Page 60 of Game On

With that, I get in the car. I start it up and slam on the gas. My tires squeal against the pavement until they catch and take off. I’m sure the neighbors have called the police by now. Hell, some are even openly gawking from their front stoops and windows. I can’t find it in me to care though.

I look in the rearview mirror behind me. Ryan’s just staring after me. My dad never came out. My dad didn’t even try to explain.

I can barely see the roads as I drive home. It’s honestly a miracle I made it home intact. When I look up at my house as I pull in, I know I’m about to blow everything wide open. I pull myself together, walk in, and deliver the second worst news my mom’s ever had.

29

My mom’s the shit. Honestly. She went from just barely getting by to ‘eff that asshole’ so quickly my head almost spun. Sure, she had her cry, but the news that my dad is shacking up with the Linc’s has spurred something inside her. Maybe it’s just the basic fact that she probably won’t ever get him back now. Why she would even want him after this, I don’t know. Then again, who am I to talk? I can still feel Ryan’s strong arms around me. They felt so familiar to me that when I think back on that night, I wonder if I’m sad because he finally touched me again and I couldn’t enjoy it, or if I’m sad because my dad’s a douche.

He’s called me, of course. Texted me, too. I had a “Go to hell” text already typed up, but my finger hovered over the send button without actually going through with it. I’m furious at my dad right now. Mainly because other people knew about this when the people who should have known, didn’t. And Ryan, of all people. I can almost see what happened flick through scene-by-scene in my head. Ryan’s mom drops off and picks up Ryan every year from camp. Ryan’s dad hasn’t been in the picture for years, so there’s no barrier there. Dad feels unsatisfied. Dad flirts.

It fits in nicely with what I saw from my vantage point. My dad told my mom shortly after camp this past summer that he wanted to separate. They did the whole moving out and taking what he wanted, which wasn’t much. They argued about who was going to pay for what, and all this time, he’s been hanging out at Ryan’s house, the guy I love to hate.

Or is it hate to love?

He texted me, too. Surprisingly. I thought it was a last-minute Baller thing for the recruits or I wouldn’t even have opened it. He asked me if we could talk. I hate that a part of me wanted to jump at the chance, but thankfully, the smarter me won out. I haven’t spoken to any of the Ballers since that night. Alec and Sloan have both texted begging me to call or meet up, but I just can’t see them. They probably think I’m pissed they knew and never said anything. I am, sort of. But I’m also not surprised. I also realize that it’s actually not their fault. It’s all on my dad. It’s just a shame it happened that way.

Today’s Monday though, so I can’t avoid them today. I have to go in and face them all again. It’s also the first day of week-long tryouts. Theactualtryouts, not just something the Ballers make up so they think they actually have a choice in what Coach Bradley decides. Mom kisses me on the cheek when I leave and tells me to be brave. Unlike my father, she understands how fucking embarrassing it was to have everything implode like that in front of other people.

I drive to school and park in the student parking lot. It’s my little way of saying fuck you to everyone. I dare them to say anything to me because I’m so not in the mood. When I get out of the car, a tall, slow figure is making his way toward me. When he catches my eye, he keeps it, but there’s nothing else there. At least that I can see. I pull my bookbag out of the passenger seat and sling it over my shoulder before locking the car up. Hayes gets to me, then stops. He doesn’t say a word, but when I turn toward the school, he does too. I take a step, so does he. We continue that way until I get to my locker and get out my books for the day. Then, he follows me to homeroom without a word. When I look back, he’s gone.

After the short homeroom though, he’s back outside waiting for me. Hayes “Ice Man” Irving walks me to every single class that morning. When I hit lunch, we meet Alec and Sloan right before the entrance. Alec looks Hayes up and down. Sloan just blinks at him, but after that, I have both of their attention. “Tessa…”

“I really…” I clear my throat. “I really don’t want to talk about it.”

Hayes nudges me in the shoulder, and we just walk right on by. He takes a seat next to me as we face Dawn and David. I’ve told Dawn everything, so when she sees me, she pops up and gives me a hug. Hayes puts his bookbag down. “I’ll get your lunch,” he says.

Dawn watches him walk away. I just shrug. I’d ask him why he’s being my personal escort, but then he’d have to talk to me, so I don’t bother. I actually really like the sound of his voice now that I hear it. I just don’t think he’s a man of many words, so I won’t push him. Alec slips into the seat next to me while Hayes is gone. I almost sigh, but he’s not the one I’m upset with. He takes my hand. “I know you’re dealing with this and want some time, but…” He pauses and looks around. Dawn and David are enthralled by what he’s saying. They’re not even hiding the fact that they’re eavesdropping. The lowerclassmen at the other end of the table are, too. He leans in closer. “Don’t forget that we’re here.” He gives my hand a double squeeze and then stands. “See you at tryouts tonight.”

“Holy shit, that’s tonight?” Dawn screeches. When I nod, she blows out a big breath. “Like you don’t have enough to worry about. You better walk in there and show them who’s boss.”

Hayes comes back with a tray full of food for me. My eyes widen. There are two containers of chocolate milk, an ice cream, a cookie, two slices of pizza, and some French fries. Before I can even think he put both of our lunches on one tray, he sits down with his own tray filled with the exact same items. “Thank you,” I tell him. I look at him from the corner of my eye. He’s staring at me the same way, almost like he’s waiting to see my reaction.

Dawn starts to giggle, but I kick her under the table. David reaches out his fist. “What’s up, man?”

Hayes pounds him back, but doesn’t say anything, just eats.

It isn’t that he’s wrong in getting me all this. It’s pretty much everything I’ve eaten since starting here, minus the salad, but there’s just so much of it. I drag the tray closer to me with one finger and dive in. There’s no way I can even eat half this, but especially not on the first day of official tryouts. I’m already nervous. The only guys on the basketball team who aren’t nervous are the Ballers. Their spots are secure. Everyone else’s is up for grabs.

I stick the straw into my second chocolate milk when the bell rings. Hayes looks over at the half-eaten food on my tray. “You should eat more.”

I grab my stomach on instinct. If I ate any more, I’d have to waddle to class. “I thought I did good.”

The tiniest curl of his lips is like a soundwave of emotion coming from Hayes Irving. He nearly knocks me over. We stand up with our trays and Dawn tells me she’ll see me at the tryouts. On the first night, the public can come watch. After that, they’re closed tryouts except for people like my dad or alumni who want to stop by. Otherwise, Coach Bradley keeps things tight-lipped until the announcements are made.

The last few periods whiz by until I’m sitting in the girls’ locker room by myself. I have a gold practice jersey on, my hands squished between my knees as I breathe in deeply. In another five minutes, I have to go out there. It’s almost comical how much my stomach is twisting into knots. I was never this nervous for a Broadwell game ever. A knock comes on the locker room door. For a second, I freeze, hoping it’s not my dad.

“Tessa?”

I lay my head back. It’s just Hayes. I stand, head for the door, and pull it open. Without a word, he steps away, revealing all the people who’ve come to Timothy Dale Court to watch the open tryouts. There’s media in the stands. I see Dawn first only because when I step out, she’s on her feet jumping. I smile and wave at her. If I do make the team, it’ll be fun to have her come watch me. David’s going to have to explain everything to her though.

Hayes starts running onto the court, so I follow. Most of the team is in the center stretching. I see a flash of movement to my side. When I focus on it, I see Alec’s little sister running out onto the court, her mother chasing her. “Tessa!”

I stop and go up to her. “Hey, Roberta. Did you come to watch your brother? That’s so great.”

She makes a face. “I came to watch you. Here.” She holds her hand out and opens it. A blue hair tie is in the center of her palm. When I look up, she says, “It’s a lucky hair tie. I don’t think you need it, but I heard my brother say that you’re probably nervous this morning before he left for school.”

I smile, pluck the hair tie from her palm and wrap it around the one I already have in my hair. “Thank you,” I tell her. I have to bite my lip to keep any emotion from showing through. Bending down, I give her a hug.

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