Chapter 27

The buzzer sounded just as the ball swooshed through the basket. Steve high-fived the team as they ran into the locker room for halftime. The players gathered on the center bench, waiting for his pep talk.

His phone buzzed in his back pocket—for the tenth time. Away from the crowd, Steve finally flipped it open to check who’d been trying to reach him. He’d seen Laura in the stands earlier. Maybe Diana or Grace needed something.

But every missed call was from Dean.

A twenty-pound weight dropped into the pit of his stomach. Equal Opportunity.

Phones weren’t supposed to be used during school functions, but Steve decided to ignore that rule.

He hit redial.

Dean answered on the first ring. “I’ve been trying to reach you for over an hour.”

“I saw.” Steve’s tone was tight.

“You need to get down here. Now.” Dean sounded breathless.

Steve turned his back to the locker room, his gut twisting. Dean never sounded this urgent.

“What’s going on?”

“Someone was attacked outside Equal Opportunity and—”

Steve’s knees nearly buckled. No. Please, no. Not her. Not Diana. She had promised. She was supposed to be in Middletown. Safe.

The room fell silent. The players stared at him. He didn’t care.

He swallowed hard. “Who?”

“Nancy.”

Steve’s breath hitched—and then the tears came.

“Steve? What’s wrong? Why are you crying?” Diana’s voice rang out behind him, laced with worry.

He turned and stared at her in disbelief. She was here. Safe. His arms reached for her instinctively, and he clung to her, burying his face in her shoulder as the tears came harder.

“Steve, what happened?” Diana asked, holding him close.

“Nancy was attacked. For a moment ... I thought—” His voice cracked, and he couldn’t finish.

“Steve! Steve, are you still there?” Dean’s voice called from the phone in his limp hand.

Diana gently took the phone from him. “Dean? It’s Diana. What happened?”

“Nancy was attacked in the parking lot. She’s in the ER at St. Vincent’s. I’m here with her now.”

“We’re on our way.”

The words struck Diana like an ice storm. It could have been her. A chill raced down her spine. So this is what Steve has been feeling all along.

They were headed for the exit when Principal Livingston stepped into their path.

Steve looked at him directly. “Sir, I need you to take over. Nancy’s in the hospital—we have to go.”

Livingston nodded and waved them on. “Go. The team will be fine.”

“I’m driving,” Diana said.

Steve didn’t argue.

They drove in silence for a long time.

“You thought it was me,” Diana finally said, her voice quiet but sure. It wasn’t a question.

“Yes, I did.”