Waiting in the green room was making her too restless. She kept seeing Rico’s eyes watching her in the mirror. So she made her way to the restroom through the thankfully empty lobby, trying not to think about how a ball felt in her hands. The hard kick of yearning made her want to scream. What would she give right now to feel the worn leather of the inside of a glove, the tightly stretched surface of a ball? Not for long, but just for one instant to have that smell of leather and turf flood through her, what would that be like?

Exhaustion dragged at her arms and legs. All she wanted was to go home and sink into her bed, without facing Shobi, without thinking about Rico, or all the other shit he was dredging up.

She washed her hands, avoiding her own eyes in the mirror. Her phone buzzed . . . her car was here. Finally. She was about to let herself out of the restroom when she heard a retching sound. Someone was throwing up in one of the stalls.

She walked to the stall the sound had come from. “Are you okay?”

The response was another mighty heave.

“Do you need help?” Ashna asked again, and saw that the stall was unlocked.

“I think I’m dying.” It was Song. Of course it was. She reached back and opened the door, then returned to her crouch over the commode and heaved some more.

Ashna squatted down next to her and stroked her back. “Do you want me to call someone?”

Song shook her head. The poor girl looked miserable. “I should never drink red wine. It always makes me throw up. I’m such an idiot.”

Ashna didn’t bother to argue with that assessment. “You need some water.” She fished out a bottle from her bag and handed it to her. “Rinse your mouth out before swallowing. That’ll help settle your stomach.”

Song did as she was told while Ashna kept a hand on her back. That usually helped with the dizziness. The water seemed to settle Song’s stomach and she leaned her head against the stall.

Ashna pulled the flush lever, trying not to let the smell of alcohol-tinged puke bring back every bad childhood memory. “Think you can walk outside and sit down?”

Song nodded and Ashna helped her up.

For a moment Ashna thought Song would sink back down, but she leaned on Ashna and found her balance.

Ashna gave her a moment before she led her out. Just as she turned the corner out of the restroom looking over her shoulder to make sure Song was all right, she ran right smack into the rock-solid chest of Frederico Silva.