Page 117 of Forever Relentless

The dots came and went.

Hadley: You have a story for me?

Me: Better. I have a plan.

Hadley: Meet me at my place tomorrow at 9? Wait! Do you need to go to practice, if you’re you know . . . not playing?

Me: No

Hadley: Cool, 9 it is. Don’t let them know. You want my discretion, give me yours.

Me: Done

I lay back on my bed as I thought it over. It was risky. It could cost me my place on the team, but I’d already lost that. It could cost Hadley her place in this college. I sensed she was willing to take the risk.

I needed a backup plan. My fingers drummed off the comforter as I let my mind race. I remembered film from earlier this week.

I closed my eyes as the answer fell into my lap.

I opened social media and searched for who I needed. Their profile popped up. We weren’t friends.

I sent the DM. It didn’t matter if we were friends or not. I was a player they needed on their team. If this was going to cost me my spot here, I wasn’t going without somewhere to land.

* * *

I listened to my roommates as they got ready for practice and then left the dorm room. Dante was always ahead of us, even though I woke up at the same time. He liked to be at the field and do an hour before anyone else turned up.

I liked to take my morning slower and got ready by studying tape. Different methods but same result — it put us in the right headspace.

I didn’t watch tape this morning. When the door closed, signaling Dustin had left, I got ready to go meet Hadley.

On the way there, I remembered that Dust had said she was cranky without coffee. I stopped and bought a plain black coffee and an iced tea for myself.

She opened the door on the first knock. I’d heard all about her cat, but I wasn’t expecting the level of disdain it greeted me with.

“Your cat’s got attitude,” I said as I stepped into the small space. Briar’s apartment was larger. She had a bedroom, with an actual door between it and the living room.

“She hasn’t been fed yet.” Hadley set the cat down when she’d closed the door. “Is that for me?”

She was already reaching for the coffee.

“It’s just black, didn’t know how you liked it.”

“Black’s good.” I watched as she took the lid off, sniffed it like she was trying to inhale it, and then added creamer. She turned back to me. “What?”

“Nothing.” I shook my head. “Dustin mentioned you like coffee.”

She arched an eyebrow. “He told you I was a raging bitch without it, didn’t he?”

I grinned. “Something like that.”

She shrugged it off. “Sit, sit. I want to hear all about your plan.” She pointed at her clothes. ”Look, I even got dressed to avoid the awkwardness.”

“Do you usually meet people naked?”

She genuinely looked like she had to think about it. I decided to move on. “Is this still too early?”

“No.” She reached over and patted my hand. “I really am sorry you got benched.”