Page 153 of The Alternate Captain
“Yes.”
Coach considers me for a moment before nodding.
“Just don’t check out on me completely,” he says. “Because we need you, Johnny. The guys need you. I need you.”
I exhale and stand up, reaching for a box of tissues to dry my eyes.
“Thanks, Coach.”
“So a broken heart, huh? It can kill a man. I’ve seen it before, and I’ll see it again. You’re not the first and you won’t be—”
“Yeah, thanks,Coach. I get it.”
Once he dismisses me, I head to the dressing room and wash my face, then I stare at my reflection in the mirror.
“Hey, there he is!” Prez says as I walk back to my cubby, his face dropping when he catches my eyes. “What’s going on?”
“Forget it,” I say. “I didn’t sleep well last night. I’m tired, that’s all.”
An understatement of the century. I don’t remember the last time I slept through the night. Not this year anyway.
“Bullshit,” Prez says, moving to set a hand on my shoulder. “Talk to me, John.”
I look him square in the eyes and open my mouth to say something—anything. Then the door to the dressing room swings open and Bettsy strides in.
“We’re wanted upstairs,” he says. “Something for the social channels and then a video review with Coach... you okay, mate?”
His eyes lock on mine and I push myself to nod.
“Yeah, fine.”
But I’m anything other than fine.
My brother chokes onhis pre-nap snack when I phone him on Saturday afternoon. I timed my call perfectly, ensuring that it’s just before his nap time because waking him up to ask him for a favour wouldn’t go down well.
“And you want the tickets... for you?” he says, trying to suppress another chortle.
“I don’t understand why this is so funny,” I say.
“Because it’s you asking me for tickets. I mean—who are you and what have you done with Kelly?”
“So, can I have one or not?” I say, chewing on the end of my pencil.
I’ve got my music score sheets spread out in front of me, reviewing a part of my third piece that I’m planning to play on Monday for my audition, except, I’m freaking out and I need one of Johnny’s pep talks. One that’ll ground me and give me a level head when I go to my audition on Monday—because right now, I’m a complete fucking mess.
I opened our texting thread at least six times before closing it again, reading over the last few lines of messages. My heart hurts.
Kelly
I’ll see you once we figure it out, Johnny. I can’t keep this a secret any longer.
Johnny
But can I see you?
Kelly
It’ll only make things harder.
