Page 98 of The Replay

Vic: I keep up with the chat, calm down

Mom: How would we know, if you never acknowledge anything?

Vic: I apologize, Mother. Rest assured I read everything.

Cam: Wrangle your twin, Luke.

Luke: I've tried :(

Mom: I'll get you to sign with the Vortex. You'll see.

Vic: Good night, everyone.

Cam: Mom, we talked about this.

Cora: Mom, no.

Mariana: Sigh.

Dominic and Mariana's text chain

Mariana: How was the flight? Ready for the game tomorrow?

Dom: The flight was okay. Nothing of note. I'm resting in my hotel room now. The game should go well tomorrow.

Mariana: Nice. Do you have to share a room?

Dom: Please. No. It's been years since I've had to share a room.

Mariana: I see. Well, for no reason at all… what's your room number?

Dom: Wait. What's going on?

Mariana: Don't make me have to start calling people. I don't have a good excuse to ask for your room number.

Dom: 1012. Now tell me what's going on.

Dom: Mariana?

Chapter 31

Dom

A knock breaks through the hum of the TV. I'm not sure what to expect— maybe Mariana is sending me a meal. Hell, even flowers, as a cheeky, spontaneous gesture. But when I open the door, it's her I see.

My lips part in surprise. "Aren't you supposed to be on your way back to Seattle?"

She smiles. Warmth bursts in my chest. It blooms through my torso, the moment my brain catches up to the fact that yes, she's here, at my hotel room's door, and I don't really need an explanation. The awe shining inside of me is enough.

"I am supposed to be going there, yes," she says. "But, at the last minute, Cora decided to be here for this game and I decided to join her."

There must be special lighting in the hotel's hallway I didn't notice before, because she glows, to the point I can imagine a halo around her.

I finally let go of the door and take a couple of steps toward her. My hands go into my pockets, and I give her a smile of my own.

"And what kind of visit is this?" I ask.

All sorts of possibilities run through my head, but I don't let them run too wild. If someone catches her we'd get in trouble. We're both under our own set of rules, designed to protect the players' ability to excel in games. I'm not sure what would happen to her, but, me? The coaches would penalize me somehow for the distraction. Even if it is one of my friends catching us, I'd need plausible deniability.