Page 308 of Ruthless Court

Then some finds its way in.

“He thought I might be his player.”

I already know pieces.

Too short.

No vertical.

No path.

Hearing her say it still gets under my skin.

“When I was young enough, he could imagine it.”

She swings one boot slowly.

“Then I stopped growing.”

“How tall are you?”

“Five-four.”

I look at her.

“Generous.”

She elbows me.

“Five-three and some change.”

“I knew it.”

“Quiet.”

I smile.

She doesn’t.

The story isn’t finished.

“Once it became obvious I wasn’t getting taller and I wasn’t going to have the athleticism to make up for it, that dream died.”

“For him.”

She glances at me.

“Exactly.”

Not for her.

For him.

“He stopped teaching me.”

My chest tightens.

“I still learned. I watched. I listened. I sat in that stupid lounge every day.”