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“Casey, would you fuck off and stop eavesdropping!” Ethan snaps while Casey lets out a loud laugh.
“Ash, I think you’re in trouble, man. Looks like the girls have found a place.” Casey announces that news to the entire locker room, and now every pair of eyes is staring at us.
“So…” Riley spins his finger in the air. “Where? What type? When are they moving?”
Ethan relents with a huff, typing back a quick query, while Asher gives me a guilty smile.
“I didn’t think he’d work that quickly.”
I shake my head, trying to feel happy for the girls. It’s what they wanted, right? But shit, how am I gonna wake up without Rachel in my bed?
“Oh.” Ethan’s eyebrows pop up.
“What?”
“Their new place is only five doors down from ours.” His smile starts to grow. “You know that apartment building with the orange brick and?—”
“That line of trees along the front,” Asher finishes for him. “That place is awesome! They got a unit in there?”
“Yeah, a two-bedroom one. Well, I mean they’re putting in an application for it.”
“Sick.” Asher grins.
Ethan joins him, and I have to give in to a smile. Five doors down isn’t so bad. We’re basically neighbors.
Thank fuck for that.
I let out a relieved sigh, grateful for the small win.
After the shit-fest of a week, I need it.
“Okay, ladies. Enough with the chitchat, let’s go!” Jason barks, clapping his hands together.
I roll my eyes at our captain’s orders, but I really should pick up my pace. I’m not even dressed for practice yet. The locker room clears out pretty fast, and I’m left alone to throw on my jersey and lace up my skates. Coach is gonna yell at me, make me stay late to run extra drills, but?—
My phone starts ringing. I glance at my open locker, wondering if I should ignore it, but as soon as it stops, it starts ringing again.
Grabbing it with a sigh, I see Mama’s number, and for reasons I can’t even explain, I answer the damn thing. “Hola, Mama. I can’t talk right now. I’ve got practice. I’ll call you back after?—”
“He’s gone, Liam.” She sniffs. “He died about twenty minutes ago.”
I slump back against the lockers, my brain going dead for a second.
He’s gone?
I have no words. I try, but every time I open my mouth, nothing comes out.
Mama cries quietly into the phone, and I just sit there, trying to find my voice. Trying to form a complete thought.
Trying to figure out why I feel like I’ve just been punched in the chest with a mallet.
“Sofia’s already here. Maria’s coming. She’s going to help me with all of the arrangements, but I thought you should know.”
I blink, then swallow.
Everything is moving in slow motion.
“Let, um…” I lick my lips, dragging the wooden words out of my throat. “Let me know what you need me to do.”
