Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 80199 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 401(@200wpm)___ 321(@250wpm)___ 267(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 80199 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 401(@200wpm)___ 321(@250wpm)___ 267(@300wpm)
“Lark?” Emil whispered.
“Yeah?”
“That wasn’t really what happened, was it?”
“I…uh…” I sputtered.
“It’s okay. I got your back.”
30
HENRY
I woke up early Sunday morning with my bed soaked through from sweat. Even my dreams wouldn’t let me escape my insidious thoughts. I didn’t have a fever or any of the other symptoms I’d first developed with leukemia, and my last scan was normal, so it was likely an anomaly. Even losing a few pounds this semester had to do with my rigorous schedule, I was sure of it. Besides, we only had five more games in the regular season, and I needed to be healthy in order to make it to the playoffs, which began in mid-December. I couldn’t let my teammates down, nor my parents.
Thankfully, Spencer was still sleeping when I got up to shower, my pajama bottoms sticking to me. I would need to do a change of sheets as well.
My nerves had been frayed all weekend as I looked for signs that my teammates suspected Lark hadn’t been truly drunk, that we hadn’t come back to the room for alcohol. But if they had, they’d have pointed it out right after they’d barged in. And it had ended up being pretty fun, proof that our friends could indeed mix well.
I was also worried that Emil would mention something to Lark because of the way he seemed to study us the rest of the night, and I’d texted Lark about it yesterday. He told me not to worry, and I trusted him. Plus, he always kept things in perspective. Maybe he would about the night sweats too, if I were brave enough to mention it.
In the shower, I trembled despite the hot water as all my fears rained down on me, not only about the symptoms and my teammates, but also about how my feelings for Lark were changing and growing deeper.
By the time I twisted the dial to shut off the water, I felt better—or at least more composed. I walked into the room with only a towel around my waist as Spencer began to rouse. I slipped into track pants and a T-shirt, then removed the sweaty sheet and pillowcase.
“Hey,” he said, rubbing his eyes. “You doing laundry?”
“Yeah, figured it was time.” I glanced at his comforter. “I’d say it’s time for you too.”
“I could squeak out another week,” he said, and I laughed. I’d do the same if I didn’t feel so grubby this morning.
“Is there another reason you’re worried about your sheets?”
“Huh?” My stomach trembled. When Spencer winced, I said, “Just spit it out.”
“Okay, um…” He sat up and fluffed the pillow behind him. “Some of the guys are talking.”
“About what?” I asked, though I knew. One of my worst fears realized.
“About how you and Lark disappeared during the carnival.”
“Well, at first we left to get more tickets for games, and then on the way decided to do some shots first, but then Lark—”
He held up a hand. “You don’t need to rehash it. You already told me what happened.”
I sank down on the edge of my bed, trying to control my breathing as I waited for him to continue. When he didn’t say anything, I blurted out, “I can’t help it that he got tipsy. I couldn’t leave him. Isn’t that what friends do—support each other?”
He folded his arms and studied me. “That’s what I’m trying to do, but if you don’t tell me what’s going on, how can I defend you?”
“Why don’t you leave that to me?”
“You know how they gossip,” he countered.
“What are they saying exactly?”
“Flash was saying…” He trailed off as his face got red. “Never mind. It’s dumb.”
“You should tell me so I know,” I said, despite being afraid of his answer.
“Flash started it, and then A-Train jumped in…saying that since you never hook up with girls, maybe you’d rather hang out with Lark.”
My gut churned as acid climbed up the back of my throat. I sat there motionless for what felt like an entire minute before looking Spencer in the eye.
“And what do you think?” I asked around a scratchy throat.
“I don’t know… It’s true you rarely, if ever, hook up. But until Bones said it, I guess I never thought about it like that before. I mean, you told me about how you and Lark know each other, and all that makes sense. And I haven’t betrayed your trust. I wouldn’t, so if there’s anything else you want to talk about, I’m here for you.”
“What? No, I…” I jumped up and started pacing the room.
“You’re freaking out right now, Hen. Take some deep breaths and calm down.”
I rounded on him. “How would you feel if the guys were talking about you? I’m supposed to be their captain, and if I can’t keep their respect on and off the field…”
“They respect the hell outta you, which is probably why they won’t say this to your face! Maybe I shouldn’t have brought it up.”