Page 13 of The Sound of Us

Skye shrugged. “I came here on a full-ride basketball scholarship to get a journalism degree, but I lost the money when I had to withdraw after the accident. The team is giving me another chance to try out, but my leg was so badly damaged it basically had to be rebuilt. I don’t think all the rehab and training in the world is going to get me back to the level I was at when they picked me, but I have to try.”

“It takes a lot of courage to come back,” I said. “Most people would just give up. You’re very brave.”

“I’m desperate,” she said with a sigh. “If I make the team, I’ll qualify for athletic scholarships, but without them, there’s no wayI can stay. I’ve already talked to my financial aid advisor. She’s looking at other options for me, but I missed the deadlines for most other scholarships.”

“What about journalism internships? I just finished a summer law internship, and it paid—”

“You’re in law?”

“Finance,” I said. “But I plan to go to law school. The internship was at the State’s Attorney’s office, which is where I want to work.”

Skye frowned. “I wouldn’t have guessed law.”

“Because I’m not wearing a suit?”

“Because it’s pretty much the opposite of who you are.”

I suppressed a flinch. Music. Banter. Light “getting to know you” talk. I could do it all. But getting personal, going deep, trying to make me question my goal… that was off-limits for me.

“You don’t know who I am.” I knew my words had come out too harsh when Skye grimaced.

“No,” she said in a cool voice. “I don’t. I’m sorry if I pressed a nerve.” She turned and held out her hand.

It took me a few moments to realize we’d arrived at the athletic center and she wanted her lunch bag. I handed it over, mentally kicking myself for being such a dick. She didn’t need me dumping my issues on her when she was going into one of the most important tryouts of her life.

“Go kick some basketball ass.” Lost in a maelstrom of emotions, I didn’t know what else to say.

“Thanks.” Skye hesitated. “Do you—?”

“Dante!” Madison waved from a nearby picnic table on the grass and gestured to the curvy woman beside her. “Come on over. I’ve got someone for you to meet.”

My body jerked, and I shook off the haze that had clouded my mind. What the hell was I doing? I didn’t get involved. I didn’t connect. I didn’t waste time wondering how I could spend more time with someone I’d just met. I was a free agent, unencumbered by the burden of emotion-draining relationships. Skye deserved someone who could be there for her, someone who could protecther, and that sure as heck wasn’t me. I didn’t even have time for this kind of drama. Skye had her goal and I had mine.

“I’ll be right there,” I called out. I wasn’t about to break my rule for Madison, but her friend was cute, and I was up for a little flirting to chase away all the unsettling feelings. “I’m bringing you a treat and it isn’t me.” I held up the box of lemon squares and blew the girls a kiss.

I felt a prickle on the back of my neck and turned to see Skye watching me, her face devoid of any expression. When she turned away, I felt sick inside.

“Good luck, buttercup.”

I watched until she was through the doors. She didn’t even wave.

CHAPTER SIX“Bad Day” by Daniel PowterSKYE

“Skye?” Isla banged her fist on my bedroom door. “Are you going to come out? Do you want something to eat?”

“Leave me alone.” I pulled the pillow over my head to block out her voice. I wasn’t ready to talk about the disaster that had been my tryout. Not even with Iz.

“You’ve been in there since Monday afternoon,” she shouted. “Now, it’s Tuesday night. You haven’t even gone to pee. I learned in my biology class that not peeing for that long could kill you. The pee goes back into your blood stream, and you die of pee poisoning.”

“That’s bullshit.”

“Do you really want to take the chance? Is that what you want on your tombstone? ‘Here lies Skye Jordan. Sister, daughter, friend. Too bad she didn’t pee.’”

“I went to the washroom when you were at school and when you were asleep.”

“What about water? You can only survive three days without water. You can go three weeks without food, so I won’t give you a hard time about that—”

“I have water, Iz. I’m not stupid.” I threw back the covers. Isla wasn’t going to leave me alone and neither was my bladder now that she was pouring water into some kind of container outside my door.

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