Page 214 of While You Were Trending

“Who’s Mabel?” Lavoie asks.

“Friend.”

“Just a friend?”

“Ginny’s best friend.”

“You’re leaving?”

I straighten and look at him. “You ever fall in love with someone the world’s judged completely wrong?”

Asshole smirks at me. “Oh, I dunno. Doesn’t sound at all like falling in love with the woman destined to be the first lady general manager of a men’s pro baseball team.”

“Yeah. I’m leaving.”

“Foxy.”

I fling my bag over my shoulder as Shade appears in the doorway. “Don’t give a shit what you’re about to say, Lavoie. Hockey can suck it. She might not need me, but I’m gonna be there for her anyway.”

“Goddammit.” Shade lifts his camera. “Say that again.”

“Foxy.”

I turn around and glare at the captain. “We’re done here.”

“Thrusters have your back, man. Family emergencies happen. We’ve got you covered here.”

I stare at him.

I know as well as he does that me walking out of this building means I won’t be welcome back.

He’s not smirking or laughing or even grinning anymore.

He’s on his feet, staring at me, stone-cold serious. “Second year Addie was coaching the Fireballs, Cooper Rock bailed on the first game of the fucking championship series becausehisgirlfriend was all over the news. The Fireballs’ first time making it all the way there in forever. His biggest dream since he was a kid. You think we’re gonna play across town from the Fireballs and take the heat in the media because our newest D-man needs to be there for his girlfriend? Team’s got your back, bro. Go do what you need to do, then get your ass back here and make your fucking comeback. If she’s worthy of you, it’s what she’ll want too.”

“Waiting for you to say that hockey can suck it line again, Foxy,” Shade murmurs behind his camera.

Lavoie rolls his eyes. “Go on,” he tells me. “Go get your girl.”

Fuckin’ right.

I’m going to get my girl.

43

YEET THE PARENT

Ginny

My mother wakes me up.

I pinch my eyes shut tighter, ordering the dream to leave me alone, for her to get out of my subconscious, but she’s still yelling.

Yelling?

Talking loudly?

What—