First Magic by Raven Steele (ebook reader screen txt) 📖

“It was your fault I fell,” I accused.

“Hardly! I was twenty feet away.”

“Well, you’re hard to miss.”

“Really?” There was no sarcasm in his voice.

I visibly jerked. “I didn’t mean—I was just surprised to see someone standing there.”

I thought I saw disappointment flash in his eyes but couldn’t be sure.

“The first aid kit’s in here,” he said.

“In the men’s locker room?”

“There’s probably one in the girl’s, but I don’t know where. Come on. No one’s in here.”

I slowed and glanced back at May who was still running ladders. She paused long enough to wink at me.

With a nervous smile, I followed him through a blue-tiled doorway. Inside was a typical locker room with wooden benches in the middle of each aisle.

“It stinks,” I blurted, covering my nose and mouth.

“We can’t all smell like roses.”

“Roses? I’d settle for day-old meatloaf. It smells like wet cat in here.”

He laughed. “It’s not that bad.”

I followed him into the coach’s office where he removed a first aid kit from the wall.

“Sit down,” he ordered.

“I can put a Band-Aid on myself.” I lowered into a chair across from the coach’s desk.

“Not while I’m around.” He opened the kit and removed bandages and antiseptic wipes. “I’m surprised to see you here, after the way you were this morning. What happened?”

“Bad headache is all. I’m fine now.” I flinched when he pressed an alcohol wipe to my leg.

“Sorry,” he said.

“No, it didn’t hurt. I’m just not used to—” I stopped, startled I was just about to admit that I wasn’t used to being touched.

“Getting hurt?” he suggested.

“Something like that.”

His warm palm slid behind my calf. I sucked in a breath as a chill raced across my flesh and straight to my lower abdomen. He didn’t seem to notice. His hand stayed there, his thumb sweeping across my skin.

“If what I hear about you is true,” Christian said, “then I think you have a great chance of making the team.”

The warmth in my stomach turned sour. “What could you possibly have heard? You’re new.”

Fear flashed in his eyes before a smile replaced it. “I heard May talking to Adam about it.”

My chest tightened, and I swallowed a growing thickness in my throat. Why did he lie? I shivered.

“Are you cold?” he attached the final strip of tape to a bandage on my shin.

“No.” I came to my feet and stepped to the side. “Thanks for helping me, but I better get back.”

“Are you sure you feel up to it with those wounds?”

“You have no idea.”

He looked at my questioningly, but I turned around, took a deep breath, held it, and then moved quickly through the reeking men’s locker room. Christian caught up to me in the gym just as I exhaled.

“Do you mind if I stick around?” he asked.

I searched his eyes, wishing I’d see something there that would tell me his true motives. “Why?”

“I’m bored and don’t have a life.” He cracked another smile, exposing that endless dimple on the side of his cheek.

“Do what you want.” I jogged onto the court to continue running ladders. I had to get my mind off Christian. And not just the little lie I think I’d caught him in. His touch too. It still lingered on my skin, reminding me of how good it had felt.

After ladders, Ms. Lindsey rounded us up for other drills. Shooting was my favorite. I only missed a couple of shots—and those had been on purpose. I didn’t want to seem too good, because I knew it was only a matter of weeks before I’d really suck. Damn moon cycle.

May did way better than I expected. I would never have guessed she hadn’t played before. Everything just came naturally to her.

Ms. Lindsey blew her whistle. “Have a seat, girls.” She waited for us to sit before continuing. “Tomorrow I’ll post a sheet on my office door of the girls who made first cut. If your name is on it, return tomorrow at this same time. You all did a great job, but remember, I can’t keep all of you. Have a great night.”

Everyone began gathering their belongings. May laughed. “We totally killed it, Llona. Wasn’t this fun?”

I wrinkled my nose through a smile. “It sort of was, wasn’t it?” And I meant it.

“Llona!” Ms. Lindsey asked.

I turned toward the front of the gym. Two policemen stood side-by-side with Ms. Lindsey. She motioned me over.

May eyed me questioningly.

“It’s nothing,” I said and walked over. I glanced back in time to see Christian joining May on the bleachers. Both watched me expectantly, but Christian seemed more tense than curious.

I stopped in front of the officers. “How can I help?”

The taller one spoke first. “I’m officer Pieut, and this is officer Bryant. May we have a word with you?”

“Um, sure.” I turned to Ms. Lindsey. “See you tomorrow.”

She nodded. Her eyes darted back and forth between the officers and me, and then she walked away.

Officer Pieut glanced down at a small notebook in his hand. His bulbous nose protruded into his thick mustache. “You called us earlier today about a shoe.”

I swallowed. “Did you find it?”

Officer Pieut glanced at officer Bryant. “We did. And we have some questions for you. What time did you find it?”

“About seven this morning. I was leaving my house to go running when I tripped on it.”

“Where did you find it, again?” he asked.

“On my front porch.”

The officer’s looked at each other again.

“Did you hear or see anything strange last night?” Officer Bryant asked.

“No. Why?”

Officer Pieut scribbled on his notebook. “Thank you for your time. We’ll contact you if we have any further questions.”

“Wait!” I said.

They stopped and turned back toward me.

“Did the shoe belong to that woman?”

Officer Pieut glanced around and then focused his gaze on me. “It looks that way, but don’t worry. A dog probably dragged it onto your porch."

I wanted to believe him, but I’d seen the shoe. There hadn’t been a scratch on it—no teeth marks, nothing. I ignored the spider-like chill crawling up my spine. It’s nothing. Strange coincidence is all.

I had to believe that, for the alternative terrified me.