Page 9 of Making It Count


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“I will. Okay.”

Martin left her in the ice room, and Layne thought about how that might be the longest conversation the two of them had ever had.

“Eliza, come on… It’s the championship.”

Layne heard Shay’s voice coming from the hall. She looked out the open door and realized that Shay was pacing and on the phone. Martin had turned right, but Shay was to the left and, unfortunately, pacing right in front of Layne’s door.

“You’re my girlfriend, Eliza. You said you’d be here. I bought you a ticket.” Shay paused. “I know you said you’d pay me back. But don’t Venmo me. Just buy another ticket and be here for the game.”

Layne didn’t know what to do. If she left this room and walked toward her own, Shay would know she’d overheard at least part of their conversation. If she stayed here, though, she’d be eavesdropping and would hear all of it.

“What are you talking about?” Shay said and paused. “Where is this coming from?” She paused again. “The season is almost over. Hell, college is almost over. You really want to do this now?”

Layne wasn’t sure what was happening on that phone call, but it didn’t sound good.

“Eliza, can we just wait to do this? You already had to start a text fight with me earlier today, and that caused me to play like shit tonight. We could’ve lost.”

‘So, that was why Shay hadn’t been herself on the court tonight,’ Layne thought to herself.

“Yes, I am blaming you because you got drunk. You sent me a text this morning saying that we needed to talk, and when I told you I couldn’t because I had a team breakfast, you went off on me in texts.” Shay paused. “Basketball is my life, Eliza. You know I want to go pro. I can’t put anything else before that right now. I’m so close to what I want.”

Layne heard a hotel room door open and looked back out, seeing someone leaving their room from behind Shay. Shay turned back to see the stranger and moved out of their way as they went by. Layne took this as her opportunity, waited for the person to get close to the ice room, and walked out, carrying her bucket in the direction of her room.

“I can’t talk about this here, Eliza,” Shay said. “I have to go.”

Layne gave her what she hoped was a sympathetic straight smile and pointed to her room door, which was just behind Shay.

“Sorry,” Shay said to her before returning her attention to the phone. “If that’s what you want, fine. I’m not going to argue with you anymore. I’ll talk to you when I get back, I guess… to get my stuff.” Shay hung up and looked at Layne. “Getting ice?”

“Uh… Yeah.”

“Is your ankle okay?”

“It’s fine. I just promised Coach I’d ice it again before bed.”

“Do you follow every rule? You seem like you’d be a real rule follower there, Stoll.”

“I guess so,” she replied. “I don’t want to piss Coach off, and if she and the trainers think my ankle needs another round of ice, who am I to argue?”

“Does it hurt at all?”

“No.”

“Then, I’d say you can argue.”

Layne smiled at her and said, “I should…” She pointed to her door.

“Did you overhear my conversation?”

“Yeah. Parts of it. I didn’t mean to.”

“Can you not say anything to anyone?”

“I wouldn’t even know what to say.” Layne smiled again, hoping it read sympathetic.

“I’ll be fine for the next game.”

“Good. The team needs you.”

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