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“How do you expect me to do that? They want Kenyon as their QB.”
“So? Make them want you.”
I scoffed. “How do I do that?”
He shrugged. “You better figure it out soon or he’s gonna be starting against Tennessee in the season opener.”
Kenyon didn’t leave the field for the rest of practice and not once was he sacked and not once did the receivers miss any of his passes. Coach knew they were sabotaging it for me. Why was he makingmefix it?
I stayed on the field long after everyone filed into the locker room. It had always been my dream to play at Alabama. Now I was there. Now I wasactuallyon the field where pros like Caden Brooks and Trace Forester played. I glanced around at the thousands of empty seats in the stadium. It was as if I could almost hear the roar of the crowd even though I was the only one around.
My football career was slipping through my fingers just like Grace had.
I needed to fix this.
I neededthisto work out.
I couldn’t fail again.
CHAPTER 39
Grace
“What do you mean?” I asked my mom as I lay on my bed, staring at the flat-screen taking up the entire wall. Oh, yes. Martine had sprung for the expensive condo undoubtedly equipped with mics and cameras, though I hadn’t been able to locate them. But since he was psycho, I was sure he’d been keeping an eye on me. Needless to say, it had been a long month of dressing in the shower or my closet in case he was watching. I’d considered leaving but was scared he’d think I was hiding something and would then take it out on my mother or Seren. Yup. Life sucked on so many levels. My internship was the saving grace.
“You just don’t sound happy,” my mom said.
“I’m happy,” I lied as I sat up and moved to my dresser. “I’m just a little homesick.” I shuddered at my reflection in the mirror. My once styled hair hung limp and my cheeks were sunken in. Being unable to eat without vomiting would do that to a girl.
“Well, you know you can come home whenever you need to. I’ll buy the plane ticket.”
My heart wilted. Going back to the manor wouldn’t solve anything. “How are you?” I asked, changing the subject.
“Same as yesterday. Good.”
“Anything interesting happening at the manor?”
“No, but Sawyer asked about you. He said he texted you but you haven’t responded.”
I swallowed. “Oh, I forgot.”Another lie.
“Well, he seemed concerned. So maybe reach out to him.”
“Okay.”Another lie. I knew better than to have contact with any of the Graysons. Sawyer would ask questions I couldn’t answer. If I kept my distance, everyone would remain safe.
“Well, I better go,” she said.
I hated when she needed to go. I wanted to stop her—to warn her not to drink anything without a sealed cap, but how could I do that without Marine knowing I was trying to warn her? Paranoia was an awful thing. I’d even bought a phone that I only used outside of the condo for fear that Martine was watching or listening. I’d only used it to call Laney and Holly since everyone else’s phones were monitored. They begged me to reach out to Seren, offering to do it for me, but they understood the risk if they were discovered.
“Promise me you’re okay,” my mother said, pulling me from my thoughts.
“I’m great!”God, I was such a liar.
“I love you,” she said.
“Love you too.”
I kept the phone to my ear long after she’d ended the call. I’d never in my life felt so alone.
