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, noticed.
“You gonna get that?” he asked, leaning back with that lazy grin. “Or do you need me to tell your mom you’re too cool to talk?”
I shot him a glare but answered anyway, pressing the phone to my ear. “Hey, Mom.”
“Hayden,” her voice was smooth and polite, like we were strangers. “I just realized I n
