Page 67 of The Save

I pressed the back of my hand to my mouth to smother the laugh threatening to escape. My cheeks burned from the grin that spread like wildfire across my face as I scanned the street, wondering if he was still there, watching.

Chase.I missed him so much it hurt. I couldn’t wait to see him at our study sessions and at the same time had been dreading it. Because we still hadn’t solved anything. I was still chasing a future across the ocean, he was still not on the market for a student like me, and he still didn’t know where he was going next.

Still.

I grinned and grabbed the hoses and his notes, then pressed down the locks on the door, and ran back to the sidewalk.

Somehow I survived until Tuesday afternoon. My heart was nearing palpitations as I crossed campus to the North Centre. I walked in early, praying that I’d find Chase alone and could talk with him for a second before anyone showed up.

But as I swung the door open, every hopeful thought slipped through my fingers like water.

Lamont stood at the chalkboard, his hands on his hips.

He smiled approvingly. “Maddie. Prompt. I like that.”

I blinked. “I . . . didn’t know you were attending today.”

Lamont strode toward a table at the end of the row. “Last minute change, I’m afraid. I’ll be here the rest of the semester.”

The air seemed to thin. “Oh, really? Why is that?”

“Coach Kaplan’s wife was in a serious accident last week. Broadsided downtown. He’s taking an indefinite leave to care for her.”

My heart lurched. “That’s terrible. Is she okay?”

“She’ll recover, but it’s going to be an uphill road. She’ll need full-time help. Coach Wilson stepped in as assistant coach. Just confirmed it yesterday. Which means I’m stepping in for him.”

I nodded, too stunned to speak.

Lamont patted the chair next to him. “Please. Fill me in.”

Chapter

Twenty-Three

The weeksafter our weekend getaway passed in a blur. Equal parts adrenaline and caffeine to get me through my cramming for midterms after working with the Outlaws.

That first Tuesday with Lamont, the study session was at capacity, and it didn’t let up. The team was invested, and I could barely get to everything in the two hours allotted.

I thought up new lesson ideas when I knew I hadn’t gotten a concept across, then bolted to the library to get my own hours in. To make matters worse, my mind didn’t love focusing on anything that wasn’t Chase related. I couldn’t tell if not seeing him or sneaking glimpses of him during practice after our study sessions was worse. Those moments dangled him in front of me when I couldn’t do anything about it.

I missed him so much it physically ached. Which was why when I saw Chase’s name in my inbox the Thursday before Nationals, I almost choked on my own spit.

Hey,

Would love to go over the numbers ahead of the weekend. You free tomorrow?

—C

I read it twice, my throat tightening. Numbers? I hadn’t talked with him in a couple of weeks, and he wanted to talk numbers?

Fine. I would talk numbers. I forgot all about why I’d decided not to reach out to Chase in the first place, why it didn’t make sense to pursue this, and started typing.

Sure. I’ll come to your office before the study session.

—M

I logged out of the computer and grabbed my bag, the line “What would Crystal do?” running through my head.

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