HAYDEN

The call came out of nowhere.

I was halfway through lacing my skates for morning practice when my phone buzzed on the bench. I almost ignored it. I'm usually good at tuning out distractions before I hit the ice, but the name flashing across the screen made me freeze.

It was my mom.

I hadn’t heard from her since… well, since before camp. And now, weeks later, she was calling me? I hesitated, staring at the screen like it might explode. Jason, who was sitting two lockers down, ...