Page 105 of Hail Marry
Ron and Joyce write a few more notes on their clipboards, then Joyce puts hers to her side. “Well, then. We’ll let you get where you need to go and be on our way.”
I lead the way to the front door, trying to keep my pace casual even though I want to get them out of here as quickly as possible. Before they can ask any more questions.
Ron shakes my hand, and I try to catch a glimpse of the notes he’s been taking so copiously, but he’s got the clipboard turned in toward his body, concealing it.
“We’ll be in touch if we need any clarification,” he says, stepping onto the porch.
Joyce tags along behind, and Tori waves at them with a smile. “Bye!”
I shut the door, and we both stare at it for a few seconds.
“That did not go well,” Tori says, sounding as sick as I feel.
“No. It didn’t.”
“They freaking ambushed us.” She covers her face with her hands. “What does this mean?”
I feel more sick to my stomach than ever. “I don’t know. Nothing good.” My phone vibrates, and I pull it out of my pocket.
It’s my position coach, so I take a breath and answer.
He wants me to come have a chat with him before team meetings start. Which means I have to leave now. I can’t even let myself think about what he might want to talk about. What if he’s decided I shouldn’t be starting after all? Bennett’s been bringing the intensity in practice this week.
“You have to go,” Tori guesses once I hang up.
“Yeah,” I say with a grimace. “But wewillfinish our conversation.”
She smiles wryly. “I’m counting on it.” She hesitates for a few seconds, then goes up on her toes and kisses me on the cheek.
When she pulls back, I look at her for a second. I want nothing more than to kiss her right now. Really kiss her. But if I do, I won’t stop there.
“Go,” she says.
I grit my teeth like it’ll give me the willpower to do what she’s saying when I want to stay so badly. “See you in the stands.”
25
TORI
Luca’s carpulls out of the driveway—I checked to make sure Joyce and Ron weren’t lying in wait to see if I really did take him—and I watch through the window until it disappears around the corner.
Panic simmers in me.
That visit was a disaster. An unmitigated disaster.
I sit on the sofa in the living room and stare at the rug. What happens now?
Nothing good. That’s what Luca said.
I pull out my phone and find Preston’s number, then press the call button. He’ll know what we can expect, but the chances he’ll answer are about as good as the chances Joyce believed my explanations for our separate bedroom and bathroom uses.
“Victoria,” Preston says.
I blink. He answered!
“Hey, Preston.” I try to sound normal, but my voice is shaking.
“Everything okay?”
