Page 13 of Hail Marry
I turn and look at her.
The teasing expression is absent. There’s an intent, almost haunted look in her eyes as she tries to smile. “Thanks for saving my life, Crusher. And my ego.”
“No problem.” I close the door behind me and head down the hallway for the exit, but I wait to call Zach until I’m out of the hospital and walking toward the parking lot.
“Hey,” he says, a hint of annoyance in his breathless voice. “Where’ve you been?”
“At the hospital,” I say.
“What?! What happened?”
He’s imagining the worst right now—some career-ending injury—so I hurry to reassure him. “Not for me.”
He lets out a huge sigh. “Thank heaven.”
For all he knows, I could’ve been visiting someone fighting for their life. But I get it. His career and mine depend on my physical health, and it’s been a stressful few weeks trying to get prepared for the draft. I just wish his relief could last.
“You didn’t answer my text about the visa application,” he says. “We’re kind of on a clock here.”
“I know.” I shut my eyes for a second, wishing I could skip this part. “My petition was denied, Zach.”
“What?” There’s a long pause. “Please tell me you’re joking.”
“I wish,” I say softly. “The judge wants my record intact.”
Zach swears. A lot. I live a chunk of my life in a locker room, but he could give my teammates a run for their money.
I’m quiet, giving him time to process. ButIhaven’t even done that.
He blows out a long breath. “I don’t know what to do, Luca. I’ve been sitting here telling all these scouts time and time again that your immigration situation isn’t an issue.”
“I know.”
“Can we appeal?”
“Yeah, but we won’t get a decision in time, and there’s no saying the ruling would be any different.”
“Getting a judge that’snota Bruin would be a start,” he says.
I try for a smile. I’d like to say the USC/UCLA school rivalry didn’t play a part in Judge Greene’s decision and that he’s above that, but who knows? Either way, it doesn’t change the reality.
Zach swears again. “You don’t have a secret girlfriend you could marry, do you?”
I scoff lightly. Little does he know how timely his question is after what just happened in the E.R.
He sighs. “All right. I’ve gotta dive in and do some research. See if there’s some loophole or fine print we haven’t taken into account. I’ll call you as soon as I have anything.”
“Thanks,” I say as I reach my car. But I’m not expecting anything. This was our one hope. My record was the thing standing between me and the P-1 visa. “I’m really sorry, Zach. I wish I could go back and change my choices that day…”
“Yeah, me too.”
I push aside the hurt his words bring. Part of me wanted reassurance that he’d have done the same thing in my place. That I shouldn’t have been charged to begin with. But Zach’s not a therapist. He’s the agent whose job is getting both of us the most lucrative contract possible.
“Keep your head up, okay?” he says.
“Yup.”
The line clicks off, and I slip the phone into my pocket. Bracing myself with both hands on the car frame, I let my head hang. I’ve thought about the day that led to my record so many times since…what I did—what I could’ve done differently. But there’s no changing it, and now the past has caught up with me, and it’s hurting Zach too.
