Page 109 of The Overtime Persuasive

“You were supposed to be here five minutes ago.”

“I know.” Even as I say it, I know how useless the answer is. I shove my feet into my shoes without untying them and grab my bag. “The meeting ran late.”

“Then why didn’t you text her?”

“My phone was in my stall.”

“Why didn’t you check the time?”

“I did.” Well, I checked the time until Coach said my name. After that, I forgot there was anywhere else I needed to be. I push through the locker-room doors and break into a run. I’ve worked so hard to be punctual, how do I mess up now?

Lucy is still talking. “She asked me not to call you.”

That stops something inside me, even if my feet keep moving. I reach my car and yank open the door.

“Tell her I’m coming.”

“She’s gone, Liam.”

I throw my bag onto the passenger seat, jam the key into the ignition, and turn it. The engine clicks. Nothing else happens. “No.”

“Yes.” Lucy challenges me. “She left.”

“Not that,” I say, my attention still on my car as I try again. Another click. I turn the key a third time, as if the engine might respond to desperation. Nothing. “You have got to be kidding me. I can’t get my car to start...”

“That’s a you problem.” Lucy clears her throat in my ear. “Listen to me, and listen now, Liam. She’s gone. Probably at the studio now. As mom would say, you got some ’splaining to do, but for the moment you have ‘screwed the pooch.’ ”

“I’ll never understand that statement,” I mutter as I shove open the door and climb out. “I’ll find someone inside. Borrow a car. Steal one. At this point, my moral standards are low.”

“Whatever you do, do it fast and make it good,” Lucy hisses. “Because Eva Barlow is not the woman you do this to.” And with that, she hangs up.

“Liam!”

I turn around and find Tripp jogging toward me. He doesn’t slow down. He pulls his keys from his pocket and throws them.

I catch them against my chest.

“Take mine.”

“What?”

“Unless you plan to Flintstone that thing where you need to go.”

I look past him at the black SUV parked two rows over. “Tripp⁠—”

“Go. Try not to hit anything.”

My phone vibrates in my palm with a message from Lucy.

Lucy

She didn’t want me to call you because she didn’t want to have to remind you to choose her, Liam.

You’ve spent all season waiting for someone to choose you.

You of all people should understand what that means to a person.

I stare at the words. The keys bite into my palm.