Page 71 of Wicked Games

We make it through class unscathed, and I catch Margo in the hallway.

“Don’t go to the scrimmage,” I tell her.

“Didn’t you invite me?” she asks. “Or do you not…”

“Coach told me not to go. So.”

She sighs. “Good, because the thought of it sounded miserable.”

I tilt my head. “We’ll do something else instead.”

“I need to go home first.” She hurries away from me without looking back.

Home, huh?

I frown.

Me

Coach banned me from practice. Got fucked over.

Theo

??

Liam

What’d you do?

Nothing. Just some bullshit. I’ll be back to practice on Monday.

Eli

Me, too. I’ll be back tomorrow.

I breathe a sigh of relief. It’s been a little weird having Eli’s entire house to myself. He went to Chicago with his parents. I contemplated throwing a party just to cure my nightly boredom, but I didn’t want to deal with the clean-up and aftermath.

Once we get to their house, I kick off my shoes and head to the basement.

I make it halfway across the room when something hits me from behind.

My legs buckle, and I go down, barely avoiding slamming my head into the floor. A heavy weight presses on my spine, and a hand grips the back of my head.

“You little shit,” my uncle breathes. “Can you do anything right lately?”

I exhale. “Uncle?—”

“Shut. Up.”

His knee digs between my shoulder blades, and I freeze.

“Here’s how this is going to go. You’re going to pack a bag and stay at my house for the weekend. We’re going to work on your fucking respect.”

I stay silent.

He gets off me. “Up.”

I do as he says, moving slowly. I climb to my feet and pivot.

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