Page 65

The volume of my voice made Millan lean back a little. He thumbed over his shoulder. “Toward Tuft Swallow.”

With just a nod, I shrugged out of his hold and turned for the door, dialing Ro’s number with trembling fingers. By the time I got to my car, she still hadn’t picked up. I threw my phone onto the passenger seat and climbed in, gunning the engine. Had something happened? Did she get some bad news and need to get home fast? No. If that was the case, she’d find me. My car would be her quickest way home. Where the hell had she gone?

With my heart in my mouth, I raced out of the lot and headed for the road back home.

I usedthe drive out of Spitz Hollow to get a grip on my racing thoughts. I was smart. Level-headed. I didn’t give in to knee-jerk reactions.

I’d only allow myself to worry about Alex’s information when I had confirmation. Right now, all I cared about was tracking Ro down.

About halfway along the road, I caught a flash of lemon ahead. My heartbeat ticked up, and I put my foot down on the gas, the wind rippling through my hair. With the top down, I had a clear view ahead, and the word “FLOCK” came into focus on the back of a silver helmet. I loosened my grip on the wheel. Rostill wore her mum’s dress and had her green bag thrown across her back. Her arms pumped up and down as she skated.

I caught up and eased my foot onto the brake, pulling up level alongside her. She didn’t stop. Didn’t even look at me. Just clamped her jaw tight while a furious red burned on her cheeks. Despite the roll in my gut at her expression, she looked incredible, with her long braids flying behind her like Medusa’s snakes. But what was she doing out here? Why hadn’t she waited for me?

“Stop! You’ll ruin your bearings.”

Again, she ignored me, only giving me the slightest glance from the corner of her eyes.

“Ro! Stop.” My voice fought for supremacy with the car’s engine.

She sent me a glare that could strip the bark off a tree. “I don’t care about my bearings!” Her voice was high and tight.

I slowed the car down to match her speed, trying to stay in a straight line as I shouted to her across the asphalt. “What’s wrong? Did something happen? You just left me there. I thought we were a team?”

A line appeared between her brows. “Like a double deal, you mean? That’s what Millan thinks we are.”

I narrowed my eyes and wrangled to understand what she was talking about. “Sorry?”

“Oh, you missed that? He wants you to coach his team… and I’m the sweetener. He gives me a spot on the Scalpers, and you come along as part of the package.”

My gut tugged. Millan had said something similar at the arena, but I hadn’t taken him seriously. He’d been joking. Besides, Ro had more than enough skills to get a place on his derby team, fair and square. “He meant nothing by it. Did he say you had a spot?”

“It doesn’t matter. I’m still mad at you.”

I shook my head. “Why are you mad at me?”

“You told me to get out of my comfort zone. Change my boring little life and do something for myself. So I did, Brody. And you went and ruined it.”

The grind of her wheels on the road matched the scream of blood racing through my ears. “I never called your life boring. And how did I ruin anything? I thought my coaching helped?”

Ro slowed a little, her hands bunched into fists. “Don’t you get it? The coaching, the training, the trial. None of it was about me. Never about what I could do. Once Millan made the connection between us, it became aboutyou. A way to get ‘Flock the Almighty’ to coach his team.”

I opened my mouth to defend myself, but the words caught in my throat. Maybe contacting Dean before the trial had been a dumb idea. He’d messaged me a few times over the years. I thought he might like to hear a bit about Ro before he saw what she could do.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t think…”

“No, you didn’t. And frankly, if he’s trying to tempt you onto his staff, he can’t have much faith in your leg coming good.”

Her words hit me like a ten-ton truck straight in the chest. Of course. Ro had no idea what the conversation I’d just had with Alex was about. Of the rumors she’d heard. I hadn’t confessed to anyone quite how close to being washed up I was. And if I told Ro now, she’d think I was trying to divert attention away from her suspicions.

“That’s unfair, and I don’t know what you’re talking about with Millan.”

She huffed and picked up her pace again. I matched her speed, the passenger door of my car almost nudging her hip as we rolled past the tall trees lining the road. “Well, the rest of the Scalpers did.”

“Sorry?”

“Locker room talk, Brody. Surely, you’d know all about that. And the ladies in this locker room had a lot to say. About how Flock’s girl got herself a place on the team. I’m sure you can imagine what they meant.”

I swallowed, trying to eliminate the bitter taste that flooded my mouth. I had a good idea of what they meant. That Ro slept with me to get on the Scalpers.