I SLAMMED MY HAND ON the steering wheel in the middle of rush hour traffic as self-loathing caused waves of nausea to turn my stomach and my conscience beat into me for what I’d done to Scarlet. She’d tossed and turned most of the night. I’d kept her close and tried to soothe her, but had stopped short of making love. It was for the same reason I stopped the sex lessons early—I didn’t want her to ever think I was using her. I cared for her, deeply.
She said she loved me, but did I deserve that love?
Love was supposed to make you better, not cause pain. Love was costing Scarlet her family, friends, and from what her mother said, possibly her job. That could not happen. I’d do whatever it took to make things right for her.
Scarlet wanted space to find her strength and independence, and I wished she could see what I already saw in her. She was strong. She could have fallen apart over her parents and Priscilla, but she hadn’t. She’d owned what had happened and stood up for herself, for us. She’d even gotten in that fucking car and headed right to her job to face whatever came her way. She was more of her own person than she knew. I only hoped she’d come back to me. Even if she didn’t, she wasn’t on her own that day; I was going to do right by her and inform my team about our relationship.
I weaved through traffic, driving as fast as I could to the administrative offices at Yankee Stadium. After parking, I rushed up to the office and found my lawyer, Mark Rivers, waiting there for me.
He adjusted his collar as I approached. “Is the A/C on in here?” he said. “I would’ve worn something else.” That was the extent of his small talk. He wore a suit like me and I wasn’t sweating. I could have pointed out that it was cold enough that their administrative assistant had a sweater on, but I didn’t bother.
Gazing through the clear glass, I could see Coach Frost and the corporate representative. From the expression on Frost’s face, he didn’t like whatever was being said.
I sighed. “I have some changes I’d like to make.”
Mark frowned. “What changes?” He hated having new shit sprung on him, but I was sure about this.
“Tell them it’s not Scarlet’s fault, and I take full responsibility for the relationship. Tell them I’m donating a third of my year’s salary to the joint program. I’ll also accept whatever other punishment they want to give me.”
“Fuck that,” Mark gritted out. “I’ve got a good case here. She wasn’t even a part of the program. It just now happened, and you want to pursue a relationship with her. You decided to tell them today out of transparency.”
I shook my head. “Nope. I did this and I’m going to own it.”
“Dammit, Tyler,” he hissed through his teeth, but the door opened and we were escorted in. We were told to sit at the table then were introduced to Mr. Briggs and Mr. Lowe, their lawyer and representative.
“We decided to hold an earlier meeting with Coach Frost,” Mr. Briggs started. “We understand from him that he has been given the news from the New York Ballet company that you have violated their terms of our joint program by engaging in a relationship with one of the clients.”
My mouth went dry as the nausea I’d had earlier came back and twisted my stomach. Scarlet must’ve walked in to find someone had told the company before she had the chance to do it herself. I ached for her. “Yes. I—”
“You’ve left out a few facts,” Mark said, interrupting me with a clipped tone. “Mr. Wilson had a relationship with one of the dancers prior to the contract agreement. The dancer is a close friend of his sister, who is also in the program and part of the company. This was common knowledge before he agreed to participate. The dancer in question was an aide in the class and not part of the program. When the relationship changed, he asked for this meeting today in order to inform Coach Frost, but I see he chose to present the situation on his own.”
Coach Frost scoffed. “Tyler established this relationship and was well aware of the consequences. He once again acted without regard for his fellow team members, who have put in hours of training. Advertising and funding were jointly organized for his participation, and he may very well have damaged the future of the show and our relationship with our client and foundation.”
“Coach Frost is right,” I said.
Coach Frost let out a cough and Mark cursed under his breath.
“Though I didn’t set out to upset the club. My relationship with Ms. Ricci is serious and important to me,” I continued. “All that happened between us is my fault. I would like for that to be conveyed to the New York Ballet.”
“They will handle their matters internally,” Mr. Briggs said. “Anything to add before we discuss our decision?”
Mark told them about the donation and added in a formal apology, along with my willingness to do whatever publicity was needed to help raise additional funds for all involved.
I tapped Mark’s elbow in approval and he gave me a quick nod.
“This scandal does not need a face to it, and certainly not his,” Coach Frost argued. “Once again, you’ve let down your team and club. They requested and permitted five athletes to participate and Tyler agreed and signed the conditions, but chose to go back on the agreement. His inability to work with our team is an ongoing problem, and New York F.C. would function better without him.”
I bit my cheek. The asshole was trying to get me fired.
Mark scoffed. “You’d get rid of one of your best players for sleeping with an assistant who wasn’t even in the program he volunteered for? Tyler hasn’t missed a game or training, and you have no evidence of impropriety at the training. He came to you to discuss it and instead you go after his job?” The absurdity didn’t fall on deaf ears.
“Agreed.” Mr. Briggs turned a laser gaze over to Coach Frost. “As you were told, we discussed this matter with the owner and the management team. Both have expressed a desire to keep Tyler on the team. They asked that we resolve this swiftly and in the manner New York Ballet wishes to proceed. No part of this situation warrants more than what was already decided in the policy. This isn’t public knowledge, nor will it ruin the event. Mr. Wilson is not headlining, and the other party isn’t even part of the performance.”
Coach Frost turned a deep shade of red, but didn’t add anything.
Mr. Briggs turned to me. “Therefore, Mr. Wilson will be removed from the ballet program. No press announcement will be made of the change. If anything should appear in the press, he is to refer to our office. As for involvement in the game, that is at Coach Frost’s discretion. Coach Frost?”
“I’m extending his suspension to seven games,” he said coolly.
“We agreed on six,” Mr. Briggs corrected him. “Three additional games added on to your current suspension.”
I dropped my head in my hands. Six games would ruin my record and the season, and it would certainly cost us the championship. It would also leave me vulnerable when the new contract came around next year, not to mention leaving me at the bottom of the list to ever represent the club.
“That’s ridiculous,” Mark said under his breath, and although I agreed, it was Coach Frost’s choice.
I tapped his shoulder and shook my head to let it stand. I wasn’t going to be the difficult person Frost tried to make me out to be.
I cut my gaze to my coach. He’d better hope Javier led them to championship. “I’m sorry and accept your decision.”
“Then it is decided. You are not to discuss your suspension with the public or do anything as a representative of the club,” Mr. Briggs warned.
I signed their papers and when we were done, I walked out with Mark.
“You should have let me handle it,” Mark grumbled. “That was not a favorable meeting.”
“A word,” Coach Frost said to me.
I followed him into a corner of the hallway. “I’m sorry—”
“Don’t bother. You’re a broken record and I’m not playing it anymore. Management slapped your wrists. Must be good to be rich. I know your father probably call
ed Chip.” He spoke with a clenched jaw.
I furrowed my brows. I never asked my dad for help with my career. “My father doesn’t know about my life or try to be involved in any way.”
He let out a derisive snort. “His influence was the only thing I could think of as to why they want to keep you.”
I didn’t bother to mention my successful record with the club; I just tried to keep my cool while he continued to tear into me.
“You’ve fucked up everything for the club and the team. I don’t know how many lives you have, but you’ll run out soon enough, and I still have some power. Let me spell it out for you so you know exactly how your life on the team will be when you return: you’ll be on the bench for the remainder of the season. The team will despise you for costing them the championship. You can kiss any chance of us using you for any promotion with this club goodbye, if they even keep you next year. I’d recommend you look around for another club, because I’m done with you. Hope that piece of ass was worth it.”
“I may have an uphill climb with the club,” I said tersely, “but never, ever talk about her like that in front of me again.”
“Come on, Tyler,” Mark said, putting his hand on my arm, and we walked off together. “You’re in enough trouble. Work hard, lie low. No more shit. Got it?”
He was right. I wanted to speak with Scarlet and find out how things had gone for her. I went to my car and called her, but got no answer. Next I checked my phone for messages; she hadn’t left one, but Zoey had.
“Do you have any idea what you did to Scarlet? She’s suspended, and one of her performances has been given to another dancer. Her mother is so distraught, she might have had a heart attack, and even that hasn’t stopped people from dragging her name through the mud. She’s considered an embarrassment. Hell, I’m being treated like scum too. Who knows? I might be pulled from the joint program for being associated with you. Do you have any idea how competitive it is to get anywhere here? I…I can’t talk anymore.”
The last part of her message sounded like she was crying, something she rarely ever did.
I wiped my hand down my face. I was ashamed of all the things Zoey mentioned. I knew what could happen, but I wouldn’t stay away from Scarlet. Zoey was wrong about my feelings for her friend. Something special had happened between us, and Scarlet was special and important to me. I would make things right, somehow.
I started with a call to Mark to see what he could find legally that would help protect Scarlet and Zoey from any further repercussions. Then I tried to call Scarlet to find out if her mother was in the hospital, but I only got voicemail. I tried phoning Michel and when he answered, it was the same bad news.
“Vince said she had heart palpitations. She’s at North Presbyterian. Scarlet’s there with her.” The news plummeted into my chest as if someone had hit me.
“I’m on my way,” I said, typing the information into my GPS.
“I don’t think you should go,” he said in a gentle tone.
I sighed. I was sure as shit not welcome. “You said Scarlet’s there?”
“Yes, but—”
“I’m on my way,” I said.
Michel sighed, but he gave me the floor she was on anyway. I drove off, hoping and praying her mother would be okay, worried Scarlet might blame herself for the fight they’d had earlier in the day.
I parked and was on my way to the emergency entrance when I saw Scarlet on the sidewalk with her brothers, Antony and Phillip.
“Go home, Scarlet,” Phillip was telling her.
“No.” She wiped her cheek. “I want to see Ma.”
“She doesn’t want to see you,” Antony said, and then his eyes landed on me and he launched forward then pushed me.
I took a couple of steps back, but didn’t raise my hands to defend myself. “I’m not fighting with you.”
“Well, I’m fucking fighting with you,” he yelled. “You’re fucking using my little sister!”
“Stop, Antony,” Scarlet yelled, yanking him away. “And I’m not your little sister anymore.”
Phillip stepped forward, grabbed his arm, and twisted it back. “Don’t. He’s not worth getting arrested over.” His blue eyes were ice when they met mine. “Get the fuck out of here, Wilson, and stay away from our sister.”
“He’s not staying away from me,” Scarlet said.
I looked him square in the eye. “I’m not.”
Antony roughly jerked away from Phillip with his arm wide, sending his elbow hard into my right eye. The hit caught me off guard and knocked me to my knees, but I got back up almost immediately.
“Tyler!” Scarlet cried out and tried to touch my face.
“It’s okay, sweetheart.” I took her hand in mine. My eye throbbed in pain, and I had no doubt it was swelling up.
“Fuck, I didn’t mean to do that,” Antony said, his eyes bulging. “I wanted to, but I wasn’t going to hit you.”
“Shit,” Phillip said.
We all saw the security guy running over to us. Phillip pulled out a badge from his suit jacket and showed him, but still, the security guy hesitated and looked at me.
“I can radio in for help, sir?”
“Nope.” I tried to assure him, though my eye had almost swollen shut. “Nothing but a family issue.”
“You’re not family,” Antony hissed.
Phillip put a forceful hand on his shoulder. “Shut up.”
“I’m calling it in,” the security guard said.
“It’s fine. I’m leaving,” I said, moving away, still holding on to Scarlet’s hand. “I’m not pressing charges. You’ll have to chase me down to get a report.”
He cursed and went back to his station.
Phillip’s eyes darted between me and Scarlet and he let out an exasperated sigh. “Ma doesn’t want to see you or Scarlet. Vince said they won’t need to keep her, but with her blood pressure, she could end up being hospitalized. She needs to stay away from stress, and you being involved with Tyler is too much for her right now. Go to Priscilla and Michel’s.”
“You’re mad at me,” I said to them both. “But don’t do this to her. She is still your sister.”
“She is,” Phillip acknowledged. “And we really love and care about her, but we’re not wrestling her away and letting our lives get fucked up by tangling with you. You got her suspended.” His eyes blazed at Scarlet. “He’s only using you for sex, and when he’s done, he’ll leave you, Princess.”
She shook her head. “You don’t know him like I do. He doesn’t treat me that way.”
I grabbed hold of her, but she shook me loose and stared after them as they walked away.
I got her into my car, but then decided to get a service to tow it back home and call a car for the two of us. We rode over to her place in silence. When we got there, she said, “Give me time.”
I lifted her chin and wiped over the tears that were staining her pretty face. “No, sweetheart, I’m not leaving you alone. You come home with me. You can stay for as long as you want.”
She shook her head and glanced out at the building. “That’s the easy path, and I already took that one. I need to get my shit together on my own,” she said, more to herself than to me, repeating what she had said the night before. “Or I’m going to be a little girl forever.” Her voice caught.
Pain cut into my chest at hearing she didn’t want to be with me right then, but it was no less than I deserved after what I’d done to her life.
“I have feelings for you too.” That was all I got out before my throat closed up tight.
“Do you?” she asked softly, averting her eyes. “I mean, you don’t have to say it just because I did. I know it’s soon. Yes, I had fantasies, and there was…some infatuation, and desire, but every time we’re together, the feeling grows. I feel it in my heart. It’s love…I do love you.”
I swallowed hard. Her questioning if I could feel the same way hurt me to my very core. It was the first time I’d ever come close to saying I love yo
u to a woman I’d been with. I’d avoided anything beyond lust before, and there hadn’t been anyone else I’d ever thought of beyond sex and friendship. Being with Scarlet made me realize just how lonely I’d been. She was someone I didn’t have to be anything with, nor did she have any expectations of me. The way we were together from the start, we just synced. I wanted us to get a chance to see where these feelings would take us and whatever was to come, I wasn’t letting her walk away without my assurance.
“I know I do.” I put as much conviction as I could into my voice. I wanted her to know it and feel it from me, but that wasn’t going to happen right then.
“I had feelings for you long before we spent time with each other,” she said. “My feelings deepen the more I get to spend time with you.”
I pulled her into my lap and she let me kiss her. I poured all I had into it and she kissed me back then hugged me.
“You go home and get something on that eye…I’m sorry for what Antony did.” She stroked her hand sweetly over the uninjured side of my face then kissed it tenderly. I could have been happy the rest of my life if she’d just kept doing it, but she stopped and sucked in air. “I should go.” There wasn’t a good enough reason to stop her. I’d messed up her life.
“I’m going to make this right,” I whispered, along with more promises, and she listened until she let go of me and I had to let her out of the car.
“I really do feel for you. Give me a chance—give us a chance, please,” I said again.
Her big eyes turned back to me and I caught the tear that ran down her cheek before she crossed inside, leaving me no choice but to go away wounded.
Hours passed and before I knew it, the bar was closing. I walked out to the alley and waited where they usually arranged for a car to take their VIP guests home. A crunch under my feet had me looking down out of my good eye—the lights must have been smashed. I moved to step over it, and that was when I felt something hard pressed into my spine.
“Don’t turn around.” He dug whatever he held in hard again. “Don’t try anything stupid,” he gritted out. “Hand over your wallet.”
Match Pointe Page 16
