“Thank you. I am,” I say, and he faces forward. “How have you been? It surprised me when you reached out.”
Donovan chuckles a little. “Ah, yes, I was worried you’d turn me down. I’ve been keeping tabs on you for a while now. When I saw that we’d be competing tonight, I knew it was my chance to catch up.”
“Keeping tabs?” I ask with a raised eyebrow.
“Yes, to say that I regret how we left things would be an understatement.”
I shove my hands into my coat pockets, and my fingers curl into my palms. “Best to leave the past in the past. It’s been years, and we’ve both moved on. It was for the best.”
Donovan doesn’t say anything, just glances over at me. He always had such pretty eyes. I’d mulled over them for hours in high school. Now, all I want to see are blue eyes staring back at me.
“Are you seeing anyone?” he asks after a moment of silence.
I don’t even hesitate when I say yes.
“Is it serious?”
“It’s…” My words cut off when my phone rings in my pocket. “I apologize. I have to get this.”
Aunt Del’s name flashes across the screen, and I debate taking the call. I’m out with an old friend, and I know he’s been looking forwardto catching up with me, but I can’t help but flick my finger across the screen to answer.
She’d called to wish me luck at the tournament earlier, and I’m sure she’s just checking in to see how it went.
“Hi, Aunt Del.”
“Whit,” she says, her voice soft, concerned. My heart stutters slightly at the sound. “How was your tournament? Did you do well?”
“Yeah, we did.”
“Well done, sweet pea.” She pauses and says, “I just wanted to let you know Caleb is in the hospital.”
My entire body freezes, and I stop walking. I can’t hear her words over the rush in my ears.
“Why?” I breathe out.
“There was an accident?—”
“Is he okay?” I cut her off. I can’t breathe, my vision narrowing. I lean against a nearby wall, feeling lightheaded, like everything is crowding me, suffocating, drowning me.
I see Donovan in my line of sight, his gaze concerned.
Just this once, I allow him to touch me, to keep me grounded as Aunt Del says, “It’s nothing too serious. A concussion, a broken hand, and a lot of scrapes and bruises. I just wanted to let you know?—”
“I’m coming,” I gasp. “Send me the address.”
“Oh no, Whit, I didn’t mean for you to drop everything and head out here. Caleb mentioned how important this night was for you. That you’re meeting up with some old friends. I just wanted to let you know.”
“I’m coming,” I say and then add, “Address, now, please.”
Then I hang up, my hands shaking so brutally I almost drop my phone.
“You okay?” Donovan asks, his hands rubbing my arms. Him touching me feels wrong, like I’m betraying the person who’s become so important to me. I shrug him off.
“I need to go. My…Caleb. He’s in the hospital.”
Donovan’s mouth opens and then closes. “Okay, let’s get you back then.”
I swallow roughly and let him lead me back to the hotel. I don’teven manage a goodbye, just jog to the elevators and vanish into them. By the time I reach the room, I’m shaking so badly that Magnus jumps up from his bed and asks, “What’s happened?”