As promised, I agree to play racquetball again with Marvin the next time we're both free.

"I'm surprised you actually still wanted to play," I say to him. "You know, considering the last time I beat you in a game."

He laughs. "Well, I'm not letting you win this time. Just wait."

"Nice try. I'm going to dominate you." We're still waiting to leave. I'm not too worried about the game, anyway. I already know racquetball— any sport, really— is one of my strengths. Maybe I'll humor Marvin this time, though. After all, we all need to make sacrifices.

"Are you ready?" he asks, and I nod as I lift myself off of the couch. Marvin watched me. "Whizzer, you sure you up for this game?"

I glance at him. "Of course I am. Hey, I might not seem totally into it now, but once we get on that court I'm going to—"

"Dominate me. You mentioned it." He smirks. "You know, I think you're too full of yourself."

"Maybe this time you can humble me," I reply as we're leaving.

When we're out at the car, Marvin asks if I've been talking to Trina lately. I frown at the question.

"Why would I? She and I aren't really close. I only know her through you and Jason."

"Yeah, but..." He shrugs. "I don't know. I would have thought you guys had talked more."

"Hey, I've tried to talk to her. It's obvious she doesn't want anything to do with me."

"Whizzer, come on. I'm sure she does," he says, getting into the car.

I sigh. I don't feel much like talking about his ex-wife right now. "It's fine. Let's just go get our game on, okay?"

"Sure thing." Marvin reaches to turn up the radio. I lean against the car window, my head pounding. It's been pretty persistent the last few days. Maybe I haven't been eating enough. I should try to stay on top of that, I note.

I feel a little better when we get to the court. Even though I'm probably going to let Marvin win this one, it'll be fun to get back into the competitive spirit.

"It bounced in!" I insist as Marvin goes back to his side of the court. "It hit the line. Come on, you know it did."

"Just start again," is all he says.

I glare at him. "Who's telling who how to play here?"

He tilts his head back and groans. "Jesus, Whizzer, let me live."

I hit the ball in his direction and he whacks it back lightning fast. It's harder to keep up with him. Something's not right about this.

"Shit," I mutter as the ball sails past me.

"My game," calls Marvin. I sigh and rub the back of my neck, which is starting to ache. As the games progress, I find myself feeling more tired, but I'm not about to give up this win. It's so close, I can—

Damn it.

"Good serve, Marvin," I say breathlessly. Okay. So it was one good hit. And I'm not too worried about who wins or loses anyway. We go again, and again, it's his game.

He comes over and picks up the ball from where it's landed effortlessly on my side of the court. "Don't be bitter," he teases.

"It's no big deal," I tell him, leaning against the wall to try and catch my breath. "The game is yours."

He glances over at me. "What, are you a quitter?"

"I just can't go on anymore." I give a tired laugh. Marvin bounces the ball on his racket and smiles.

"At least try to be a decent loser," he says.

I step away from the wall. "Whatever. I'm ready to go, okay?" I drop my racket and when I reach to pick it back up, I feel my legs give out and I fall onto the floor.

Marvin looks over, and for the first time, I can see concern on his face, like he knows something's wrong. He bends down next to me.

"I'm sorry," I whisper. "I just have to—"

"No, don't—" He grabs my shoulders and looks in my face, frowning. "Whizzer, I love you. Everything's going to be all right."

"I love you, too." It very well may be the first time I've ever said those words out loud, to him, or to anyone I've been with.

"Let's go see Charlotte, okay?" he says as he's helping me back up. "Maybe she'll tell us what's going on."

Visiting Charlotte is nerve-wracking. She asks me a lot of questions, and frowns at each of the answers. Marvin is standing off to the side, not saying a word. I feel terrible for making him go through all of this, for dragging him along with me. I feel terrible about all of it.

Charlotte is growing more and more worried, by the looks of it, which is not calming my nerves at all. Finally, she goes off to the side of the room and whispers something to Marvin. He nods disconcertedly. Then she turns back to me. "Whizzer. Can you come into the other room for a minute?"

So I do.