by Aria Ford
I shrugged. “It was an easy drive. Do you want to head back?”
“No, I want to stay and watch, see how they do.”
Brian looked at her. “Are you sure?”
“My team already thinks I let them down. I want to be there to support them. You guys don’t have to stay. I can ride back on the bus.”
“No,” I said, more forcefully than I had intended. There was no way I was leaving her with these people. They couldn’t be trusted.
Brian agreed with me. “We’ll stay. If you want to go, we’ll go, but there is no way we are leaving you here. Someone drugged you. It could be anyone.”
“Thanks, guys. I appreciate the support. I can’t imagine someone did this to me on purpose. I don’t have any enemies that I know of. I can’t imagine Adam drugging me. What does he have to gain? We have been friends. It wasn’t an ugly breakup,” she explained.
The thought of Adam and her together pissed me off too. I didn’t want her talking to the guy ever again. I planned on telling her that as soon as we were alone. I’m not the jealous type, but I don’t share. Lindsey was mine. I would deal with what that statement meant to me later. Right now I was going to make sure no one fucked with her again.
Chapter 14
Lindsey
I took a deep breath, forcing myself to calm down. I know the coach was only doing his job, covering his own ass as well as protecting the team. Having a druggie on the team didn’t do anyone any good. I understood it, even if I hated it.
“Coach,” I started, doing my best to keep my voice even. “I swear to you, I didn’t willingly do drugs. I’ve explained to you what happened. I never smoked weed. I didn’t smell it in the house at all. I drank a little warm beer and that’s it.”
He shook his head. “Lindsey, I would like to believe you, but the evidence says otherwise. You failed a drug test,” he reiterated. “That test doesn’t lie. You had pot in your system.”
“I know what the test showed, but I didn’t do it!”
“It clearly states in our athlete code of conduct that any failed drug tests are grounds for dismissal from the team. I can’t let you set a bad example for the current members and those looking to make the team next year. My hands are tied here, and you did that,” he said, pointing a finger at me.
I shook my head. “No, I didn’t. I’m telling you, I would never do that. I did not do drugs of any kind. Period,” I said vehemently. Now he was pissing me off. I was trying to control my anger, but I did not appreciate being called a druggie and a liar. “Coach, I have been training for the Olympics for more than ten years. Do you really think I would risk it all for a hit of weed?”
“I don’t know what you would do. You kids these days think pot is cool, and it’s okay to use it because it’s legal. Rules are rules,” he said, slamming a hand on top of the file folder with my name on it.
There was a knock on the door, his assistant popped her head in. “What?” he grumbled. “I’m in the middle of something.”
“There are a couple of people here who say they need to talk to you about this particular case,” she said.
Tanner pushed open the door, strolling in without waiting to be invited. Brittany was right behind him.
“You need to listen to her,” Tanner said, sitting in the chair next to me. Brittany remained standing, her hand on my shoulder.
“I’ve told him, many times, but he isn’t listening,” I said with frustration.
“Did you tell him those USC people drugged you?” Brittany asked.
I nodded. “I did. I told him I was served beer and a brownie and blacked out shortly afterward. He doesn’t believe me.”
Tanner leaned forward. “I suggest you listen to her, coach. You know she’s the only one on your team who takes swimming seriously. You lost on Saturday because you didn’t have her. Do you really want your team, your career, and the reputation of the school to suffer because you refused to look at all the facts?”
The coach looked uneasy. Brittany stepped forward, placed both hands on his desk and leaned down. “I was there, coach. We all were. We were all drinking. She,” she looked at me, pointed, and then stared down the coach, “wasn’t drinking. You need to question the USC team. They set us up. They took out our best swimmer on purpose.”
Tanner was glaring at the man. I had never realized how intimidating Tanner could be. He was a big guy and solid as a rock. He had that surfer look, but he was not one of those easygoing, laid back kind of guys.
“Sir,” I started, seeing a small crack in his resolve with Brittany’s and Tanner’s testimonies. “I promise you, I care far too much about my training to ever do anything like that. I have only been drunk twice since I turned twenty-one. I don’t drink, except for on rare occasions. I never do drugs. I can’t afford to feel like crap. I train six days a week.”
Tanner and Brittany were both nodding their heads, agreeing with my every word.
The coach sighed, looked down at his desk, and shook his head before looking up at me. “This is one hell of a mess.”
I nodded. “Yes, it is, but you have to know I would never risk getting kicked off the team here and throwing away my chance to make the Olympic team.”
“I do know that, but the facts are there. Maybe you didn’t do the drugs, but you put yourself in a position to be drugged,” he said, as if it was my fault.
Brittany had stepped away from the desk, but his words practically made her head spin around like something out of the Exorcist movie.
“No! Don’t you dare blame the victim. What kind of backassward bullshit is that?” she screeched.
Tanner was up and out of his seat in the same moment, barreling down on the coach, who was clearly very surprised by their responses.
I stood, grabbed Tanner’s shoulder with one hand and Brittany’s with the other. “Relax, guys. This isn’t solving anything.”
Coach’s face turned red, and I could see he was getting flustered. “Come on. We’re done here. We’ve said what we could,” I told them both, hoping to diffuse the situation before things got really ugly.
“I’ll think about it. Give me a couple days. I want to do some digging, and I’ll let you know,” he said. “But, in the meantime, you cannot practice with the team. I don’t want you anywhere near my facility. Do you hear me?” he said, pointing his finger at me.
I nodded. “Yes, I do and thank you for at least thinking about it. Please, coach. You know me. You know how hard I work. Keep that in mind when you are making your decision.”
He glared at me and my two self-proclaimed protectors.
I turned to leave. “Guys, let’s go.”
Tanner and Brittany practically stomped out of the office. Once outside, I looked at them. They were both furious. I could see it written on their faces, and I never felt more loved than in that moment. They had both gone to bat for me, and it made me feel better, even if everything I had been working toward had just gone up in flames.
“Thank you, both of you. I really appreciate you guys sticking up for me. It means a lot,” I told them.
They looked at each other and then at me. “Of course,” they said in unison.
I had to laugh despite my life unraveling. They were an unlikely team, but damn, they were dangerous when they worked together.
“Now what?” Tanner asked.
“I still train. I don’t want to miss any more time. If he lets me stay on, I have to be able to prove myself worthy of a second chance.”
“Good,” he said, nodding his head. “Don’t give up.”
“Brittany, you still need to practice with the team. Don’t let this mess you up,” I told her.
She shrugged. “I’m really not that vested in this like you are, hon. I don’t have to be on the team. I can still train and still try out for the Olympic team. That little maggot has no power over me,” she said in a haughty voice.
I laughed. “Yes, he does. Staying on the team will keep you competition ready. Don’t give that up
for me.”
“We’ll see how I’m feeling at the end of the day. I gotta get going. I have class in a few, and even though I would love to skip it, my dad is threatening to cut me off if I don’t maintain a B average. Like that’s going to be tough to do at this school,” she groaned.
I watched as she walked away, and Tanner stepped into view. “You okay?”
I nodded. “Yeah, I will be. We did what we could. It’s in his hands now.”
“Okay, I need to go, I have a client. I’ll see you tonight at the gym. I want to focus on the strength training,” he said.
“I’ll be there. Thanks again, Tanner.”
He turned and walked away. I wasn’t sure if I expected a kiss, but I wanted one. I knew he wouldn’t, not with so many witnesses strolling about. Hopefully tonight. Maybe he’d come back to my place.
Chapter 15
Tanner
Last night I had to go straight home after my training session with Lindsey. I knew she was expecting me to go to her house again, but Brian was waiting for me. The guy had been playing hooky again and had stayed in town. Normally, that would be great. I loved having him around, but with the things heating up between Lindsey and me, it was a huge inconvenience.
I had told her Brian had stayed, and at first, she was a little pissed he hadn’t showed up to the meeting on Monday. I explained he felt it would be overkill. Plus, he was her brother and had no real information to offer. I was her trainer and could vouch for her dedication. Brittany was at the party and could attest to what Lindsey did and didn’t do.
With Lindsey’s schedule opened up, we did an early training session, freeing up my evening. Brian and I were going to hang out before he headed back tomorrow—assuming he didn’t change his mind and stay another day.
“Hey, I brought tequila,” I said, walking through the door of my apartment.
“Awesome,” Brian said, getting up from the couch where he had been watching some basketball game.
“I got lemons and Corona as well.” I put the bag down and started unpacking. I didn’t have any clients tomorrow and was ready for a night of partying. Even if it was in my own apartment.
“Line them up!” Brian said, grabbing the lemons and a knife. He was slicing wedges while I grabbed shot glasses out of the cupboard.
“Four?” I asked.
“For now.” He grinned.
I laughed, four shots would definitely get us on the road to getting shitfaced. I lined four for him and four for me and began pouring the tequila.
He brought over the plate of lemons. I grabbed my bottle opener and opened us each a beer before putting the rest in the fridge.
“Ready?” I asked.
He grinned. “Go!”
We picked up the shot glasses and slammed them, one after the other. My eyes were burning by the fourth. I quickly grabbed a lemon wedge and sucked on it before taking a long drag from my beer.
“I kicked your ass,” I said, laughing as he started to drink his beer.
“That last one wanted to fight back,” he said, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand.
“Lightweight.” I was already feeling the effects of the stout alcohol.
We went back to the couch with our beers, chatting about nothing in particular.
“Ready for another round?” I asked after about thirty minutes.
“Hell, yeah. This time, I’m going to kick your ass.” He jumped up and grabbed two fresh beers out of the fridge while I refilled the shot glasses.
“Want me to give you a head start?” I joked.
“Whatever. Go!”
Once again, we slammed the shots of liquid, one after another. By the last one, I could feel the burn in my chest and low in my belly. I was going to be drunk at the end of this run, but I wasn’t a quitter. I had to take a breather, which gave Brian the advantage he needed.
“Shit,” I said, popping a lemon wedge in my mouth, sucking the juice out.
He laughed, slammed his nearly empty beer bottle on the counter and almost knocked over the empty shot glasses.
“I think we’re going to have some serious hangovers in the morning,” I mumbled.
I could feel the buzz fading and the drunkenness taking hold.
“Holy shit,” Brian said. “I haven’t slammed tequila in a while. I think you just got me drunk.”
I laughed. “No kidding. I—” I stopped talking, completely forgetting what I was going to say.
“You what?” he asked, leaning heavily against the kitchen counter.
I stood up straight. My legs felt a little unsteady, so I back up until my butt hit the wall. I leaned against it.
“I think we should eat something. Want pizza?” I asked.
He was nodding. “And a beer. You’re right there. Gimme one,” he mumbled.
My head was being held up by the wall, I turned to the left to judge the distance to the fridge. I could do it in about three steps. I gathered my energy and stepped forward, only it ended up getting a little wonky and I went straight.
“Shit,” I mumbled.
“The other way,” Brian instructed.
I rolled my eyes. “No shit.”
I got my bearings and made it to the fridge, grabbed a beer and somehow got my legs to work properly again and delivered it to him.
“When’s the pizza coming?” he asked.
“What?”
“You asked if I wanted pizza.”
“Oh yeah. I have to order it, dumbass. It doesn’t just appear.”
I looked around the apartment, trying to find my phone. I managed to make my way over and grabbed it. I pulled up the app, quickly ordered the pizza and set my phone down.
“What’s that?” Brian asked, looking at my phone.
I looked down, it was a message from Lindsey. Shit.
“Why’s Lindsey texting you?”
I grabbed my phone, not wanting him to open the message, just in case it was something that would give away our secret.
“I don’t know,” I said, not meeting his eyes.
Brian stood up straight, leveled his gaze at me. “What the fuck, man?”
He knew. I had a feeling he suspected something was up, but now he knew.
Fuck it.
“We’ve messed around a couple times,” I said, trying to play it off.
“You fucking did what?” he yelled, coming around the counter.
“Relax, man. It’s not like that. She’s different.”
“No shit, she’s different. She’s my little sister, Tanner!” His face was red.
I took a deep breath. “I know. I think I’m falling for her,” I said in a quiet voice, surprising myself with the words as well.
He was shaking his head, and before I could move out of the way, he swung. His fist landed against my jaw, causing me to stumble backward. I didn’t get the chance to swing back before he was headed out the door. I blinked, trying to clear my head.
“Don’t you dare drive, Brian!” I called after him, heading out after him. I spotted his keys sitting on the small table by the door. There was one crisis averted.
“Oh shit.” The realization hit me: he was headed to Lindsey’s. I raced down the stairs, waving my arms like an idiot trying to hail a taxi. I forgot my phone upstairs, but I couldn’t risk going back to get it to warn Lindsey.
I jumped in the cab and gave the driver Lindsey’s address. I prayed Brian’s taxi would get stopped at every light.
I threw a couple of twenties at the driver and jumped out of the cab before it came to a full stop. I could hear yelling, and knew I was too late. Brian and Lindsey were in a screaming match. I didn’t bother knocking and burst through the door.
She was standing in the center of her living room, hands on her hips and facing off against Brian. When she saw me, she spun around. “Why would you tell him?”
My head was swimming in tequila. I tried to say I hadn’t meant to, but it wasn’t coming out right. I sounded like a drunken fool. I was a drunken fool.
“Shut up!” Brian yelled. “I can’t believe you two.”
“Brian, settle down,” Lindsey said, putting a hand on his arm. “We’re all adults. I’m not a little girl.”
I nodded. “Yeah,” I said, unable to come up with a better argument.
Brian shrugged off Lindsey’s arms. “Don’t. I can’t believe you, Linds. You know him. You know how he is. Do you think your special? Like he is going to change for you?”
“Hey,” I said, trying to defend myself but coming up short. He was right. I had been a player since I hit puberty.
“I’m leaving. Don’t call me,” he said, looking at her. He walked by me, looking at me with disgust. He raised his arm, and I thought he was going to hit me again.
“Don’t you dare,” Lindsey warned.
Brian looked back at her. “I already did. He won’t forget it anytime soon.”
I scoffed. “Whatever, dude. I’ve been hit harder by a girl.”
Brian stomped out the door, slamming it hard as he left. My parting shot hadn’t exactly been my finest moment, but the tequila was making it difficult to think straight.
I turned to look at Lindsey.
She shook her head at me. “I can’t believe you did that. Go,” she said, pointing to the door. “I don’t want to look at you right now.”
“Lindsey,” I started, hoping to explain what happened.
Her hand went up. “No. Get out. And put some ice on your face, you idiot.”
My hand went to my jaw. I had almost forgotten about it. It was going to be sore in the morning. The tequila dulled the pain, but tomorrow would be a very different story.
“I’m sorry,” I said before turning and leaving.
Chapter 16
Lindsey
I was in a horrible mood, and I swear I couldn’t be responsible for my actions if the coach had decided to kick me off the team. Last night’s little episode with Tanner and Brian had nearly drove me to drink, but I couldn’t risk it. I had to be the mature one.
“You can go in now,” the secretary said to Brittany, who was impatiently tapping her foot.
“Let’s go,” she said, looking at me.
