Page 101 of Play Maker

They laugh. I don’t.

Someone asks about the ejection, and I barely get the word “unfortunate” out before I hear it.

“Tell them the truth, Grimes!”

My heart stops, and I see Lo.

I blink toward the back of the room, and there he is. Cross. Shoving past media, face flushed, eyes wild. His hair’s wet, maybe from the shower, maybe from sweat. Security isn’t fast enough. Neither is anyone else.

“Tell them!” he yells. “Tell them everything!”

Ryan’s already pushing through the crowd. Jackson’s on his heels, jaw locked, eyes hard. They get to him quick, drag him back, but not before the room erupts.

“Is that Caleb Cross?”

“Do you know him?”

“Was that personal?”

“Grimes, what’s going on?”

I don’t answer.

I can’t.

My ears ring. My body’s buzzing, and not from the win.

I step back from the mic.

“I’m done,” I mutter. “That’s enough for today.”

“Go,” Coach Cohen says.

I shove the door open and don’t wait for anyone to follow. Because none of them matter right now. Just her, and she’s not here.

Fuck … I know exactly where she went. I saw it on her face the second Cross started shouting. Not fear. Not embarrassment. Fury.

Lo doesn’t run from messes. She charges into them. And if she’s gone, it means one thing …

She’s going to find him before I do.

Chapter20

The Past

L0

They’ve dragged him out onto the practice field, far from cameras, far from the chaos he just blew open like a grenade. But not far enough from me.

I storm through the security gate, boots thudding over frozen grass, heart hammering in my chest like a war drum. Dad and Jackson both try to keep things calm.

Too late.

“You self-centered asshole!” I scream before anyone can stop me.

Cross turns, startled, like he didn’t think anyone would follow. Like he thought those who love Kolby would stay tucked away.

Wrong.

---