“I know who he is. I don’t know what you’re asking me, though.”
“Did you know Hendricks saw Clementine and Torres at the Valentine’s Day match?”
Lando's brow creases, and he stands, perches on the corner of his desk, and crosses his arms. It's a move so similar to our father’s that for a second, I can't breathe.
“Milo, I think you need to start from the beginning, because I haven’t got the foggiest idea what you’re talking about.”
God, this is pointless.
“It doesn’t matter.” I move to stand, desperate to find my sister before I completely lose my shit, but Lando reaches out and pushes me back in my chair.
“Well, it clearlydoesmatter if it’s got you this upset. Sit the fuck down and tell me what’s going on.”
Before I can answer, doors clatter somewhere down the corridor. Footsteps thunder closer.
Hendricks’s voice echoes off the hard floors. “Milo? Miles, where are you?”
“In here!” Lando calls out.
The door crashes back against the wall as Hendricks pushes it harder than necessary, sprinting in, followed closely by Ruby. She rushes straight over to me, takes my hand, and drops onto her knees. There’s so much worry on her face, which I’ve caused, and guilt pushes past my anger.
I know Lando’s watching the entire interaction, but I don’t care.
“I’m sorry I left you.” I drop my forehead against her shoulder.
“It’s okay,” she whispers, fingers pushing into my hair. “We’ll figure out what’s going on.”
“Great,” Lando mutters. “And would someone like to fill me in while you’re at it?”
Hendricks ignores him, pulling me from the chair and into a hug. “I’m so sorry, Milo. I should’ve told you sooner. I really thought Clem was going to?—”
“Can someonepleaseexplain what the fuck is happening?”
Hendricks eyes him. “I don’t know everything.”
“Then start with what you do know.”
“I tanked in the Hampshire tournament.”
“I heard.” Lando's voice softens. Reaching out his hand, he squeezes my shoulder, which makes me feel marginally better. “Sorry, Milo.”
“I tanked because Torres was there. I saw him the first morning, and I couldn't get him out of my head. I wasn't expecting to see him there, and he caught me off guard?—”
“Okay—” Lando nods.
“As we were leaving the last game, he told me to say hello to Clementine.”
There’s silence as Lando’s brain whirrs.
“He’s fucking with you.”
I shrug and look at Hendricks to pick up the rest of the story, something I rushed off too quickly to get to the bottom of.
“At the Valentine’s Day charity match, I saw Clementine and Torres together.”
Lando doesn’t blink. He just stares at Hendricks, then me. Then back at Hendricks.
“You’re joking.”
