Break Point by Kate Jaimet Read Free Book Online Page B

and his dad. It was an all-you-can-eat spaghetti place, and Mrs. Sharma kept piling my plate with noodles, insisting that I needed to rebuild my strength. I didn’t mind. As long I was stuffing my face, I didn’t have to make conversation with Rex and his obnoxious dad. It burned me, though, to listen to Rex and Maddy swapping thoughts on the upcoming semifinals, which I wouldn’t be playing in.
    After dinner, Mrs. Sharma drove me to the bus station. She and Maddy were staying to watch the rest of the tournament, but I didn’t have the heart to sit in the bleachers and pretend to cheer for Rex. Maddy gave me a hug before I boarded the bus. I tried to keep the feeling of it in my mind during the long, dreary ride home.
    Making the quarterfinals was a good result, I reminded myself. Best of all, it guaranteed me a spot at the nationals in August. The only problem was, the nationals were in Vancouver, which meant airfare, a hotel room and eating out. I figured it was going to cost close to two thousand bucks, and where was I going to get that kind of money? Between new equipment and extra lessons, I hadn’t managed to save much from my summer job. I couldn’t ask Mom for it. She had enough financial problems. Plus, if she had an extra two thousand bucks, she would probably spend it to save the Tree.
    The bus lurched down the dark highway. It smelled of diesel fumes and cheap perfumed soap from the tiny onboard bathroom. My legs were twice as long as the space between the rows of seats and cramped up no matter how I bent and twisted them. I drifted in and out of an uncomfortable doze. Visions of the Archibald Cross Memorial Cup played in my mind. I had visions of beating Rex, hoisting the cup and discovering a million-dollar check hidden inside it. I had visions of arriving at the nationals in style, with first-class airfare, a luxury hotel room and brand-new equipment. I dreamed that by winning that cup, all my problems would be solved.
    The Thursday evening two weeks after the provincials and one week before the Archibald Cross Memorial Tournament, I took some time off training to set up for the black-tie fundraiser. The tickets to the concert were selling like crazy, and Maddy’s mom felt confident they’d have enough money to make the $100,000 payment that was due in August.
    Maddy and her mom had rounded up a bunch of girls to decorate the place. They were busy arranging bouquets of flowers on the tables in the common room, stringing patio lanterns up on the verandah and planting tiki torches around the pool. Rex’s dad had recruited Rex and me to set up the stage and the rented sound equipment on the lawn near the pool deck.
    â€œA little more to the left with that speaker, boys!” Mr. Hunter shouted, his cuff links glinting. “All right, set her down!”
    We lowered the speaker, heavy as a lead safe, onto a wooden platform next to the stage.
    â€œOne more to go. You boys need a break?” Mr. Hunter asked.
    â€œNaw, I’m good,” said Rex. He flashed a smile at the girls tying garlands of flowers to the deck chairs around the pool. Ever since he had won the provincials, Rex had attained the status of Greek god among the girls at the club. The only one who didn’t throw herself at him was Maddy.
    â€œHow about you, Connor?” asked Mr. Hunter.
    â€œLet’s get it done,” I said. I hated taking orders from Mr. Hunter, but I bit my tongue and reminded myself I wasn’t doing it for him. I was doing it for Maddy, and for the club.
    As night fell, we continued working under the beam of the floodlights. Finally the stage was assembled, and all the sound and light checks came up positive. The girls finished their decorating, and we stood back together to admire our work.
    â€œThis is wonderful,” said Mrs. Sharma. She put one arm around Maddy and the other around me. I felt awkward because I was drenched in sweat and probably had B.O. But I