one?

He sends the ninja emoji. I chuckle softly. He texts like he talks; it’s painfully endearing. I should probably cut him off sooner rather than later, before he picks up too much steam on the dating thing. I don’t want him to get his hopes up, where I’m concerned. Maybe we could just be friends. Immediately, I think of his bright, happy eyes, and expressive face. I think of the way he filled out those pants he was wearing, and that hideous yellow shirt. Maybe friends won’t work so well, either.

Really? The ninja? I don’t think I’ve ever used that one.

You’re right. It’s this one.

The blind man emoji follows and this time I can’t hold back the laughter that bubbles out of me. I’m glad Marcos’ room is on the other side of the apartment; if he heard me laughing in here at 3 a.m. he’d be sure to investigate.

You got it. That’s the one.

I fucking knew it! You know, I’ve got psychics in my family. Lots of talented seers in my bloodline. Not to toot my own horn or anything.

You in bed?

Shouldn’t you already know the answer to that, oh psychic one?

Well of course I could KNOW if I wanted to. But one must not abuse the inner eye, Maxy. Shame on you.

Sorry. I’m not well-versed in the laws of the supernatural.

---