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“Duh.” Tyler rolled his eyes. “Thanks.”

“Hey… I prefer you in one big glorious piece.” Josh sat back into the cushions of his couch and reached for the remote. “You still have time watch a show?”

During the night calls, they had gotten into a habit of watching cartoons and movies together, mostly on the weekends or when Tyler could sneak out of an event early.

The first week, Josh had suggested they work their way through The Powerpuff Girls and Dexter’s Laboratory. They hit Play in tandem and enjoyed them like they were lounging on the same couch. The shows were short and silly enough to give them an excuse to sit quietly doing something together without having to voice all the worries preying on them.

Tyler shook his head. “I don’t think so. You look seriously beat. I’ll make it up to you.”

“Deal. If you’ll wear your jockstrap and socks next time.” Josh grinned.

“Give me two minutes and I will blow your mind.”

Josh’s brow creased. “Next time. I’m worried about you, big guy.”

“’Kay. Sorry.” Tyler started nodding off on the couch. “I shouldn’t be so exhausted.”

“Get some rest,” Josh whispered. “I’ll talk to you tomorrow.” Then he ended the call.

Tyler frowned at the dark phone in his hand. The distance between them felt immense, even though he knew Josh was just a drive away.

Maybe he was asking too much, trying to maintain a relationship under the glare. He longed for the day he could return to Cinnamar and find out if what they had was built to last.

Maybe Josh deserved someone simpler, someone who could offer a quiet life back home. But the thought of losing Josh after finally having a chance with him made Tyler’s chest ache in a way that had nothing to do with his injury.

He didn’t even try for the bedroom, just curled onto his side and zonked out without bothering to turn off the lights.

Chapter Fifteen

JOSH PULLED into the empty high school parking lot, gravel crunching under his tires as he parked next to Principal Carver’s sedan. The cold night air rushed in when he opened the door, making him shiver. He hurried across the asphalt toward the dark gym entrance, unease tugging at his gut.

What had Carver called him here for at 2:00 a.m.? He’d said something about an arrest. Did burglars target schools? Had one of the kids done something crazy? January was way too soon for the seniors to start acting out.

He slipped through the propped-open door into the equipment room, the baked-in pong of sweat and disinfectant familiar and oddly comforting. Shrill voices echoed down the hallway, rising and falling in agitation… two women bickering, it sounded like.

As Josh stepped into the athletics office, he froze.

Principal Carver stood with his arms crossed, wearing jeans and sneakers. Sneakers? Josh could not remember him wearing anything less casual than a blazer in ten years. Never. Carver must have been hauled out of bed too.

Carver was leaning over a teary Elise Tattersall, Josh’s fellow coach and fake-flirting buddy. Elise was mumbling rapidly and gulping air while she tried to get words out. She was cradling her arm in a gym towel soaked with red.

Josh cleared his throat. “Elise? What happened?”

Everyone turned, relief washing over Carver’s face.

Elise stood and hugged him tightly with one arm. The other seemed to be wrapped in the stained towel. “Oh, Josh, it was horrible. She’s a lunatic.” She gripped Josh’s shoulder like a life raft. “An animal.”

Over her shoulder, Carver stared at him, eyes wide, shaking his head. He looked exhausted, brow furrowed. “Josh, thank God you’re here.”

And then a sharp, sneering, all-too-familiar voice. “What you are going to do is unhand me.” Cilla Miller sat in a black sweatsuit, blocked by two annoyed-looking police officers.

“Cilla.” Josh sighed and steadied himself. “Why am I surprised?”

She whirled to face him, her ginger helmet unmoving around her panicked, swollen face. Her eyes were bloodshot and oozing a steady stream of tears. Her wrists were handcuffed in front of her. “I am a deeply respected member of the press.”

“Respected! Hmmph.” Elise spun and glared at Cilla. “In a dog park, respected. Deep in a gutter, maybe.”

“Miss Tattersall.” Carver spoke up and took Elise’s arm to guide her to the other side of the room. “Officers, if you’ll just give us a moment to explain.”