Page 53 of The Sound Of Silence

“Pippa, it’s okay. Your sisters and parents are—”

“Oh God,” she says suddenly, her voice shaky. “Please don’t be him.”

I stare at her in confusion until my phone buzzes in my pocket, breaking the spell. Ignoring it, I run a hand through my hair before helping her stand.Who is “him”?

When the crowd grows out of control, we’re forced away and advised that information will be released in due time.

Of course, there’s a lot of backlash toward that, and as we walk back to Pippa’s car, I hear a cop mumble something about “living in a small fucking town,” but for the first time, I don’t agree with him.

Yes, I hate being here. I hate the feel small towns give me; I hate the vibe. The hurt I experienced growing up left scars behind that I’ll never get over. But seeing everyone come together like this, the concerned faces, the anguish, thesupport…it’s impossible for that not to affect you. So, when we get back to the main street, and Pippa suggests we head to the diner just like every other member of the town, I easily agree.

My phone buzzes again as we squeeze into a small booth near the back of the room. It’s the fifth time it’s rung since we got in the car, so I rip it out of my pocket to silence it, only to see my teammate’s name flashing across the screen. The same teammate that’s been asking Seth about me.

My brows furrow as I try to figure out why he’s calling. But it’s not important. Right now, I need to ask Pippa who she’s worried about. “Pippa, I—” A thought strikes me and I pause midsentence, changing the direction I was going.

“Pip, why is Ryan blowing up my phone?” I try to remain neutral, but when her eyes flash to mine I know what I said affected her.

“What?” she asks, looking like a deer in headlights, confirming my suspicion.

“Why is Ryan blowing up my phone?” I repeat, slower this time, ready to spell it out for her.

Her entire body sags, and a relieved smile appears on her face.What the actual fuck?

“Pip, what’s going on?”

“I could kill him.”

Huh?“Ryan?”

“Yes! I was worried it was either Willow or Ryan in the wreck.”

Again, what the actual fuck?

“I’m going to need you to explain it more clearly, Pippa. And from the very beginning.”

Burying her face in her hands, she mumbles inaudibly while shaking her head.

“Louder, Pip,” I demand, close to my breaking point.

“Ryan and I hooked up last summer and then slept together a few times in secret during the season. But you know me. I kept things casual. Anyway, we…” She stops abruptly, her eyes widening as she stares at me, tugging at the hem of her sweater. Her telltale sign for nerves. “What’s the look? Are you mad?”

Mad? I’m livid. Why isn’t he here instead of me?

Taking a deep breath, I bounce my shoulders and will myself to calm down, but it’s no use and I find myself speaking through gritted teeth. “Why isn’t he here if you’re together,” I say with a curt tone. “Did you actually think any of this through? I’m hoping to get a new contract with the team when mine expires this season, and now it’s going to look like I’m in some kind of love triangle with a teammate. This is insane.”

“We’re not together. We haven’t been together in months. He got nervous about dating a member of staff and—”

“He changed his mind?”

“It seems so, yes.”

“Shit.”

“I told him not to come.”

“But since you completely panicked back there, I’m going to guess you didn’t think he listened.”

“Correct.”

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