Page 10 of Trick Play

Chapter 4

Ethan

I called Haley four times before she finally picked up. Reid told me the plans for their one-month anniversary, and somewhere deep in the back of my mind I knew I shouldn’t bother them, but they were the only ones I could talk to. I needed my best friend and my sister. It just happened that they were together. Ew. Together together.

I didn’t want to think about that.

Maybe some sick part of me wanted to ruin their happy night. Because I was miserable and misery loved company and all.

Haley stepped into our room with Reid behind her.

“What’s going on?” She stood next to me, leaning against my bed, but I kept my attention on the ceiling. “Ethan? Come on? We’re here, so tell us what happened.”

I heard the worry in her voice. I probably freaked her out. Good. We could lose it together.

I let out a grunt as Ethan shoved a fist into my ribs and lifted my leg like he was planning on dragging me off the bed to drop to the ground four feet below. No way! I didn’t need physical injury on top of emotional.

I kicked my free leg at him and sat up to face them. “I’m in mourning, dude. Careful.” I dropped my head into my hands and sighed. Too much movement too fast.

“What are you mourning?” Haley asked, “Did something happen to Mom or Dad?”

“That would be easier to deal with,” I mumbled, hoping neither of them heard me. I shouldn’t be wishing a terrible fate on my parents.

Ethan smacked my wrist, making my head drop. I shot him a glare, but he didn’t seem to care.

“No. They’re fine as far as I know,” I told Haley.

Her shoulders dropped as she sighed. “Then what is it? We rushed over here for you, so start talking.”

Reid shot her a look that told me he was thinking indecent thoughts about my sister. I cringed and refocused on her. “It’s the worst thing that could possibly happen.”

She had to know what I meant. She was there for all of it. Well, not the ending. Reid and the guys got to witness that mess. No, she was there for the best parts.

Ethan rolled his eyes. “You’re not dead. None of your family is dead. You're not injured, and you’re still on the team. So, we know it’s not actually anything close to being the worst-case scenario.”

I snapped my eyes to him. “Oh yeah? Well then, where does being in class with, and assigned to partner with, the one person that hates me more than anyone else in the world rank? Huh?”

They shared a confused look before Haley faced me. “Who’s in your class?”

Thinking about her, even her name, put me back into a haze of panic and deep regret. “Kennedy.”

Haley’s arms wrapped around me. “Oh, Ethan.”

Saying it aloud made it real.

“Maybe you two can avoid each other. You’ve managed to for this long.” She tried to comfort me, but there was no fixing this.

“I can’t. We have to work together.” If she didn’t kill me first. Or Lo, I mean Lauren. My money was on her.

A cough came from Reid, and I glanced at him to see him trying to cover a smile.

I glared at him. “Are you laughing at me?”

He shook his head with a bit too much enthusiasm.

“You’re enjoying this.”

He shrugged. “I’m not not finding this entertaining.”