There’s something different about you. What’s your deal?
“Nope. No headache. I’m just really sensitive to smells. And you people just reek. Oh.” I pulled a breath in through my teeth and tsked. “Sorry. I forgot. I really shouldn’t tell you that you smell worse than the dumpsters outside. I imagine the entire underworld has the same perfumed smell. I’m sure you’re accustomed to it by now.”
I wished I could get a better look at Rod’s hands. I saw my attacker’s hands in my visions. Maybe there’d be something—a mole, a scar, a tattoo—that would give me some answers. But his hands were blocked by Lily’s skanky body.
“Let’s go,” Chay said, tugging at my sleeve gently. “We’ll sit on the bottom.”
“No, we’ll go higher.” He raised his eyebrows in silent question. “I don’t want them watching us from up here. I’d rather watch them.”
Chay nodded and held his arm out, indicating I should go. “Okay, lead the way.”
“We’re going up?” Drew asked. When I nodded, he smiled. “Yesss.”
We’d just got situated in our seats when Xavier and Jen walked up and shimmied through the people to get to us.
Chay was sitting on the aisle with me next to him. Muriel was on my other side with Drew next to her. There was room for Jen and Xavier on the other side of Drew.
“Excuse me.” Xavier looked at me and waited for me to scoot down so he could sit between Chay and me. He didn’t like the seating arrangement apparently.
Chay looked up at him and then out at the court. “Ain’t gonna happen. Move down to the end.”
Xavier wasn’t put off by Chay. He squeezed himself between Muriel and me, which left a disappointed Jen at one end of the row and a pissed-off Chay at the other.
“Hey.” Xavier rubbed my knee. I pushed his hand away before Chay got a glimpse.
“Hi.”
“You like basketball?”
“Yeah.”
“Do you answer questions with more than one word?”
I sighed. “Generally.”
Oh. My. Gosh. I’m turning into Chay. He’s the king of one-word answers.
“Ah.” Xavier turned and looked at the court.
Chay grabbed my hand and threaded his fingers through mine. He gave it a little squeeze. I had a feeling it was for Xavier’s benefit, but I was enjoying it so I didn’t care.
He’s here, Milayna
I jumped back, bumping into Xavier. I looked wide-eyed at Chay. He gave me a knowing look.
“Do we need to leave? Was it a vision?” Chay ran a finger down the side of my face.
“No. It was more like someone was talking to me.”
“What did they say?”
“He’s here.”
“Let’s go.” Chay stood and pulled me up, holding me against him.
“No, I don’t want to go, Chay. I don’t want this crap to rule my life like it did before. I’m gonna stay and watch the game with you.”
His jaw worked as he glared at me. “Fine.” He sat down. “I guess we’re safer here with the rest of the group anyway.”
I smiled and kissed his cheek. “Let’s watch some ball.” The game had started and the people around us were already cheering… or swearing, depending on the side they were rooting for.
I was on my feet for most of the game. Partly because I couldn’t see through the people in front of me and partly because I was screaming at the players and refs.
“Geez, Milayna,” Drew said, laughing. “You really get into this.”
I shrugged and then yelled at the referee, “That’s a foul, you idiot!”
Chay laughed. He stayed seated for most of the game, his finger hooked possessively around the back belt loop of my jeans.
“You can’t make a free throw to save your stinkin’ life!” I screamed at a player.
“Milayna used to play competitive basketball on a state traveling team for three years,” Xavier said to no one in particular.
“You did?” Chay asked. “I thought you said basketball wasn’t your thing.”
“I said anymore. I don’t play anymore.” My gaze whipped around to Xavier. “How do you know anyway?”
“I have my ways. Plus, I saw a photo of you at your house. You had just made your shot, the ball was flying toward the net, your feet were still off the court where you’d jumped, and you had this steely look of determination in your eyes. It’s a very cool picture. You looked all Michael Jordan-ish.”
“Yeah well, I missed the basket so it wasn’t that cool,” I snapped.
Why does it bother me so much that he knows I played ball, anyway? Maybe because I can tell it bothers Chay that Xavier knows and he didn’t. Crap. Here comes the stupid jealousy thing again.
“You never told me you played. And why haven’t I seen this photo?” Chay murmured when I sat down.
“It just never came up.” I shrugged a shoulder. “It’s not part of who I am now. The photo is in my dad’s study. I’m not sure how Xavier saw it.” I turned my attention back to the game before inhaling sharply and grabbing my head.
Chay turned me to him. Xavier put his hand on my shoulder, which Chay promptly removed.