Anton's POV
Saturday morning felt nothing like what I had imagined it would be.
After last night's victory under the stadium lights, I should have been on top of the world. Our team had dominated in a way that would have the entire town buzzing for weeks. The energy from the crowd was infectious, the atmosphere electric.
Following the game, Coach had introduced me to the college recruiter I had been hoping to impress all season long.
The man said I showed real promise, that my performance had impressed him.
It was everything I had been working toward since the season started.
This morning should have found me celebrating that triumph.
Instead, I found myself perched on the living room couch, hands clasped between my knees, fixated on the closed door down the hallway that concealed Ximena's room. My gut churned like I had eaten something rotten.
She had not emerged even once. Not for food. Not for anything. Complete silence.
Last night had gone terribly wrong somehow.
