by Mariah Dietz
“Yeah. Here.” I reach for my phone and scroll through my email. “I’ll send it to you now. Also, if either of you sees Anthony before I do, text me his location. I may or may not be plotting to throat punch him.”
“Deal,” Janet says.
“I’ll see you guys later.” I head outside, searching for the rays of sunshine on the sidewalk. It’s windy today, and I should have brought a sweater, but I’m still in denial that summer is coming to an end.
I consider blowing off volunteering today for the millionth time. Last week consisted of more cleanup and more of Bree. Our conversation was mostly about a topic I had limited information about, U.S. presidents, because she was writing a report on Franklin D Roosevelt, who she was inspired not because he was in office longer than any sitting president or because he created the New Deal, or any of the other random facts I was taught in school, but because he appointed Frances Perkins, the first woman to hold a cabinet position in a U.S. Presidential Administration. I enjoyed the conversation and even the differences that were becoming more noticeable at Shady Grove Park, however, facing the team after today’s article has me feeling like the biggest traitor and idiot in the history of idiots.
“Hey…” Olivia approaches with a look of apprehension that I feel in my soul. Beside her is Chloe Robinson, which couldn’t be any more uncomfortable considering she’s another football player’s girlfriend and I look like an enemy of the state thanks to Anthony.
“You saw it?” I ask.
Olivia winces as she nods. “What happened?”
I throw my hands over my face, blocking my vision. “I don’t know. You saw my article. My real article.”
“I read it three times yesterday,” she says.
I lean my head back, palms still pressed against my eyes as I suck in a deep breath. I right myself and drop my hands before facing Chloe. “I promise I didn’t write that article about the team. I would never…”
Chloe shakes her head. “It’s okay,” she says, but there’s a coolness and calculation in her eyes that defy her words.
“Honestly,” I continue. “I still have a copy of my article. It talked about the victory of the game. Some stats about Lincoln beating the record of yards run at Brighton, and some interview questions from Ian and Paxton and Coach Harris…” The words rush out too fast and jumbled for her to likely hear them all clearly.
Olivia glances from me to Chloe. I can tell how badly she wants to say something, likely more assurances to plead my case because that’s the kind of friend Olivia is, but she remains silent for a beat, allowing Chloe to digest all that I’ve said. “I read it, and so did Arlo. There was no mention of the website or the scandal.”
Chloe releases a short breath. “To be honest, the team doesn’t even seem that bothered by it,” she says. “I don’t think half of them are even following it. I asked Ty if this would be different since it’s accusing CJ of sleeping with a teacher, and he didn’t know.”
I nod. “I feel sick over it.”
Olivia shakes her head. “Anthony screwed you over.”
“I hoped this thing would just flounder and die, and now I’m right in the middle of it thanks to stupid Anthony.”
“I don’t like it,” Chloe says. “There’s something strange about it. Plus, it makes me paranoid. Especially after seeing that picture of Luis and Alexis.”
I cringe. “That was so off-limits. Do you guys think many people are looking at the site, though? I mean, Arlo went viral overnight. That video was everywhere, but I haven’t seen much chatter about this except for the first day when Hoyt was sharing his junk everywhere.”
Olivia shakes her head. “Same.”
Chloe scoffs and shakes her head. “I couldn’t believe he took so much pride in that picture.”
Olivia nods. “Arlo says Hoyt’s phone is still blowing up.”
“In my opinion, the team has two choices: ignore it or own it and let the rumors slide off their backs,” I say.
Olivia glances at her phone. “We need to get going. We have to be at the park in fifteen minutes.”
“I can’t go,” I tell her. “There’s no way I can show my face to the team after that article was published. I sounded like a teeny-bopper.”
“Yes, you can,” Olivia says. “I’ll be there with you. I’ll trade someone so we can be on the same committee and if anyone is paying attention, we’ll tell them what really happened.”
“Ian is going to be pissed,” I tell her. “I swore to him I wouldn’t be mentioning the stupid website.”
“I’m sure Arlo’s already told him that it wasn’t you. I know you’re uncomfortable, but there’s no way Anthony is going to ruin your article and your friendships.” Olivia stamps her hands to her hips. “No one cares about this website, and we’ll be sure to let everyone know you didn’t write the article.”
I brush my hands over my hair. “The article makes me sound like I’m in cahoots with the idiot making the website.”
Olivia shakes her head. “It’s going to be fine.”
I desperately want to believe her, but it feels like their reaction is going to be anything but fine.
“It will be better if you come,” Chloe says. “That way, we can address the article and get it over with. Otherwise, it leaves room for rumors and misinterpretations, and there are enough of those right now.”
Olivia nods. “She’s right.”
My shoulders slump with defeat. Both options are about as appealing as having a second set of wisdom teeth pulled sans anesthesia.
“By the way,” Olivia says, “Chloe, this is my best friend, Rose Cartwright, Rose, this is Chloe Robinson. We’re giving her a ride to the park because her sister, Vanessa, left early to pick up some bagels.”
I offer my hand. “It’s nice to meet you. Sorry this first impression is such a shitty one.”
Chloe grins. “You’re making a great first impression. If you didn’t care or thought this was funny, then I’d be worried.”
Olivia smiles. “Rose is the best. We’re just going to rip off the Band-Aid, and everything will be fine.”
“Famous last words,” I say.
Olivia links her arm with mine and directs us toward the parking lot. I had offered to drive Olivia to the park because Arlo’s Tahoe is having engine problems, and he had to borrow her car. Now, I wish I hadn’t because, with every mile that brings us closer to the park, my dread heightens.
“Chloe, Arlo was telling me that you’re studying to be an astrologist, is that right?” Olivia asks.
“Yeah, I’m kind of a space geek,” she says from the backseat of my car. “What about you both? What are you studying?”
“Well, I’m studying technomathematics, which is basically engineering mathematics, but I've decided to take some creative writing and English courses this year because I think I want to write children’s books and never graduate college.”
Chloe laughs. “That’s awesome. I also plan never to graduate, so I am fully in support of your decision.”
Olivia looks across at me, a wide smile spread across her face. I can tell she likes Chloe and is giddy over the fact. When we met Candace, Paxton’s girlfriend, over the summer, Olivia was terrified the other girlfriends would all be dramatic and snobby like her.
“What about you, Rose?” Chloe asks.
“Business management with my bachelor’s degree in economics.”
“Economics? You will have to meet my sister, Nessie. She’s a math whiz,” Chloe says.
“Rose is in the process of opening her own yoga studio,” Olivia tells her.
“Really?” Chloe leans back in her seat, her gaze on me. “You’ll have to give me details. I’ve never done yoga. Coordination and I aren’t exactly besties. What made you choose yoga?”
My thoughts shift from my butchered article to my past with her simple question. “My mom was a huge fan,” I tell her. “She always wanted to own her own studio but was always busy with a thousand things for my sister and me,
and so she kept putting it off.”
“Are you guys doing this together?”
I pull in a breath. Many things about my mom’s loss have become more routine—pragmatic, if you will. It doesn’t make her loss any easier, but applying logic and reasoning allows me to remember the best things about her and work to avoid how much I miss her, which makes answering questions mildly easier. “She, unfortunately, passed away a few years ago after a short battle with cancer.”
Olivia reaches across the middle console and rests her hand on mine, and gives me a gentle squeeze filled with compassion and strength.
“Rose…” Chloe says. “I’m so sorry.”
“Me too,” I tell her. “She was an amazing woman, and she was a yoga superstar, so this is kind of my way of honoring her.”
“That’s amazing,” Chloe says.
“Not to turn to gossip on you,” I say, ready to spin the conversation as it edges closer to that place where emotions take over, and it becomes impossible to think of anything else. “We need some details about you and Tyler.” I glance at her green eyes in my rear-view mirror. “Not to write about them, I swear.”
Chloe laughs. It’s a sweet and effortless sound. “That’s good because your readers would be bored to tears. There’s nothing juicy or exciting to share. We’ve known each other since freshman year. He’s really good friends with my best friend, Cooper, and so we’ve hung out off and on for a couple of years, and this past summer, we made a road trip across the country to return to Brighton, and things just kind of happened between us.”
“Friends to lovers are always my favorite stories,” Olivia says.
Chloe belts out a laugh. “Oh no. We were more enemies than friends.”
My curiosity is piqued as I take another fleeting glance at her. “Enemies?”
“Not enemies, enemies,” she says. “I didn’t mastermind ways to torment him or anything like that, I just avoided him, and he avoided me. He would act like a tough asshole, and I would ignore him and avoid him even more.”
“What changed?” Olivia asks.
“Well, not to brag, but I’m pretty cool,” Chloe says as she blows on her fingernails and shines them on her shirt.
Olivia turns to me, a smile tugging on her lips.
“Oh my gosh, you guys, I’m totally kidding,” Chloe cries from the backseat.
Olivia and I break into laughter that settles slowly, my cheeks remaining stretched. I like her, too.
“We had something between us for a few years that we both fought. He was this rich, mouthy, tough guy, and I loved studying space and science and exploring. We seemed too different, but the road trip changed that. Being with him every day, and seeing some amazing places, and just sitting in the car and talking—it forced us to acknowledge our feelings for each other, and we realized they were much bigger and more important than our egos.”
“Maybe that’s what we need to do,” Olivia says. “Lock you and Ian up in a car for a few weeks.”
“Ian?” Chloe asks.
“She’s joking,” I say automatically, glaring at Rose.
Olivia glares back at me. “He and Rose had a thing, but Rose has rules about not being in a relationship.”
“Rules?” Chloe musses. “I can understand that, but this summer, I learned rules are kind of like vague guidelines. An outline for what society dictates is important, with a set of unrealistic expectations for what they say things should be like—should look like. I was never very good at coloring inside the lines, so we decided to toss out the rules and forget about them, and now, I make my own rules. Messy rules and rules that are meant to be stretched and broken.”
“I like that,” Chloe says, her eyes pinned on me. “Time to forget the rules.”
9
Ian
“Three days, three pictures,” Paxton says where he, Banks, Hoyt, Arlo, and I are huddled, waiting for the rest of the team to arrive before we commence park cleanup day three.
“You wouldn’t believe how many girls have been calling me,” Hoyt says. “Seriously. I’ve never gotten so many titty pics. You’ve got to see this one…” He reaches for his phone.
“We don’t want to see it,” I tell him.
Pax shakes his head. “Watch your asses and keep your noses clean,” he warns before his attention turns to Arlo and then me. “I need a word.”
Arlo nods. “It’s a good thing we’re volunteering outside. I bet Hoyt won’t be able to enter a room. His head is getting bigger by the day.”
Hoyt cups himself. “Because I’ve been getting so much action.”
Banks gives him a condescending look before he peels away, heading toward Cooper Sutton, a fellow teammate and Tyler’s closest friend on the team who arrived with his girlfriend, Vanessa Robinson, and a couple of bags of bagels. I follow Paxton and Arlo, who has a residual laugh still on his features.
“Are we worried?” Paxton asks as we make a small huddle.
Arlo shakes his head. “Nope.”
Pax looks at me, and I shrug. “I wouldn’t even fucking know about it if Hoyt and Luis hadn’t messaged me. I hate social media.”
Pax pulls in a leveled breath. “Did you see The Daily Dose of Brighton? Rose wrote an article, telling people to follow the website.”
Arlo’s smile is wiped clean, replaced by shock and a layer of defensiveness I only see on the field. “That wasn’t her article.”
“Her name was on it. I saw her goddamned article along with the rest of Brighton,” Pax says.
Arlo shakes his head. “That wasn’t her article, trust me. I had to go over formations and positions with her twenty thousand times last night after getting in because she kept messing up the details and wanted to get it correct.”
Paxton’s eyes pinch with doubt.
“Dude, do you really think I’d cover for her if I thought she was trying to stab us in the back?” Arlo asks.
Pax shrugs. “No offense, but I think you’d do almost anything for Olivia.”
Arlo raises his eyebrows, his shock evident. “I would. But I’d do anything for you, too. You guys are my family, and there’s no way I’d knowingly allow someone to post this shit and keep it from you. That joke of an article wasn’t Rose’s. I know this because few things piss Rose off more than slut-shaming and because Olivia texted, saying Rose is freaking the fuck out. She thinks everyone’s going to be pissed off because of the damn article.”
I watch their conversation volley back and forth, recognizing Paxton’s resolve before he wipes his brow. “It’s not a big deal. I mean, all that’s happening is we’re getting more attention, and these assholes are eating it up,” he says, gesturing to Hoyt. “Fucker was basically getting a hand job outside of the science building.”
“What the fuck were you doing by the science buildings?” Arlo asks.
Paxton flips him off. “My point is, it’s not a big deal, but if someone we know is doing this, we don’t want to turn a blind eye. We need to keep our guards up this year and learn from my dad’s mistakes.”
Paxton’s father was caught having an affair last year, and as part of the administration staff at Brighton, it made quite the splash after being emailed to the entire student body. Thank fuck, whoever is doing this hasn’t had the gumption to try that ... yet.
Arlo shrugs. “I hear what you’re saying, but this is nothing. The guys are eating it up. The campus and fans are eating it up.” Another dismissive shrug. “I say we set our concerns on San Francisco and beating the shit out of them this weekend.” Arlo reaches for his phone, checking through a series of messages. “Liv wants to know if anyone’s upset,” he reads as he starts entering a reply. “I’m telling you guys, there’s absolutely no chance this was Rose.”
My feelings on the situation are muted because I know there are more damning pictures that could be revealed, and admitting this to Paxton makes me feel like more of an accessory than a friend.
Pax clamps his hand around my bicep as Arlo ventures down toward the par
king lot. “You all right?”
“Yeah. I just wish I understood why this was happening.”
He shakes his head. “It’s probably a joke. Right now, there’s no harm, no foul. I’m probably overreacting. I just know how things went down after my dad. It took weeks for that to blow over. But it seems like all this site is doing is getting the guys laid, and they don’t seem to be hating that.”
Denial and doubt keep me from laughing along with him.
“How are things going with your parents being back?” he asks.
I run a hand over that same pinched spot in my muscle behind my shoulder that’s been nagging at me for weeks. “My dad’s running for governor next year, so I have a feeling they’ll be pretty busy.”
“Governor? Shit. Is that good or bad?”
Something caught between a laugh and a scoff leaves my lips. “I don’t know.”
Paxton pats my shoulder, laughing.
“What about you? How are things going? I didn’t see Candace at the party on Saturday.”
His demeanor darkens as he rolls his shoulders. “That’s because she hates me.”
“Past or present tense?”
He shakes his head. “With her, who knows. I’m telling you, I’m about to follow in your vow of celibacy for the year. Forget girls, forget drama, forget expectations for time I don’t have and dates I can’t afford.”
Candace and Paxton have been dating since we became friends. She’s hot, but it took about five minutes to realize she was a special brand of crazy that has led me to avoid him anytime they’re together. She craves drama, and when there isn’t enough of it, she creates her own.
“Meanwhile, Hoyt said he’s hooked up with ten women this week.”
I shake my head. “Let’s hope he’s double wrapping it, so there aren’t any surprises in nine months.”
Pax laughs as he nods. “That rumor probably wouldn’t bring him the attention he’s swimming in.” His laughter fades as CJ approaches us, annoyance lowering his brow.
“Hey,” Pax asks.
CJ releases a long breath. “What’s up, Captain?” His southern accent is a drawl, slower than Olivia’s.
