“Rose!” Gabriel shouts, shoving his way through the applauding crowd. The camera flashes are blinding. He shields his eyes to see Roseline dash down the stadium stairs, leaving a bewildered Sadie and William behind. “Rose, stop!”
“Gabriel,” a shrill cry rings out as a pair of slender arms wrap tightly around his chest. He glances down, instantly annoyed.
“Not now, Claire.”
“Oh, come on. Let’s celebrate. You won the game,” she purrs, curling her finger around a lock of his hair at the nape of his neck. “I’ll make it worth your while.”
“Not gonna happen, Claire.” He unhooks her hands and shoves her aside, ignoring her indignant shrieks as he runs full out toward the bleachers.
“Over here, Gabe.” Steve waves him over to a flock of college scouts. “I have some people I’d like you to meet.”
“In a minute,” he calls over his shoulder as he slips through the crowd descending from the bleachers.
“Where is she?” he shouts up to Sadie from where she hangs over the bleacher. “I can’t see her anywhere.”
“She’s heading toward the entrance. Something really spooked her.”
“No kidding,” Gabriel grumbles as he flings himself through the crowd, shouting his apologies as he knocks people aside.
“Rose!” he screams, catching a glimpse of her fleeing figure.
She turns. The instant he catches her eye, he knows she is going to run again. “Please don’t do this! We need to talk,” he yells.
He can see Roseline’s tears gleaming under the stadium lights. Pain and confusion jumble on her face but determination quickly replaces it.
“I’m sorry,” she mouths as she slips into a yellow cab. The door slams, echoing loudly in his ears as she turns her back on him. He slides to a halt as the taxi disappears into a maze of cars.
Twenty-Three