Page 41 of Ricochet

While the rest of theteam stopped at the restaurant inside the hotel to grab dinner, I headed up to the third floor alone. I don’t know what happened to Stone, but I don’t feel like dealing with more silent hostility and scowls from my own teammates.

Why the fuck can’t I get my shit together?

Even when Stone is offering to just let me hate him for the sake of the game, I can’t go back to how things used to be.

Too much has changed, and not for the best.

Even if I think I might hate Stone a little less.

I can’t fucking get my head on right because I’m too thrown off by everything that’s happened between us.

Instead of dinner, I stopped at the vending machine and got a couple bags of chips and a candy bar. They’re all left abandoned on the small desk as I flop down onto the bed. I’m starving, yet I have no appetite. Stone’s welcome to the bag of Funyuns whenever he gets in.

Not that I got them for him.

My phone rings, and I fish it out of my pocket. I almost don’t answer it. I already know my aunt is probably concerned. I don’t usually play such shit games. She worries too much, and I’m not even her kid. But if I don’t answer, she’ll only worry more.

“Hey, Rosie.”

“Hey, kiddo. Caught the game.”

I easily catch the cautious undertone in her voice.

My aunt Roseanne is a kind woman who I still wish to this day could have taken me in after my mother died. I would’ve hated being a burden to her for ten years instead of two, but I would’ve gladly lived every second of my life trying to repay her rather than every one of those seconds I lived in fear.

“Yeah,” I mutter, throwing my arm over my face. “It wasn’t my best game.”

“Is everything going okay with school?”

“Everything’s fine. It was just first game jitters. I’ll shake it off.”

“Okay.” She goes quiet for a moment. “You know if you need anything—”

“I know. Andyouknow you worry too much.”

She laughs quietly. “So you keep telling me. I can’t help it, Cal. You’re my only nephew.”

“How are Rich and the kids?” I ask, trying to remind her that she has children of her own she should be worrying about instead. I get off the bed and start pacing the room, suddenly feeling too anxious to stay still.

“All good. Rich has some vacation time coming up, so we were thinking of taking a trip before Theo gets too busy with his college applications. He’s thinking about Lynwood, you know.”

“Yeah, he told me.” Moving over to the window, I brush back the curtain, looking out at the twinkling city lights and the black expanse of the ocean in the distance. “If that’s what he decides, I’m looking forward to showing him around campus and stuff.”

“I bet he’d love that.” She falls silent again, and I’m sure there’s more she wants to say. Instead, she says, “You’re probably exhausted. I’ll let you go so you can get some rest. Good luck tomorrow. Take care of yourself, okay, Cal?”

“I am. I promise. You too.”

After we hang up, I return my phone to my pocket. As my gaze drifts back up to the window, my eyes catch on Stone who’s leaning against the side of the building just below. I tilt forward, seeing him talking to someone with his cell pressed to his ear. He hangs up, then pulls another phone out of the bag he’s carrying.

Why does he have two phones?

Maybe it’s only curiosity that pulls at me as I watch Stone start walking away from the hotel, or maybe it’s something else entirely. Whatever it is has me moving across the room with long strides, throwing open the door, and rushing out into the hall. I take the stairs down, knowing it’ll be quicker than waiting for the elevator.

Once I’m in the lobby, I slow my pace, not wanting to attract attention. As I’m passing by the front desk, Coach Hill walks in from the side door. I keep moving.

“Hayes!” Coach calls, causing me to stop in my tracks and grit my teeth. “Where do you think you’re going?”

Schooling my features, I turn around. “Just need some fresh air, Coach.”

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