Chapter 32 Messy

*Asher*

I haven’t heard from Ophelia in days. I want to allow her time to cool off and talk to me when she’s ready. But here I am, struggling to get through every day while she’s gone.

Mark’s been trying to talk with me since that first day in the changing room, but nothing has come of it. I don’t want to deal with this without talking to Ophelia. Mark is my best friend, but he doesn’t get it. He’s never understood the pressure, even if he claims to.

My sleep has been essentially non-existent, making focusing on the game impossible. Coach continues to scream at my mistakes and attitude. I give him nothing back—no words, no thoughts, no insults.

“Slater, if you don’t figure out your bullshit by Sunday’s game, we’re going to have a real problem!” he barks in the locker room. The other players stay silent, too, but I watch them exchange worried glances.

I only nod to Coach, not wanting to dig myself into a deeper shit hole. But what does everyone expect from me? I’m a human being, a