Chapter 6

At 5:42 p.m., the arena scanner flashed green beneath two names.

NOAH REED & LENA HART.

Ten feet away, Marcus was telling a reporter I would apologize before check-in closed.

"Lena was upset during the technical run," he said, calm enough to make the lie sound reasonable. "But she understands what is at stake. She'll come back, apologize to Bianca, and stand with the team for the press."

The reporter typed quickly.

Behind Marcus, the door to my old dressing room stood open. My name was still taped to the glass.

A black team jacket waited across the chair inside.…