Page 43 of Rebound
I don’t know what to do.
Blossom
TALK
TO
THEM
Somewhere behind me, another phone chimes, followed by a scoff and a groan. It’s unmistakably Drew and if I’m to guess, I’d say he’s received a message from his sister. Great, I’m the kid in school no one wants to be friends with, so the teachers are forcing everyone to play with me.
“Hey, man, you good? You look like you’re going to be sick.” Reese Miller is my fellow winger, and he says this as he drops down into the seat next to me.
“Yeah, I’m good.”
Reese’s grey eyes watch me carefully, as if trying to catch me in a lie. “You sure? Flying doesn’t make you sick, does it? Because there’s a reason no one wants to sit next to Kai.”
“Fuck you, Reese,” Kai calls from the back.
Kai Young is our goalie, and like me, keeps mostly to himself. The difference being he’s a quiet guy who’s friends with all the guys, and I’m not likable enough to be friends with them.
Holden walks down the aisle to his seat and Reese looks up.
“Did you get it?” He asks.
“Hell, yeah, I did.”
Reese taps my arm before getting up and following Holden down to the back of the plane. Well, that’s a conversation and as far as I’m concerned, I’ve done what Vin asked of me. I can’t force the guys to talk to me when all of them clearly have better things to do and more interesting people to talk with.
I’m putting on my headphones when someone else sits down next to me, straightening out their legs. I look over to see Ford, who, according to Coach Cross, is a pain in the ass. Ford’s had as many penalties as I’ve had.
He nods at me. “Maddox.”
“Everett.”
“Are we really staying at a hotel where they’re hosting a romance book convention?” Holden calls out.
“Yeah, we are. Too bad we’ll be too busy, and you won’t be able to get your favorites to sign their books for you,” Ford says.
It sounds like a dig, but I think Holden seems actually disappointed when he says, “Maybe Juliet or Lavinia can help. They’re going to be there, right?”
Hang on, this is the first I’m hearing of Lavinia coming to Las Vegas. She didn’t mention anything to me. Not that she has any reason to.
It’s too late to message her and confirm if she’s going to be at the game. We’re taxiing down the runway and the pilot’s requested all phones be put on airplane mode.
“They’ve got their own plans, and my sister isn’t doing any of you any favors,” Drew says.
“Aw, don’t be like that,” Ford teases. “You know Vinny loves us.”
“She tolerates you guys, at best.”
Ford laughs, reclining his seat and closing his eyes. “I wonder which one of us is her favorite.”
My stomach churns at their conversation. They have a history with Lavinia. I do, too, but we’re actually history. Our last real conversation before her wedding day was when we were sixteen.
Something drops onto Ford’s face, and I look over to see it’s a pillow.
“Stay the fuck away from my sister, Everett,” Drew threatens.
