Page 116 of Home Game

Without knocking on the bedroom door, I slipped into Ryan’s room. He sat on the edge of his bed. He wore a clean shirt that was open, revealing an expanse of hard muscles. He had two white plastic bandages over a cut that looked painful.

I moved to sit down on the bed beside him. He turned to look at me, studying my face.

“How are you doing?” his voice was gruff.

“I came here to ask you the same question.”

“How’s Jensen?”

“Fine, but he left the party.”

His eyes held true regret. “I’m sorry.”

I shrugged. “I don’t understand why guys always need to fight.”

“It’s how we settle things.”

“Are things settled between you and Jensen?”

He looked away from me, but didn’t answer. I knew I needed to talk to Ryan. I promised Jensen I would, but this was not the moment. Ryan felt too wound up, too tense, to share my problems with.

“How’s the rest of the party?”

I lay back on the bed. “Still going strong. Do you think they need us out there?”

Ryan lay back down beside me. “Not for a while.”

“It was a fun party.”

“What was your favorite part?”

I thought about that for a moment. “The cake and when everyone sang.”

Ryan rolled over, propping his head on his elbow, looking at me. “Anything else?”

I loved the way Ryan had pulled me onto his lap during the game. Those moments when his arms had been wrapped around me had made me feel things I had never felt before. “I liked the game.”

“Me too.” He grimaced. “Right up until the fist fight.”

“How’s your eye?”

“It’s fine.”

“I have to talk to you about something.”

He waited.

I took a deep breath. “But I’m not ready to tell you yet.”

“Whatever it is, you know you can tell me anything.”

Just the thought of bringing Ryan into contact with my old life, made my heart hurt. “I will. Just not yet.”

“You want to go back to the party?”

“Not really. Do you think we should?”

“Krista’s out there.”

---