Page 20 of Forever Relentless

Could we rely on our own popularity to let us ride this out? For a year? Briar said the NCAA protected the players. Would it? I hadn’t seen them protect her brother, but then if they didn’t know about Mason . . .

I changed course from the dorm and headed to the bar at the edge of campus. I needed quiet time, and I already knew I wouldn’t get it with the brainstorming gang. I didn’t feel guilty about needing the distance.

The bar wasn’t busy. I ordered a soda, took a booth at the back, slipped in my earbuds, and sat back to enjoy some music.

Thirty minutes later, I felt like I’d hit the reset button, and my world was back on track. Halfway through my soda, I’d opened my sports app and was watching an NFL game from last season. Watching tape always calmed my nerves and helped me focus.

A familiar shadow slid into the booth across from me. I didn’t look up, knowing it was Dante. I simply turned my phone so he could watch the game too.

I turned down the volume, pulled out my earbuds, and was quietly pleased when he didn’t speak until halftime.

“I never saw that one during the season,” he said, taking a sip of Coke.

“Yeah, I missed a few too. Too busy watching college games to catch the pro games.” I glanced up at him. “That’s what the offseason is for, right? Catching up.”

His lips twitched. “Or reset, rest, and recuperation.”

“A lot of r’s.”

“Yeah, I guess there is.” He leaned back in his seat. “You’ve been quiet.”

“Always am.” My soda finished, I considered something stronger.

“You were coming out of your shell more,” he said, and I heard the note of sadness.

“A lot’s happening.”

He nodded. “Do you think she’ll come back now that we know who she is?”

“Yeah.” I could have told him she was already back, but I just didn’t want to.

“Do you think she took the picture of Dust?” he asked.

I shook my head. “Nah, she did not want to see his junk up close and personal.” I remembered the look of horror on her face when she saw it. I knew how she felt.

Dante grinned. “You know, despite what people think, and what you said about your old schoolmates, no one really looks in the showers and stuff. But then you get the zoomed-in image of him all . . .” He shuddered. “It hurts my brain.”

“I definitely had a stroke.”

“Ew.”

I gave him a flat stare. “I thought you had more class,” I said.

Dante grinned and took a sip of his soda. “Nope.”

I couldn’t help it. I smiled. “That’s such a Slater comment.” I laughed. “You’ve lived with him too long.”

Dante shrugged and leaned back. “So, do you want to talk?”

“Again?” I asked him, and he heard my fatigue.

“I actually wanted to talk about something other than . . . this.”

I looked at my empty cup. “Do I need a refill?” I asked.

“Probably.”

“Do I need something stronger than soda?”