Page 25 of Walk the Line

Daniel huff. “Like I’ve been telling you to do.”

“Shut up.”

I should just follow Kaylah’s lead and go watch the video in my room like I’m sure she’s about to do. For all the problems we seem to have with each other, I’m sure it’s mostly down to the fact that we’re too similar so I’m not even surprised we’re clashing. She’s definitely on to something with the decision she just made but with the way Coach is already on my neck to be more of a…social butterfly…whatever the fuck that is, I might as well start with these guys.

The video starts and it’s not hard to see myself on the screen, with my moves instantly impressing me even though I knew they were coming. It’s a good game and I see Coach studying us one by one, my mind thinking back to how he came down to the final decision on who would make the team.

I can’t deny that whenever I’m rewatching one of my games back, the only person I’m really focusing on is me. I even shock myself sometimes with how swift I am on the ice, but at the same time, I’m not too cocky to identify an area I need to improve on, though that’s not a frequent conclusion for me.

While I’m trying to keep my eyes on me, I’m finding that they’re naturally darting to someone else.

Playing on opposite teams gave me quick insight into what Kaylah’s like on the ice, but being able to see it after the fact…fuck, she’s not playing fair. Her feet glide against the ice like they were made for it as she intercepts each pass with finesse, especially the passes that weren’t even intended for her because for some reason, her teammates thought it made sense to take more risks with it.

Three goals. That’s how much we both scored by the end of it, with a couple members of our teams getting some in there as well. I’ve never really found that worthy opponent of mine, who could actually be a threat to me during the game. It’s always just been me knowing I’m taking it each time.

Until now.

The way she owned the stick, the puck, the ice, fuck maybe even the game…who is this woman? I need to know more, I need to know everything.

I can’t even move as soon as I would like to once the video ends, because I’m in a daze wondering how fucked I would be if Kaylah really was on an opposing team.

But us being on the same team is…interesting.

My phone screen lights up as what looks like a message comes through but I’m not even paying too much attention to it. I’m not paying attention to anything until I hear the Double Act about to start arguing again and then I’m descending to my room without a word to them.

That was sociable enough for me.

I sit on my bed and don’t even try to stop myself from deciding to watch that game again.

But when I finally get a good look at the message on the screen, it stops me in my tracks.

You really gonna allow yourself to be co-captain with someone like that?

It’s one bullshit after another in this life, I guess.

CHAPTER NINE

KAYLAH

“I thought you weren’t going to answer.”

I roll my eyes at the combination of the voice and the greeting. But I’m sure she’s imagining me doing that on the other end of the line anyway. After all, we both know how much I don’t want this.

“I’m answering,” I say.

“What made you change your mind?”

“You.”

“I know you don’t mean that in a good way, but I’ll still take the compliment.” Of course she will.

“Is this the end of the conversation?” I say.

“You know that’s no way to talk to your mother.”

The same way it’s not very typical for a mother to threaten her daughter. I guess we’re both wrong.

“You said it would be two minutes,” I say.