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“Mate. That header was fucking epic,” I called to Kian across the changing room as I finished pulling my clothes on after the showers. “Nice work.”
“I know.” He gave me a smug smile as he grabbed his jacket from the peg next to him. “Give yourself some credit, though.”
“Oh, I have,” I assured him, making him laugh and roll his eyes.
“Great teamwork,” I added. “All of us. I’m really fucking proud of us.”
He grinned, picking up his kit bag before moving over to Preston. “Yep. Although, with me back on the team, a win was inevitable, really.”
Preston gave him a pointed look and he grinned. “I suppose our golden boy had something to do with it, too. I’ll share the praise with Preston, since we both scored a goal.”
“How generous,” Preston muttered, but he was smiling as he grabbed Kian’s hand.
I laughed. “Look at you. You finally learned to share, and it only took you eighteen years.”
“Fuck off.” Kian threw up his middle finger at me, and I returned the gesture, before I pulled on my hoodie.
“As much as I’d love to hang around and insult you all night, I’ve got my girlfriend waiting for me.” Grabbing my bag, I hauled it over my shoulder and pushed past Kian in my rush to get outside, leaving him laughing behind me. The friends and families of the players were clustered around waiting for us, but I couldn’t see Raine anywhere. Frowning, I leaned against the wall, pulling out my phone to check if she’d sent me a text. Nothing.
The crowds thinned out, and soon there were only a few people left. Glancing at my phone again, I saw almost fifteen minutes had passed. Where was she? I hit Xavier’s number and waited.
“Carter! What’s up?”
“Is Raine with you?” My eyes kept scanning the area around me, in case she appeared.
“No, I thought she was with you?” His tone instantly put me on alert. “When we left her, she was walking to meet you. We didn’t hang around because I knew you had plans with her on your own, and we didn’t wanna be in the way.”
“She’s not here.” I swallowed hard. “She’s not…I haven’t seen her. How long ago did you see her?”
There was a pause. “Uh…I think about forty-five minutes ago?”
Fuck. Fuck, fuck, fuck.
“I’m gonna try her phone.” I hung up on him without saying goodbye and immediately dialled her. The phone rang and rang and eventually went to her voicemail. Frustrated, I navigated to her social media to see when she was last online. As I did, my phone sounded with a new message alert. I hit it instantly, and the relief at seeing her name was instantaneous.
Raine: Went home. Feeling sick. Sorry. No drama, I promise. I’ll feel better after a good sleep. See u Monday. BTW don’t forget your business studies homework!
My stomach churned. Something wasn’t right. And what the fuck was she talking about my Business Studies homework for? She wasn’t even in that class with me.
The unease grew and grew, until it was suffocating me.
“Raine! Raine!” My head flew around just in time to see the large black shadow take flight against the darkening sky, the urgent caw echoing around me.
That was the only sign I needed.
I ran for my car.
36
As I drove, speeding through the streets of Alstone, I called Xavier back. “She sent me a text saying she’d gone home ill. Something isn’t right; something seems off about the whole thing, and I can’t put my finger on it.” Even I could hear the anxiety threading through my tone. I willed my car to go faster, while at the same time praying there were no police around to pull me over.
“What’s the plan? What can I do?” Xavier was instantly on alert.
“I’m on my way to her house. Can you…
I don’t know. Fuck. Can you be on standby in case I need you?”
“On it.” His words were simple and firm. “I’m calling reinforcements, if we need them.”
