Page 13 of Return Policy

I make my way over to the pink upholstered armchair in the corner that has Chloe’s favorite plush pink-and-white striped blanket neatly resting on the arm. Usually I leave it bunched up on the chair, but Leah must have folded it when she came in here yesterday.

Sinking into the cushion, I pull the soft blanket over my lap and glance around. I used to experience debilitating grief every time I passed by Chloe’s room—now it’s the one place in the world where I still feel a connection to her. The only place she still exists. I miss her like hell, but sitting here surrounded by all her favorite things, I canalmostconvince myself she’s not gone.

I canalmostconvince myself I’m just a normal girl, with a normal ass family—not a damaged daddy’s girl with raging abandonment issues.

4

ELIJAH

The ear-piercing blow of a whistle sounds through the air, signaling the end of practice. My muscles burn, my body’s soaked in sweat, and I feel fuckingincredible.

“Nice job today, Anderson,” our head coach, James Porter, says, hitting me against the shoulder pads. “Keep that up, and you’ll definitely be looking at some playing time this year.”

“Thanks, Coach,” I say, attempting to hide my shit-eating grin.

“Head to your cabins and get cleaned up for dinner,” he shouts to the team. “We have a film session tomorrow at nine. If you’re late, you’ll be running drills until you puke. Understand?”

“Yes, Coach,” we all chime in unison.

I grab my helmet off the metal bench and head towards the path to our cabins with the rest of the team.

“Man, your precision was incredible today,” Noah, our starting quarterback and one of my best friends, says, saddling up to me.

“Thanks.” I try to hold in my smile, attempting humility since I know my gain is his loss.

“Hey, be proud of it.” He squeezes my shoulder. “I’ve got no problem sharing my spotlight with you. There’s enough playing time to go around.”

Noah’s already secured his spot in the draft once he graduates this year—winning a Heisman as a sophomore will do that for you—so his willingness to share the field doesn’t surprise me in the slightest.

“Fine.” I smirk. “I crushed it today.”

“Atta boy.” He slaps my butt, and I shove him away.

“You need to catch some ass so you’ll stop touching mine.” I shake my head as Theo, my best friend and roommate, slides up between us.

“Come on, man. You know my rule,” Noah says.

“Wait,” Theo says, throwing his arms out and halting us in place. He whips his head to Noah. “The no-pussy-during-season-thing? That’s actuallyreal?”

“The fuck kind of rule is that?” I cringe, shuddering at the thought. “Is that even possible?”

Theo looks down at his dick. “Don't worry, big guy. We won’t be following Cap’s lead on that.”

“Calm down.” Noah waves us off, beginning to walk again. “It’s aless-booty-during-season rule… Less booty, less bullshit.”

“Bro.” I shake my head exaggeratedly, holding up a hand. “That is the polar opposite of my mantra.”

“Oh yeah?” Noah laughs. “And what mantra would that be?”

“More titties, more touchdowns!” I throw an invisible football, and Theo runs forward, “catching” it.

“See you guys later,” Noah says, shaking his head and walking off to his cabin.

“You wanna join for yoga?” Desmond, one of our running backs, asks, catching up to Theo and me.

“No, I’m good,” I say, more than ready for a hot shower.

“Nah, man,” Theo agrees.

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