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“No. My mom is still working all the time, so she can’t exactly talk. I didn’t have many friends back home because I guess I’m so quiet or something, and I’m an only child, so no siblings to talk to, either. I guess… I’d like to talk to you if you’re not doing anything.”
“Because I’m the only one available?” she teased with a smile.
“No,” Layne replied. “I like talking to you.”
Shay smiled and said, “I like talking to you, too. My mom just called me, actually. She and my dad made it out okay. They’re home.”
“Yeah? That’s good. Are they okay?”
“I guess they’ll isolate at home for a while to make sure. My dad’s company got them home, and he’s able to work from there until this all blows over. You know what sucks?”
“A lot of things?”
Shay smiled and moved to lie on her bed.
“Yes, that. But also, they were in London this whole season and didn’t make a single game. Now, they’re here because of this crap, and there are no games because the tournament is canceled.”
“It bothers you that they didn’t see you play, doesn’t it?”
“My parents wanted me to make different decisions, but I did what I wanted to. I love them, and I know they love me, but I’m not my sisters. I’m me. I wanted to come here to play basketball. They didn’t see that as important, which sucks, yeah. If there was some competition for med students where they had to fake-operate and win a ribbon or something, they would’ve rushed home to see my sister win. That’s what hurts the most: knowing that if one of my sisters, who went their way, needed them here, they’d be here.”
“I’m sorry, Shay.”
“I guess it doesn’t matter anymore, right? It’s all over anyway.”
“Just because the season is done doesn’t mean that it doesn’t matter how you feel.”
“I don’t want to bring us down any more than we already are. What snacks do you have left over there?”
“Why? Need to resupply?”
“No, I’m just making conversation, and there’s not much to talk about besides people getting sick these days.”
“I’m not running low. In fact, I had a delivery this morning,” Layne told her.
“Delivery?”
“Yes, you can order things on the internet. Did you know that?”
“Shut up.” Shay laughed.
“I stocked back up. I even made you a bag, and I got you something. Can I drop it off now?”
“You got me something?”
“Yeah. Stay in your room. I’ll be right back. Leaving the phone here.”
Shay waited and heard things move around on Layne’s end of the phone. Then, she heard nothing for a minute before there was a knock at her door. She jumped up to get to it, hoping to catch Layne even for a second, but by the time she unlocked it and pulled it open, Layne’s door was already closing behind her. Shay picked up the bag, closed her door, locked it, and went back to her phone on the bed.
“Hey,” Layne said.
“You couldn’t have waited? I wanted to see you for a second.”
“Safer this way.”
“You would’ve been more than six feet away.”
“I know. Just… Open the bag, Shay.”
