Page 105 of The Keeper
What girl could resist?
“I’ll stay in your room,” I say just as quietly.
Our eyes stay locked on each other for several beats before we finally begin making our way towards the elevators that will take us to Mack’s room.
Mack’shotelroom.
He swipes us into 806 and walks me over to sit on the edge of his bed.
Hisking sizedbed.
“Do you want a water or something to snack on?” he asks.
I shake my head.
“Did you tell the girls what happened when you got to the bus?”
Mack exhales harshly.
“About that,” he says, walking over and sitting next to me. “Gina came to see me tonight, bawling her eyes out, as soon as we got off the bus.”
“What?” I ask, my face scrunching up in confusion.
“Trust me. I was confused too,” he responds, rubbing his hands over his face. “It took a while for her to form sentences I could understand, but she said it was her fault. She called your dad and pretended to be someone from the school inviting parents for the tournament. Gave him all of the details for the games.”
“Are you serious?” I ask in a whisper, shocked still by this information and unsure how to process it.
“I guess she had just hoped his being here would make you decide not to play,” he continues. “She said she had no idea anything so horrible would happen and that she was really sorry.”
I nod once and squeeze the bridge of my nose in frustration, trying to deal with this news along with the slowly increasing pain in my body.
“You okay?”
I nod again.
“I don’t want to think about Gina. I’m just really sore and tired and want to go to sleep. Can I use your shower?”
“Sure,” he responds, standing and walking over to the bathroom.
He flicks on the light and wanders in. I hear the water running and things moving around before he returns and takes both of my hands, helping me to stand.
“Take your time. Soothe your muscles. I’m sure they’re sore from the game as well.”
“Thanks Mack,” I say, before slipping into the bathroom and shutting the door behind me.
I slowly peel off my clothes and leave them in a pile in the corner before crawling under the water and relishing the hot spray that instantly covers my body. Like every other time I take a shower, I place my hands flat on the wall and direct the water to hit my head, then trickle down my body.
I’ve often stood in this exact position and contemplated a next decision, practiced something I was going to say, or tried to reflect on an experience. Tonight is no different.
My dad hit me with a car. My brother is going through something deep. I’m probably going to have to sit out the rest of the soccer season. And I’m about to spend the night is Mack’s room.
If I’m totally honest, even though everything else in that list is important, the only thing I can think about is sleeping in Mack’s arms.
“RJ?” I hear from the other side of the curtain. “I brought you something to wear. I’ve set it on the sink, okay?”
“Thanks,” I reply, and then I hear the door snick shut again.
After spending a bit longer letting the warmth soothe my aching body, I flip off the water and dry off. I grab the clothes Mack has left for me - a blue t-shirt and pair of gray sweats - and slowly pull them on, inhaling that delicious Mack scent that wraps around my body.
