Thread of Hope

THIRTY

“Excuse me?” I said, wondering if she was using some sort of teenager lingo I wasn’t familiar with.

Matt turned back around. “Told you it was stupid.”

Meg was the one to frown now. “I know it’s stupid, Matt. But I just thought I should tell him.”

“People say she’s a hooker?” I asked. “A prostitute?”

“Not people,” Matt said, a disgusted smirk on his face. “Dumbass chicks at school. Fucking useless.”

“I’m not saying I believe it,” Meg said, defensive now. “I’m just saying people have been saying it about her for a long time now.”

“She ever say anything to you about it?” I asked.

“No. Not once. I’ve never believed it,” she said, her cheeks flushing slightly with embarrassment. “I just…I’m worried about her. She’s my best friend. I thought you should know.”

The thought of an eighteen-year-old hooker wasn’t that far out of the realm. But one that was a star athlete and came from a wealthy family pushed pretty close to the limits of believability. I remembered high school. If rumors weren’t flying, it meant the day hadn’t started yet.

“It’s okay,” I said, not wanting Meg to feel stupid for having told me. “You were right to say something.”

She sat up a little straighter and tried to smile. Her concern for Meredith seemed genuine.

“Come on,” Matt said, tapping Meg on the shoulder. “We need to get back.”

Meg stood and slid her hand into Matt’s before looking at me. “You coming to practice today?”

I nodded. “Yeah. Is Meredith?”

“I saw her this morning,” she said. “Told me she’d be there, that she was ready to go.”

I nodded. I’d be ready to go, as well.