up, I could arrange the next play in my head. Hopefully, Coach would pull him from the game if he was being a dick. He was playing guard, but the ball seemed to avoid him. Maybe my other teammates were on to him.
I hit two three-pointers, four baskets, and had three assists for a very physical game. I was able to play clean, and by the end of the first half, I was feeling pretty damn good despite the score being really close. The tourney games were shorter but more fast-paced.
I was able to see Pixie rooting for me, and Austin was there, too. I could see he had his phone held up and I was guessing Mike, Ronna, Milt, and Teddi were on the other end of a video call. I gave him and them a wave.
Out of the corner of my eye, just before tip-off, I saw Bic walk in wearing a low ball cap. I missed the jump entirely, and the ball went to my defense.
I hadn’t counted on needing to physically defend Pixie during the game. I thought verbal sparring would be where it stayed.
Chapter 62
Pixie
I WATCHED AS Gaze tensed up and missed the tip-off completely. I followed his line of sight and found out what had affected his reaction. Bic.
Goddamn Bic was here to start shit. Back in the day, I’d accuse him of maybe using the game to have a gambling ring going on where he would lose big, as usual. He’d have bet on two snails on a sidewalk back then.
But he wasn’t a basketball fan either. I watched him scan the crowd until he got to me. His frown hardened and determination set his shoulders. He’d gone out of his way to locate the tournament and now find me.
I leaned over to Austin. “I’ve got to get out of here.”
“What, Kitten?” He tipped his phone’s screen enough that I could see his whole family watching the game. I would hate to ruin it for them. And even more, I would hate for Gaze to be thrown off his game.
I thought for a few minutes and then pulled out my phone. Hey, I’m rolling out. Play wonderful. I’m fine!
“I sent Gaze a text. Enjoy the game! I’ll see you at home.” I watched as Austin’s eyebrows pulled together. He was onto me. I leaned over and gave him an air kiss on the cheek. “Sit here and be the best looking one in the crowd. Distract them all.”
He blushed and made a kissy face at me, and I had to take that as understanding. I always hated bleachers, something about the endlessness of the steps got to me. I usually took them carefully, but not tonight. I flew down the stairs and set my sights on the exit doors. I needed to just get out of here. I was thinking about holing up in the girls’ locker room, if I could find it .
As I picked a hallway, I comforted myself with the fact that most schools had similar layouts and Bic never showed up even for the parent-teacher conferences he was supposed to attend so he might get even more lost than I would.
My mind’s eye pictured him making the motion of slitting his throat in my bedroom.
And then I had a hand clamped around my shoulder. I knew before he spun me it was him. In the shadowy spot in the hall, he had me in his grip.
I froze as he used my shoulders to point my face at his.
“Pixie. Why you runnin’? You don’t want to watch your little boyfriend in his golden hour?” He took steps toward me and pushed me off balance over and over. I should’ve yelled for help. I should’ve yelled fire, but I was shocked and flustered. My body longed to escape him. He was a walking nightmare. Everything about him brought the things he did back. His smell, his tone of voice, that silver chain around his neck. “Just wanted to have a little conversation, but getting you alone for a few fucking seconds is tougher than a dollar store steak.”
“Go away,” was all I could muster. I wished it was meaner. Hell, the tone I’d just laid on Mark would’ve been welcome. Instead, I sounded young in my own ears.
“Sure enough, I’ll be outta your hair in a minute. Just wanted to have a quick conversation about your living conditions. Turns out, if you don’t live with me? A lot of your mom’s