Alex saw Jamie shooting hoops as he pulled to a stop
outside the shelter. Jamie’s gaze followed him past the courtyard;
he glanced up and saw a faint frown on Jamie’s face that wrinkled
his brow and darkened his eyes. Slowly he dribbled the basketball,
ignoring the other kids playing with him as he watched Alex,
waiting. Please, Alex prayed silently, don’t make this
any harder than it already is.
But Jamie still wasn’t talking to him, and he just watched
sullenly as Alex hurried up the steps and into the shelter.
Please, he thought again, wondering what it was he wanted.
This morning he thought he knew, and he should’ve taken the easy
way out, told Nate over the phone that he wanted to quit the
program and he would’ve never had to see Jamie again. But now here
he was, and seei
