Page 20 of Don't Let Go

Quincy flared his nostrils. “We need to fight this.” He pounded his fist into the palm of his other hand. “Can’t a lawyer help?”

I rested my chin on the top of Iris’s head. “I could try that but it would take weeks or months to get anywhere. There’s no point with only a few games left.”

Iris slid out of my embrace and sat in the chair, draping one leg over the other. She wiped away her tears with the back ofher hand, smearing her makeup. “This can’t be. You’re our best player.” She sniffed, fiddling with the kitty necklace around her throat. “And I love you.” Her voice broke.

I dropped to my knees and wedged myself between Iris’s legs. “I love you too. We’ll figure something out.”

Quincy jumped on the couch throwing a pillow over his face. “We’re doomed,” he mumbled through the pillow.

Iris stared past me to avoid my searching gaze. I ran my thumb over her knuckles. “I’m sorry. I don’t know what else to say,” I grumbled, hanging my head.

Quincy sat up, throwing a second pillow at me. “Dude, this sucks.”

I caught the pillow and stood, focusing on fluffing the pillow to avoid seeing the defeat on my best friend’s face. “I know.”

Iris stood on shaky heels. “I gotta go. This is too much to wrap my mind around.”

I walked her to the door. “I love you. We’ll figure this out.”

She kissed my cheek. “I hope so.”

Quincy and I pounded fists. “Dude, we gotta fix this somehow. Who is going to help me pass chemistry now?”

I hit him upside the head. “Selfish much?” I laughed.

He shrugged. “It’s the truth.”

“We’ll talk later once I know more.”

He nodded. “This has been one hell of a week.”

“Crazy how much life changes in seven days, huh?”

I watched Quincy and Iris drive away. After a few moments, I locked the front door and slid into my car to return to where I'd call home indefinitely.

Music blasted from the speakers as I drove down the highway. I barely remembered what exit to get off at and hell if I knew what street the Giordanos lived on.

South Phoenix was known for its graffiti-covered walls. A gang turf war in paint. A group of four guys smoking joints gave me a nasty look. Shit. A Rolls-Royce in this hood was toast.

I drove around blind for half an hour. One reason was pride, and the other was I didn’t have anyone’s number saved in my phone.

All the houses were one story with chipped paint and exposed brick. Teens played basketball on bare courts, and kids drew pictures on the sidewalk in chalk. I finally turned down a street with nicer houses. Their yards were a shade greener, and some houses were two-story. This section of the neighborhood was the historic district, meaning the city took better care and the houses were under better regulation.

The two-story house with blue paint and a faded red door drew my attention. There was the cherry red Charger I was surprised to see in the driveway.

Lucky me, I found my way home.

As I attempted to sneak back into my room without being noticed, I came nose-to-nose with Rory. Her full lips were pink and looked so soft. All her dark hair was down, covering one of those hypnotizing eyes. Her exposed jade-colored eye blazed into me. I felt the hairs rise on my neck. Was this the feeling people had when they looked down the barrel of a gun?

“You find whatever you went back for?” Her voice was soft like velvet, but her words were sharp like the tip of a knife.

I shrugged. “Couldn’t find it. Go figure.”

She tilted her head, studying me. “Dinner is in ten. I suggest you clean up.” With that, she went downstairs.

What was wrong with what I had on?

The door down the hall opened, and Lizzy skipped out of the room. I ducked into my room before she spotted me.

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