Page 51 of Race to Me

“Oh, the bruises?” I squeak, frantically trying to control my breathing. “It’s nothing, I’m a flyer.”

Foster stands up and stalks toward me. “I don’t believe you.”

“It’s the truth.” I stutter, looking around for my clothes. “Speaking of cheer, what time is it? I have a game tonight!” I roll my eyes. “I’m such a ditz!”

He crosses his inked arms against his broad chest, not looking amused. “Don’t ignore this, Freckles.” He looks at me so intently that his black eyes are glossed over. “I can protect you from him.”

Shit! Did I say something about my dad last night? Evidently, I was wasted. This is not good. “I’m fine, Foster. You’re overreacting.”

He shakes his head, not believing me. “Let me rephrase, you won’t have to worry about him anymore.”

I shrug off everything and replace my worried tone with confusion. “I don’t know what you’re talking about Foster, I’ve got to go. Coach will kill me if I’m late.”

“Stop deflecting.”

“I’m not.” I playfully scoff, sending him the brightest smile I can. “I’ll just wear this out.” I decide, knowing my clothes and uniform are in Kate’s dorm.

“I’ve got your keys.” Foster tells me.

“Did I drive here?” I wonder, shaking my head, knowing I would never drive drunk. I take a moment to breathe, knowing the only way to piece together anything is to ask. “What exactly happened last night?” I make it known that this conversation won’t last long as my feet slowly step backward to the door.

He steps forward. “You called me, and I found you.” His fists are in angry balls, but his tone is calm. He isn’t angry with me. “I brought you here, and you didn’t feel good, so I chilled in the bathroom with you. You threw up, so I put my clothes on you.” Foster towers above me, looking down. His palm caresses my face, and I do everything I can not to lean into his embrace because I know if I do, my life will never be the same. I’ve been keeping this lie for so long, and the thought of telling him makes my chest nearly collapse.

“Someone hurt you.” He sneers, and I shake my head. “You flinched at me, and you have bruises. I didn’t need any more information.”

I turn my head away fast to avoid his accusing eyes, jolted by the sudden movement, and realize just how intoxicated I must have been last night to feel this way. “You do need more information, Foster. You’re jumping to conclusions. I’ve got to go.”

For a split second, I imagine telling him. I imagine how my life could change and what it would mean to me to feel safe every single day. Not having to be a shell of a person. A ghost.

Foster’s exquisitely broken like me. I can tell because of the way we’re drawn to each other, and I can’t bear to break him more.

He saw me when I was hiding, and he found me when I wanted to be a ghost myself.

The tragedy of it all is that I can never tell him the truth.

It could put him in danger.

Without another word, I rush out of his house.

On the way to the dorm, I get a text from Kate. The car radio reads it for me. ‘I’m all dressed up for your game. Where are you?’

My biggest cheerleader. I smile, but tears trickle down. There’s nothing more terrifying to me than my father, and he’s hurt me so much that I can’t imagine what he would do to Foster.

∞∞∞

“Do you want to grab food before we go?” Kate asks as she dots more powder on her nose.

I throw her a grin, my stomach craving something but not having the time. “No, I ate at Foster’s.” I lie. Luckily, I had a few minutes to shower at the dorm.

“Ohh,” she coos. “You really like him, don’t you? He came up in there last night like a caveman getting his woman!” She shakes her shoulders, laughing.

I shrug. “It’s nothing serious.” I lie again, knowing she can see right through me. I tug down my uniform, noticing just how dressed up Kate is for the football game. “Who is that for?” I gesture to her outfit.

She smiles from ear to ear. “Ryder is coming tonight!” She squeals.

Grabbing our things, we exit the dorms and head over to the lively stadium. My palms are sweating from the events of the last twenty-four hours, and the thrumming music and cheers of classmates are making me dizzy.

I fall into my rotation with ease. It’s kind of nice to be surrounded by girls in the same uniform as me, blending in and hiding. Cheering like robots as the guys rush out onto the lawn.

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