Page 25 of Rookie Season
“Reception.”
It’s the afternoon, and we’re hanging out in the living room. Even I have to admit it’s a little relaxing.
“You want to borrow my phone?” I ask.
“It’s okay. I’m trying to keep tabs on this storm. We have to be back tomorrow morning.”
Her gaze falls to my magazine.
“You ever been to South Beach?” Chloe asks. The glossy pages are a travel special about Miami—the sights, the bars and restaurants.
I shake my head. “I haven’t had a lot of chances to travel. Running the bar with my dad, I can’t exactly take off.” I flip a page, wondering what that would feel like.
“I get what it’s like trying to make your own way. When I joined the Kodiaks, there was a lot of cleanup to do.”
I glance at Chloe. She’s always struck me as hyper-capable and confident. “You could work anywhere. Why do you stay?”
She claims a stool next to the island. “It’s the guys. They’re like family. You know how it is.”
I’m still processing that as Jay descends the stairs, holding up his phone. “LA wants to hand us our asses tomorrow.”
“Clay seen this trash talk?” Atlas asks. “We should show him?—"
“Pretty sure you won’t come back out with eyes.”
“Guys. We’ll have plenty of time to come back at them when we’re well rested and fed tomorrow,” Chloe says.
“New rule: no phones.” Ryan grabs Jay’s phone out of his hand.
“Dude, you’re out of line.”
The phone slips, making a sickening cracking sound as it hits the floor.
“Shit.”
“Dammit, Ryan!” Jay retrieves his phone, holding it up to reveal a big crack in the screen.
“This can’t be the perfect Christmas without a tree.” Ryan stomps toward the door. “I’m going to get a saw.”
“Get me a new phone while you’re at it?!” Jay calls.
The door slams shut.
The guys in the cabin go back to arguing, but I shove myself off the couch and chase after Ryan. My boots slip in the snow as I run out into the snowy afternoon.
“You can’t cut down a tree solo,” I call after I yank on my coat.
“Watch me.” Ryan trudges to the shed.
I tromp through the snow after him. Is it deeper than the last time I was out? If not, it will be soon.
“What was that about?” I ask as I catch up.
“Nothing,” he grunts, but his shoulders are hunched as though he’s in a bad mood about Jay.
Ryan ignores the lock and wedges his fingers into the opening.
“Still no luck with a key,” I deduce.
