Page 125 of Rules Of Our Own

River: Mia. It’s been an hour. Where are you?

Alex: Just text back so we know you’re okay.

River: We’re cutting practice short. You better be at home.

Knowing they’ll get in trouble if they leave, I type out a quick message.

Me: Sorry, lost track of time. Everything’s good.

If I see them, I’ll fall apart, and they’ll want to comfort me. Jason’s going to wreck Alex’s chance to become captain, and it’smyfault.

An hour goes by, and my phone buzzes again.

Alex: We’re home. Where are you?

Alex: Mia, you’re worrying me. Tell us where you are, Kitten.

River: What’s wrong?

He always knows when I’m not okay, but this time, I can’t let him fix it.

My phone rings with a call, but I don’t answer, muting it instead. I need to figure this out. I need to make this okay.

I dial Sidney, needing my friend.

She answers immediately. “Hello?”

“Hey.”

“Where are you? I just got out of parliament, and I have about a million missed messages from your guys.”

A sob breaks from my chest.

“Mia, what happened? Tell me.”

I break down and explain everything. She listens without a word, letting me get it all out.

“So, to summarize,” Sidney starts in. “Your asshole ex cost you your sponsor and now is going to try to ruin Alex and River’s image, and you think they’ll hate you for that?”

“I hate myself for it. I should’ve known it would go this way.”

“Don’t you think they should have a say in this? This isn’t university. Alex and River are grown-ass men. Get your ass back home and tell them what happened.” She’s using her professional voice, and I sniff. “Get your ass home, Mia, or I’m going to fly down there and make you.”

I rub my hand over my face and take a deep breath. “Okay.”

“Text them before they send out a search party.” Her voice is lighter, with a hint of a laugh, and I relax a little more.

“Love you, Sidney.”

“You too, babe. Now, go figure this out. And Mia…”

“Yeah…”

“We’re going to bring Jason down.”

A spark comes to life, and I’m able to take a deep inhale.

She hangs up, and I exhale, sending off a quick text.