Page 214 of Scoring the Player
“Sorry. I didn’t mean to startle you.”
Right. ’Cause sneak attacks aren’t his specialty.
I make my way toward the staircase.
“I forgot to grab plates.”
“They gave us utensils?” Anaïs asks.
I place the bag down on the coffee table and rummage through it. “Yeah.”
“Then we’re good.”
She’s biting into the drunken noodles when I ask, “Did Salem share an update about his brother?”
She swallows. “You heard about Mexico?”
I shake my head as I scoop up the curry.
“He was seen crossing the border into Mexico.”
“Mexico?”
“Yeah. Salem found it odd, too, but it’s something.”
“Hmm.”
“Yeah.”
“I want to be there for him.”
“Then go to him. Show him the Arnie I know. The kid who would stay up all night with me in the ER when I had flare-ups. It’s time to go all in. Isn’t it?”
Yeah. Past time.
CHAPTER 53
ARNAZ
“Surrender”
The most delicate of delights.
Iwait until Anaïs drifts to sleep to head out.
“You’re not staying?” Mom asks from the second floor when I reach the ground level.
“I’ll be back tomorrow.” Anaïs and I have plans to binge our favorite Gothic movies.
Carter appears next to her, changed out of his jeans and hoodie into a T-shirt and sweats. Sweats I recognize from my partnership with Nike.
For fuck’s sake.
“What happened to Ms. Brown?” I blurt.
Mom trades a confused glance with Carter. “Your nanny?”
“Yeah.” I place my duffel down and cross my arms. “She took us to church every Sunday.” I liked being in the choir. It taught me how to sing. “She helped us with homework after school. Then one day, she disappeared.”
