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Gibsie tilted his head to one side, studying me with a curious look. “Well, aren’t you a keeper?” he finally mused, tone low.
“What?”
“Never mind.” Gibsie shook his head and exhaled heavily. “I heard Coach calling around hotels to see if any place can put us up for the night.” Grimacing, he added, “Reckons Johnny will be taken straight in for surgery tonight.”
Oh god.
My heart sank.
I knew he shouldn’t play. I knew he was hurt. I knew it and I did nothing.
I should have said something to his mother. I should have said something to Coach.
I knew he was playing injured.
Like always, I did fucking nothing.
“This is my fault,” I choked out.
“Because you knew?” Gibsie whispered.
I dropped my head in shame.
“Then it’s my fault, too,” he told me. “Go on in, little Shannon,” he added, giving me a small smile. “He’s in there alone, waiting for his ride in the nee-naw.”
“Uh, maybe I shouldn’t—”
“You should,” he interrupted me by saying.
“I should?” I asked, uncertain.
Gibsie nodded. “You should.”
And without another word, he walked off in the direction of the car park toward the school bus.
I stood there for another solid five minutes trying to talk myself down from the ledge I was threatening to jump from.
It didn’t work.
Nothing seemed to make sense anymore. Nothing except finding him.
Trembling from head to toe, I took the plunge and hurried inside the building and down the concrete-floored corridor, not stopping until I was standing outside a white door with the word VISITORS engraved on it.
Inhaling a huge, steadying breath, I pushed the door inward and stepped inside the empty dressing room, only to be immediately assaulted by the stench of Deep Heat. It was so potent that it caused my eyes to water.
Steam was wafting from an archway that I presumed led to the shower area. Most changing rooms had the same layout: big room, white brick walls, wooden benches lining either side of the room, and showers situated at the back.
He’s in the shower, you idiot. What are you doing?
Get out. Get out now!
Embarrassed, I swung around and bolted for the door, only to halt in my tracks when Johnny called out my name.
“Shannon?”
Mortified, I swung around to face him.
“Hi,” I strangled, forcing myself to breathe even though it felt like my heart accelerated in my chest at the sight of him.
