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Shay: I could use a little release, babe.
Layne’s cheeks then got a bright red, which made Shay laugh.
“Shay Amos!” someone yelled.
Shay looked up and expected them to say that her test was negative, but she was waved over instead. She glanced at Layne, who was watching, and winked at her.
“You’ve got an inconclusive. I need to test you again.”
“What? Why? I’m not sick,” Shay replied.
Her heart raced. She’d been so careful. She couldn’t be sick now. She’d be out for the rest of the tournament.
“We just need to test you again,” the woman said and held out yet another stick aimed at Shay’s already sore nose.
Shay let her do her job and sat back down in her chair.
“Layne Stoll, all good. You can go back to your room.”
“Thank you,” Layne replied, but she didn’t move.
Shay typed into her phone.
Shay: Go back to your room. I’ll be fine.
Layne: I’m not leaving until we know.
Shay: I’m sure they just didn’t get enough stuff on the swab, like what happened to you. It happens. I’m okay.
Layne: Babe, I’m not going.
Shay: Don’t be ridiculous. Be safe and go upstairs. No more door talks, either, even with our masks on. We haven’t been careful enough. We can video chat.
Shay looked at Layne, who was glaring at her.
Shay: Fine. Stay.
Shay: I’m scared. I’m not sick, but what if it says I am?
Layne: It’ll be all right. I’m here, okay?
Shay nodded as she read the message, but Layne being there, while important, wouldn’t solve any problems for her if she didn’t test negative. If she got another inconclusive test, she wasn’t even sure what would happen. She hadn’t paid attention to the rules as much recently because Coach had given them all very strict directives, and with the exception of the hotel open-door conversations with Layne, she’d followed every single one of them. Now, she was sitting in a folding chair, trying to remember what would happen if she got two inconclusive tests on a game day.
“Shay Amos?”
“Yeah?” she said.
The woman motioned for her to go back up there, and Shay swallowed hard. This was it. Her college basketball career was over.
“Hey, you’re all good. I’m sorry. We had a bit of a mix-up over here. There’s another player named Shane Ames. Your test was mixed up with hers accidentally.”
“What?” Shay asked.
“You’re negative. Sorry. Both of your tests are negative.”
Shay let out a deep breath and said, “Jesus, you could have ended my–” She stopped herself.
“Things have been a little busy for us. We’re doing the best we can.”
