Page 37 of Playing For Keeps
“I think I lost something when they put these cuffs on me. I’m looking for it.” Tears press on the backs of my eyes.
Do not cry, Dori. Be strong and brave.
I lay the bed down and crawl over the top, reaching between the wall and the mattress. Again, nothing.
I will not give up.
Sasha’s chain rattle. “What was it?”
“It’s a bracelet from my boyfriend.” I rest back on my heels. “If I could find it, he’d get us out of here.”
Just talking about Jami makes my heart reach for him. What must he be thinking? I get in child’s pose and hide from this situation. I let myself go to our new life together.
We were supposed to be celebrating my move to Miami. He had a surprise that he was excited to show me.
Will our life together ever be easy?
What if I’m not found?
The weight of it all takes me to a dark place.
What if we’re just not meant to be together? Every time we get close, something splits us apart.
My insides crack in half, and tears spill from my eyes. I roll to my side and curl into a ball.
None of this makes sense.
Sasha moves, causing the material between us flutter. “You have a boyfriend?”
“Yeah. I do.”
“What’s he like?”
I push myself up and rest against the wall, wiping the tears away. “He’s perfect. He’s patient with me. Kind and attentive. He’s my best friend.”
“I wish I had someone like that in my life.”
“We may as well get to know each other while we sit and wait for whatever they have in store for us.” I pause for a moment for her to respond. When she doesn’t, I prompt her. “Tell me about you, Sasha.”
She laughs, but it comes out as more of a sad resignation. “There’s not much to tell.”
“What’s your family like?”
“My family… You know how it goes.”
I nod, thinking about how distant I am from my family. Inever thought Aiden and I would be this strained. Now Hunter’s mom has dragged him into this. I can only imagine the scolding Aiden would give me if he were here.
I force the thought loose. “What about your parents?”
After a moment, she sniffles. “My dad died when I was eleven. Since then, my mom has worked three jobs to get by.”
My heart aches for her. “I’m sorry. That has to be hard.”
There’s a long moment of silence.
Her words shake as she breaks the quiet. “I miss them.”
Instantly, my mind goes to Jami’s parents. “Yeah, me too.”
