the hotel is taken over by
smallish girls with ponytails
and glittery warm-up suits
the desk personnel
cringing at the peals of laughter
and level of noise in the lobby
as we check in

Carter, Presley and I drop our stuff at the room
and wait in the lobby
to head to our first practice session
Carter prattles on about college
Presley seems quiet
more nervous than I’ve seen her

then I see him
in the parking lot of the hotel
far from the jurisdiction
of the Bragg County Sheriff’s Office

I think at first I must be seeing
things
my mind playing tricks

but out that middle window
leaning against that blue car
is Ethan