Page 143 of Rules

“It’s our future!” His fist connects with the locker, making the metal rattle in the quiet room. “Dammit, Max!”

He takes a few steps back, running his fingers through his hair in frustration. “If you don’t get a grip in the next couple of days, you can say goodbye to your starter position.”

I narrow my eyes at him, a pang of irritation springing inside of me. “Is that a threat?”

“This is me knowing how Coach’s brain works. He’s not going to risk putting a cannonball in a game that could make or break us.”

I know he’s telling the truth. In all honesty, I wouldn’t put myself in the game right now; I can’t blame Coach for doing the same.

“Get your head in the game. Weneedyou there, Max.”

We stare at each other across the room, not saying anything. I know he means well, but I’m not sure I have it in me to be the person he needs me to be.

“Derek?”

We both turn in the direction of a tentative voice.

“Lia?”

She’s standing in the doorway, her red head barely peeking in, hand covering her eyes. “Are you all decent? I think I saw most of the team leave, but I’m not sure.”

I notice a little frown between her brows before Derek’s back gets in my way, shielding her from my view.

“We’re decent. What the hell are you doing here? It’s late.”

“I waited. I need to talk to you.” She peeks around Derek to look at me. “To talk to you both.”

The way she says it has the fine hair at the nape of my neck standing.

“What’s going on?” The words come out of me quickly. All the scenarios running through my mind making my heart beat furiously. Is it Jeanette? Did something happen again?

Lia’s sad eyes look at me, and for the first time, I see how puffy and red they are. She’s been crying.

“It’s Brook…” I inhale sharply, my breath getting stuck in my throat. Fresh tears pool in Lia’s eyes. “She’s gone.”

I don’t know what I was expecting, but this sure as hell isn’t it.

“What do you mean ‘gone’?” I can see Derek frown at her. But not me. I’m standing completely still. Unable to move a single muscle.

Brook is gone? Gone where?

“She came to my house earlier today and said she forgot something.” Brown eyes settle on mine, almost pleading. “I didn’t know. I swear I didn’t know.”

Derek’s hand cups her cheek, drawing Lia’s attention to him. “What happened? What did she forget?”

“Money. She was stashing money under the loose board in my closet. Said she needed a backup plan in case of an emergency.”

“What emergency?”

My head is throbbing with all the possibilities, making it unable to think clearly. What the hell is going on? Where is she?

Lia shakes her head. “She didn’t want to tell me. We had a fight, and then she was gone.”

She looks at me once again. “Max…” Her lip wobbles as she comes to me. “I-I’m so sorry. I didn’t know. I never wanted to hurt you… I-I…”

Gulping down, I close my eyes so I don’t have to see her face. Even without her saying the words, I know she knows. Brook must have told her.

Dammit, Brook.The eerie stillness turns to anger, slowly, but surely boiling inside of me.

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