Page 106 of Home Game

“Coming,” I said, pulling my jersey over my head. Krista was early, but that was okay.

I came around the corner and skidded to a halt.

Terrance!

Bianca stood at the door with her purse over her shoulder. She had a vicious expression on her face. “Looks like an old friend has come to visit you. I’ll leave you two to catch up.”

I wanted to beg Bianca to stay, to not leave me alone with my personal monster, but I could only stand there, numb and terrified.

The door clicked behind her.

“What did you tell Bianca?”

“Just that we were old friends.” He whistled, as he turned around in a circle. “Girl, you are living the high life.”

“And she let you in.”

“Oh, more than that. She all but told me to come on up for a visit. She even told the doorman to let me in.”

“Get out,” I instructed, hating that he was standing between me and the door.

“I’m not leaving until I get what’s coming to me.”

I hated him. Hated the question I was about to ask him. “What do you want?”

“Well,” he looked around. “For starters, I want five grand.”

“Five thousand dollars?” I sputtered. “I don’t have that kind of money.”

“No, but you can get it.”

“I’m just staying here as a guest. Ryan doesn’t give me that kind of money.”

He stepped forward, his eyes as cold and dead as a snake’s gaze. “Give me what you got.”

“Will you leave?” I was desperate to get him out of here.

“For now.”

I blindly rushed into my bedroom and pulled open my sock drawer. I grabbed the wad of money.

I walked past him, to the door and opened it. I held open my palm. My hard-earned cash was rolled up. “Here’s $800. You take it and you don’t come back.”

He eyeballed the money before approaching. I gasped when he grabbed my wrist with one hand and grabbed the cash with the other. “You don’t give me orders, you little bitch.”

I opened the door wider.

“This doesn’t end here,” he lifted a toothpick to his mouth. “See you soon.”

I slammed the door shut behind him and locked the door. Then I set the alarm.

I couldn’t believe Terrance not only found me but strolled into Ryan’s home like he owned it. Why had Bianca let him in here? How could she think that was a good idea?

I had let this situation fester too long. Now Terrance was in my life, and he would only bring pain and ugliness to Ryan. I would pack up and leave right now before Krista got here. I rushed to my bedroom and slammed to a stop. In my desperation to get rid of Terrance, I had stupidly given him all my cash. I didn’t have money for a bus ride out of town. So stupid.

The buzzer made me nearly jump out of my skin. Krista was here. I carefully wiped the tears from my eyes and then pasted asmile on my face. No matter what, no one could find out about the ugliness I had just brought into Ryan’s life. I’d act normal tonight, but I needed to figure out a way to lead Terrance away from Ryan.

Kristaand I sat in the arena restaurant. I worked to act normal, but I guess my acting skills weren’t up to par because Krista leaned forward and said, “Spill it.”

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