Page 208 of Skate the Line

I feel the blood drain from my face.

Is he still stalking me? Did he find out that I was living in Chicago, and that’s why he’s here?

“Hey, girls!” Scottie and the other wives cheer when Ellie drags me into the box. Scottie rushes toward me when she sees the look on my face. “Whoa, are you okay? What’s wrong?”

“She’s sick,” Ellie answers for me.

“You’re sick? Here, come sit.” Scottie grips my hand and guides me to sit. I’m so nervous that I’m shaking. I don’t want her to let go.

“Here’s some water.” Someone hands me a bottle of water, but I make no move to drink it.

Scottie places her hand on my forehead. “You’re cold and pale.”

My eyes are watery, and the shaking gets worse.

“Hey.” She bends down and gets on my level. “What’s going on?” She keeps her voice low, somehow knowing that something isreallywrong, and it isn’t that I’m ill.

“I need to leave,” I whisper, afraid Ellie will freak out.

She glances around before swinging her attention back to me. “Okay. I’ve got Ellie.”

A tear slips down my cheek, and I angrily swipe it away.

“Did something happen?”

Not yet, and it’s going to stay that way.

I suck up my emotions and shake my head, knowing I have to remain calm for Ellie.

She’s shown such improvement lately, and the last thing I want to do is ruin it by panicking in front of her.

I pull her in close. “Are you okay to stay here and enjoy the game without me? I’m not feeling well, and I don’t want to get anyone else sick.”

I don’t want to leave her, even though I know she’s perfectly fine with Scottie. There’s a nagging thought in the back of my head that keeps rearing its head, making this harder than it should be.

I can't leave her.

“Yes, I’ll stay here and root for Daddy.”

I force a smile.

Ellie’s face turns serious. “If you need to borrow my puke bowl, it’s in my bathroom, okay? Daddy cleaned it the last time I got sick.”

Puke bowl? An abrupt laugh leaves me, and I welcome the quick break from my worries.

After saying goodbye, I turn and walk out of the box, knowing it’ll probably be the last time I’m in there.

I send Rhodes a quick text.

Me: I’ve come down with something, and I’m not feeling well. Ellie is with Scottie in the box. She’ll get Ellie to you after the game.

I call an Uber since Marco is still recovering from the wreck.

My thoughts spin, and although I know Nicholas is standing behind the Blue Devils bench, coaching, I’m convinced he’ll leave and follow me throughout the arena.

I still feel his gaze pressing against me.

It isn’t until I’m tucked away safely in a stranger’s car that I feel safe again.

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