Page 105 of Replay

A movement caught my eye. I stood up and walked quietly over to a desk near the back. The student tried to stuff his smartwatch away, but I stood there, hand out, and he finally gave it to me.

I took the section of the exam he’d completed. “I’ll let the prof know this part was done with banned technology. Finish the rest, and he can decide what to do with you.”

Honestly, I was surprised this was the only incident so far. I’d been given a few different protocols to follow, depending on what happened.

I returned to my desk. Despite the mundane setting, this felt like a big moment in my life.

Nora had redefined her priorities when she got pregnant. Now, I might be facing a crossroads as well. On one side, Josh might need me, or he might have to go to another city.

On the other side, fighting to get my degree, which might be a struggle depending on the results of this meeting.

What should I do?

Chapter 31

I’m not giving up on my dreams

Josh

I stared at the doorway where my mother had disappeared. I kept waiting for her to come back, but after ten minutes she was still gone. She was angry, thinking I was choosing Katie over her.

I guess I was. It wasn’t like the two of them were drowning and I had to pick one to save, but Mom wanted me to push Katie out of my life and that wasn’t happening. I’d spent five years looking for something as good as Katie, and now that I had her again, I wasn’t going to waste time looking for someone else.

Would Katie also ask me to choose between them? I didn’t think so, but it was one of the many things we needed to talk about.

I pulled up my phone, anxious to get started on that talk and make sure we were solid going forward.

I stared at the last message I’d sent her. I’d said Love you. That was true, but would it spook her? I didn’t want to have to worry about that. It was time to tell her I was serious and wanted long-term.

My stomach tensed, because she might not be ready. I’d have to convince her I’d wait as long as she needed. Without the trade I had time, for now. Shit, how long before I was a viable trade option again? Not till they knew if I’d recover, I was pretty sure.

My stomach twisted into knots. The two biggest things in my life were Katie and hockey, and I wasn’t sure about either of them. It would be months before I knew if hockey was going to happen again. I could at least do something about the Katie part.

She hadn’t answered my message. Was she busy, or had I scared her? The message showed as read. I drew in a breath and sent another message.

Talked to mom. Told her we were together.

She left.

Was that enough for Katie to know I chose her?

Please come. I’ll make sure you can get in.

I stared at the messages till they showed as read but didn’t see the dots to say she was responding.

Mom had said Katie had to leave because she had exams. I’d have to hope that was all the problem was. I had no idea what Mom said to her, and I was stuck waiting since I was immobilized. Katie had to come to me.

I’d dozed off, phone in my hand, when some of the guys stopped by. Cooper, of course, being team captain. Fitch was with them again, and Mitch, Crash, Oppy and even Petey.

It was a lift to see them, but it also hurt. I didn’t know if I’d play with them again.

“Ducky! We brought you a duck!” Oppy grinned, holding out some bizarre Christmas-decorated stuffed bird. The duck was white and wearing a Santa hat and beard. Red coat and a belt, bare-assed and with an evil expression.

“Where the hell did you find that?”

“I do not reveal my sources.”

Oppy pushed it up by my face and took a picture with his phone. I didn’t want to know what he was going to do with that.

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