Page 70 of Don't Let Go

I shoved my hands into the front pockets of my jeans. “I’m not blind. I know something’s going on with you. I haven’t figured it out yet, but I’m here if you need me.”

Rory dropped the rag on the side of the sink, wiping her hands on her jeans. “Thanks.” She leaned against the counter. “I’m sorry about that text.”

I shrugged. “No worries. I was worried about you.”

She tucked a piece of hair behind her ear and tugged on one of her silver earrings. “I’m okay. Everything turned out fine.”

I narrowed my eyes. “Really? Somehow, I felt Paolo had something to do with it. I don’t know why. I kinda took it out on him the last half of the game, and he freaked, punching James in the face when he got in his way of coming after me. When we got back home, he was cut from the team for being too much of a liability.”

Rory hugged herself, glancing at the floor. “It wasn’t him… it was his cousin. It was a mistake and a misunderstanding. I don’twanna talk about it.” She looked at the clock above the fridge. “We gotta get going, or we’ll be late.”

I pressed my lips together but couldn’t keep quiet as she walked away. “Doesn’t it get hard?”

“What’s that?” she asked, leaning against the kitchen doorframe. She had one eyebrow cocked.

“Being so tough. You can talk to people. You can talk tome. I won’t judge. My father was a politician. I know when to keep my mouth shut and just listen.”

She was speechless for a couple of moments until she finally nodded. “Thanks. I’ll remember that for our late-night talks.”

Not exactly the answer I thought she’d give, but at least she didn’t blow me off. Baby steps, I had to take baby steps. One day, I’d figure out what made Rory tick.

I caught Rory on her way to lunch. I bounced a basketball from one hand to the other as we walked silently toward the cafeteria.

“Do you have to bounce that thing the entire time?” she asked, adjusting her backpack strap.

I turned sharply and passed the ball to her. She caught it and stopped walking. The way she looked at me seemed like I had lost my mind. Maybe I did.

“I challenge you to a game of horse,” I said, playfully puffing out my chest like Superman.

She rolled her shoulders back and twisted the orange ball in her hands. “Oh? What’s in it for me?”

I decided to be brave and go for it. “If I win, I get to take you out for pizza.”

Rory tilted her head. “Like a date?”

I lifted my hands over my head. “If you want to call it that.”

She sniffed, standing up straighter. “And if I win?”

I laughed. How could she beat me? “What do you want?”

Rory walked over to me and shoved the basketball into my chest. “If I win, I get your wheels.”

I sucked in some air, shocked by the giant size balls she had. “Fine. If you win, you can have my car.”

She grinned and nodded toward the basketball court. “Last one there plays defense.” She then took off running before I had a chance to agree.

Rory won by twenty seconds. I caught my breath and bounced the basketball toward her. “You cheated.”

She shrugged. “That’s called strategy, my friend.”

“Mmm-hmm. I’ll let it pass this once since I like you and we live together.”

She dribbled the ball with a morbid smirk twisted on her face. “Cool.” She ran toward my left as I moved to block her, and she quickly ducked to the right and jumped up. The ball went right through, never touching the net.

We went again, and I ran past her and threw the ball, but it bounced off the rim.

Rory brushed her hands together and gave me another dazzling smile. “I believe that means you have an H. Correct me if I’m wrong, but aren’t you supposed to be good?”

---