Page 210 of Red Zone
Her laugh. Her thirteen freckles on the right side of her face. The way she made me feel like I was more than just another kid trying to survive.
The only thing that really matters.
So, I smile for the cameras. I shake every hand. I give them the soundbite they want.
But all I want to do is go home.
And finally get back what I’ve been missing all along.
Her.
I slip out of the venue as soon as I can without drawing too much attention, still pulling my tie loose as I hit the quiet sidewalk outside.
The cool night air cuts through the heat of the cameras and chatter behind me, but it doesn’t slow my heart at all.
Because now that it’s done—now that my name’s been called, the contract’s waiting, the whole damn world finally watching me—there’s only one thing on my mind.
And she’s not here.
As soon as the wheels of the plane touch down back at home, I pull out my phone and scroll, thumb hovering over the call button for half a second before pressing.
It rings twice before it’s answered.
“Hayes,” comes Coach Harding’s unmistakable grumble on the other end.
“Coach,” I say, forcing my voice steady. “It’s me. Just checking in to see if the package is where it’s supposed to be.”
There’s a pause.
Then a low snort.
“The package?”
“Yeah,” I say dryly. “You know. The package.”
I can almost hear the eye roll through the phone.
“You kids and your stupid code names,” he mutters. “You could just say her name, you know.”
“Is it there or not?” I press, already impatient.
Another beat, then a sigh.
“Yes, Hayes. The package is in the target location. Safe and sound.”
I close my eyes, relief washing through me.
“Thanks, Coach,” I murmur, my voice dropping.
There’s another gruff little sound from his end of the line.
“Don’t screw this up,” he says. “And don’t tell her I played along with your little spy movie crap.”
I huff out something that’s almost a laugh.
“Wouldn’t dream of it.”
And then I hang up, heading for my car.
