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“No, you will not go there.” His tone is firm and final. “You aren’t going to Mahopac.”
I back off. “Okay. Besides, the assignment is to take pictures of local interests.”
“Be careful, Olivia.” He only uses my proper name when he’s upset. “And be careful of who you associate with.”
The call ends abruptly after that, and it makes me wonder what actually happened our last summer at the lake. I don’t remember much, except I spent the last two weeks with my Aunt Wendi, who wouldn’t let me out of her sight. If she hadn’t passed away, I’d ask her what happened. Something obviously did. I’m an adult now, so why is my father keeping me in the dark?
***
Practice is killing everybody as Nikki punishes us for existing. I don’t know if I will make it to the spring season, but when you’re on a team, you’re expected to practice year-round. There are enough people to divide into two teams of ten and have practice games. Nikki usually places us evenly, but lately, she’s been placing me on the same side as the newer players. By the time practice is over, my body feels like someone has been using it as a trampoline.
I race across the field to block a shot from going into our net and end up colliding with Lia.
“Fuck,” I shout as I grab my shoulder in pain.
Nikki blows her whistle twice, meaning someone has fucked up, and that means running laps. She rushes over to me like a Mack truck without brakes.
“Five laps,” she says.
I gawk. “No, you have to be kidding me.”
“Okay, make it ten.” She starts to walk off, but I block her path.
“This is intentional,” I gesture toward the players on the field. “You know we’re not evenly matched.”
“I thought you would appreciate being able to show off your skills.”
“What the fuck does that even mean?” I ask her.
Before Nikki can blow that effing whistle in my face, I knock her hand away from her mouth. That isn’t the best move because that’s all the excuse she needs to lunge at me. Arms tangle and slaps sting as we roll across the turf. More whistles start blowing in the distance, punctuated with shouts. I struggle as someone pulls me off her. Nikki grabs her mouth, and I wince when I see blood on her swelling lip.
I gawk. “Oh god, did I do that?”
“No,” she shouts. “I bit my lip when we fell. What’s the matter with you, Livi?”
“What’s the matter with you?” I shoot back.
Neither one of us is going to admit what the fight was really about. And soon, my anger is forgotten as I walk the first lap around the field. Lucas jogs up toward me with a smirk on his face.
“Hey, Livi,” he says. “Nice right hook.”
I hold up my hand. “Don’t start. It isn’t funny.”
He shrugs. “Maybe not, but it’s not surprising with the way you two have been eyeing each other for weeks. They should just make you co-captain, and maybe that will take some of the tension off.”
I’m amazed that he doesn’t get it. But why would he be able to guess? Lucas has only met Elijah once. He has no idea how I feel. And I will never admit it. It’s hard enough admitting it to myself after the way he’s treated me.
Skipping the rest of practice, I head off the field. Let Nikki penalize me, but she probably won’t. The fight broke the tension but didn’t cure the problem. I’m embarrassed that it even happened. I head into the women’s locker room and strip down, tossing my bra into the bottom of the locker, and for a moment, I stare at it.
I was flat-chested those summers at the lake. I barely had any breasts under my halter tops. I need a bra now, but I didn’t then. I remember one day when we were lying in the grass, and I took off my top. But it was so innocent.
I hurry to wash up and put on my street clothes. Checking the time, I run to the school gate to wait for the next shuttle. I find a seat in the back and watch as Elijah also climbs onto the shuttle. I smirk when he looks startled to see me.
Maybe I shouldn’t have looked too pleased because he sits down beside me. My skin starts to tingle like the water shimmering on a lake, and I don’t lean away when his shoulder presses against mine. I sense his body under his bulky wool jacket. I part my lips, and without thinking, I sigh.
“Do you want me to move?” he asks, misinterpreting my reaction.
I shake my head, looking at all the empty seats. “No.”
