by Taylor Lee
Mac ignored her excuse and attempt to avoid the question. “What kind of bad stuff, Chloe?”
“It’s not bad! That’s the point. Mom and her friends are great. They have fun parties. We get to dance and listen to music. And the guys are hot. Not like the dumb guys at St. Christopher’s. These guys are like men, grown up. They have jobs and do stuff and they think I’m great.”
“I’m sure that they do, Chloe. You’re a lovely girl and a terrific athlete. Plus, you’re smart and pretty. I’m not surprised that your mother’s friends think you’re great. But I understand that they’re all considerably older than you are.”
Chloe broke in angrily. “Yeah, like Dad doesn’t have parties where people are older? Emma is just a baby. Plus, she wants to get Mom in trouble so we can’t go there anymore. But that’s not going to work.” Chloe hesitated and then said with a sly smile, “Mom is working with a lawyer and she’s going to get custody of us soon.”
When Mac couldn’t stifle a gasp or a frown, Chloe’s smirk got bolder. “Just wait and see. For once my dad won’t get everything he wants.”
Mac wasn’t sure how she could contain her anger or her concern at Chloe’s startling assertion. Remembering the pain on Jorden’s face when Emma told them that Chloe had assured her that their mother would get custody of the girls, Mac fought the urge to smack the smug smile off Chloe’s face.
With a supreme effort she managed to speak calmly. “Custody issues are very important and serious, Chloe. I’m confident that the court will determine the best arrangements for you and Emma with your respective parents. However, before you leave, I have another concern in addition to your missing practice. I’ve noticed that you and Marcia seem to be not speaking and that you’re spending a great deal of time with Maggie and Christie.”
Chloe reared up and her face flushed bright red. Glaring at Mac, she shrieked incredulously, “Now you’re going to tell me who I can have as friends? You have no business—”
Mac raised her hand, stopping Chloe’s tirade. “Excuse me, Chloe. You may not speak to me in that tone. But to that point, no, I will not tell you who you can be friends with. However, as your guidance counselor, I will tell you when I think you’re making a mistake. As I’m sure you’re aware, both Maggie and Christie are on probation. I assume they’ve told you that if either of them faces another disciplinary action, they will be expelled from Wildwood. You need to think hard, Chloe. Up until recently you have been a dedicated student and basketball team member. However your grades are dropping. You’ve missed practice and you seem to be changing your friends. Can you understand why I’m concerned?”
Chloe’s frown deepened and her mouth formed in a pout. She hesitated, then shrugged and said in a cavalier tone, “Maybe I’m tired of being a goody-two-shoe like Marcia and Emma. Maybe I’ve decided that there’s more to life than studying and playing basketball, and making sure that I do everything my dad wants me to do. Maybe for a change, I want to have fun, meet new people, and try different things. Did you ever think I might just be a lot more grown up than my dad or you think I am?”
Mac was thoughtful then spoke carefully. “You need to decide what being ‘grown up’ means to you. To me, responsible grown-ups do what they say they will do, they’re careful about who they associate with, and they make good choices. They do that, Chloe, not for other people, but for themselves. They want to be able to look in the mirror and be proud of the person they see there.”
Chloe seemed to be listening but then her expression changed. Her chin went up in the air and she glared at Mac. Her voice was close to a sneer. “I think you’ve been spending too much time with my dad. You even sound like him.”
At that moment the bell rang. Mac was actually relieved. Choosing not to respond to Chloe’s assertion, she simply said, “Your father is an impressive man who loves you very much, Chloe. He’s as concerned about your behavior as I am.”
Glancing at her watch, Mac rose to her feet signifying that their conversation was over. As Chloe sauntered to the door, Mac called after her, “I expect you at the practice Friday if you want to play in the game Saturday. Do you understand?”
When Chloe didn’t answer, just continued walking to the door, Mac stopped her. “I asked you a question, Chloe. Do you understand that if you aren’t at the Friday practice you will not be able to play in the game Saturday?”
Her flush deepening, Chloe glared at her, then said with an impudent shrug, “Yes, I understand. I’ll be at the stupid practice.”
With that she rushed through the door and slammed it behind her.
Mac heaved a heavy sigh. She’d known that Chloe was acting up, but was frankly surprised at the extent of her rudeness. What the hell had happened to the intense, shy young woman who was terrified every time she stepped to the foul line? Mac had been so pleased with the connection she’d made with her and how responsive Chloe had been to her suggestions. Far from being rude, Chloe had always been eager to please. And even Mac had to admit that Jorden was a challenging role model. As admired as he was in everything from his prominent position in the community to being a sports legend in basketball, he was distinctly a hard act to follow. Being a Justice only added to his sheen.
Even as she gave the young woman some room, Mac didn’t kid herself. She’d always known that Chloe was more complicated than the perfect image she’d projected. She reminded herself that Chloe was the young girl who had been lying to her father for some time. And now she’d turned against her sister and her best friend, declaring that they were too immature to associate with. While there were no doubt long-standing, deeper reasons for her current behavior, there was no question who was the source, the provocateur of this seeming personality change. Francine Justice.
Even as she said the name, unease flowed over Mac. Remembering the ill-disguised threat that the vicious woman had made at the last game confirmed that Francine was aware of who Mac was and the roles she was playing. All of which affected Francine’s “family”. Not only was Mac a coach and a counselor to Francine’s daughters, but as Francine correctly noted, she had her eye on the girls’ father as well. Mac shook her head and groaned. No wonder the whole situation was disheartening and frankly unnerving. It wasn’t as though this was the first time she been in the “other woman” role. While Jorden and Francine weren’t married, the connection was there. Granted it was a negative connection, but that only seemed to make it stronger. Admitting that she was treading through a minefield, Mac slammed her eyes closed and prayed for wisdom, and courage. Considering her antagonist, she knew she needed heavy doses of both.
Chapter 20
“Here, Chloe! Here! I’m open!”
Marcia’s loud shout and waving arms confirmed what was obvious to anyone watching the tense play on the court except, apparently, to Chloe. Ignoring Marcia’s impassioned plea, Chloe stepped back and studiously scanned the court looking for her best shot, then flipped the ball to Lauren. Marcia’s eager expression faded as Lauren, caught off guard by the unexpected toss, bobbled the ball. The Scorpion forward, Cassie Raptor, who had already scored an impressive twenty points, reached in front of Lauren, stole the ball, and headed down the court for an easy layup. The home team crowd roared in excitement as the scoreboard confirmed that the Scorpions were ahead for the first time in the hard-fought game.
Mac called for a timeout ordering her team to the sidelines. Not willing to pretend that she hadn’t seen Chloe’s deliberate move she faced her head on. “What was that about, Chloe? Didn’t you see that Marcia was wide open under the basket?”
When Chloe merely scowled and glared at the floor, Mac referred to her play board.
“All right, ladies. There is absolutely no reason that we can’t win this game. I don’t have to tell you how important it is. We win this game, and we’re undefeated and a shoe-in for the championship. I need you to focus and to do what you do best. Play championship basketball the way that you have for the entire season.”
When Sharon
Simpson, the team captain, called for a cheer, the girls all put their arms into the circle and shouted, “Wildcats!”
As the team headed for the court, Mac intercepted Chloe and Marcia. “Listen up, both of you. I don’t care what is going on between you two, but you may not bring it to the court.” Holding their gaze, she added firmly, “Do you understand?”
Marcia ducked her head and said softly, clearly embarrassed. “Yes, ma’am.”
Chloe merely tossed her head and started back onto the court. Mac caught her arm and pulled her back. “Not so fast, Chloe. I asked you a question. You can sit out on the bench until you’re ready to answer me.”
Chloe’s face flushed a dark crimson as she brushed off Mac’s arm and strode angrily to the far end of the bench and plopped down. Mac let the obviously angry young woman stew for several moments, then nodded to her to come forward. In a low voice for Chloe’s ears only, Mac admonished her. “That behavior isn’t worthy of you, Chloe, and is a detriment to the team as a whole. I want you to go out there and play like the accomplished star that you are. Do you hear me?”
When Chloe refused to meet her gaze but nodded, Mac gave her a little shove. “Good. Now go!”
For the next several minutes, Chloe seemed to get her head back into the game until she made a shot from the half court and missed wildly. In the next play, with what looked like an intentional shove, she knocked one of the opposing players to the ground. Boos echoed across the court as the referees’ whistles confirmed the obvious foul. Mac shoved out a hard sigh, knowing that Chloe was lucky not to be charged with unsportsmanlike behavior, which would have called for an additional free throw for the injured player. Not wanting to make a bad situation worse, Mac swallowed hard and decided not to pull Chloe from the game. Minutes later, she acknowledged her mistake and wished that she had acknowledged her never-fail gut.
Following several spectacular plays by their star seniors, the Wildcats rallied and within minutes had come within two points of tying the game. As the game was coming to a close in a mad dash for the basket, Chloe was fouled. If she made the high-pressure free throws, the Wildcats would tie the game. Mac’s heart plunged, knowing that this was precisely the scenario that she and Chloe had worked on when Chloe had been an eager pupil. The frown on the girl’s face and her tense body confirmed that they were a long way away from that moment in time.
Chloe dribbled the ball mechanically and set up her shot. Pulling back as she released the ball, she missed the basket by a full two feet. As all her teammates surged forward and patted her backside in the customary show of support, Chloe brushed them off with a frown and turned back to face the basket. Mac breathed deeply silently trying to connect with the agitated player. It was no use. Chloe pointedly refused to look her way.
After a long moment Chloe seemed prepared to set up for her shot, then unexpectedly threw the ball to the floor and angrily strode from the court. After a moment of shocked silence, boos and chants erupted from both sides of the court.
Mac waited until the game was over to deal with the belligerent girl. She’d met her on the sidelines as Chloe strode from the court and ordered her to wait in the locker room. Chloe sat sullenly in the back of the room as Mac went over the game plays with the rest of the team. Somehow they had managed to win the game with a miraculous shot from their senior star, Beth Kenmore, but it had been anything but a sure thing. The locker room was subdued, not what one would have expected from a team that had just clinched a shot at the championship. All of the girls did their best to ignore the glowering girl off to the side as they discussed what they would be working on in the upcoming practices. As the rest of the team filed out of the locker room, Mac moved over to where Chloe was sitting and pulled up a chair and sat down in front of her. When Chloe refused to meet her gaze, Mac broke the heavy silence. “Do you want to tell me what that was about, Chloe?” When she didn’t answer, Mac added, “You’re benched for the rest of the season, including the championship game.”
Chloe shot her chin up in the air and snarled, “Who cares?”
There was a sharp rap on the door and Jorden’s response echoed across the almost empty room. “I do, for one.” Looking to Mac, Jorden asked, “May I join you?”
Mac lifted her hands in defeat and shrugged. “Since it’s clear that Chloe isn’t willing to talk to me, I have no objection, but it’s up to Chloe. Chloe, do you mind if your father joins us, or do you prefer to wait to talk to him until you and I are through?”
Looking straight ahead, Chloe muttered, “Who cares? I don’t. You’ll both just say the same thing.”
Jorden was across the room in seconds sitting next to Chloe. He reached for her hand and said quietly, “Look at me, Chloe, now.”
She hesitated then looked up and met her father’s rigid gaze. His voice was as hard as his steel-gray eyes.
“Mac asked you what that was all about, Chloe. I have the same question. I want you to answer us both…now. Why didn’t you try to make your second shot, and more importantly, why did you leave the court?”
Chloe looked away and Mac was sure she wasn’t going to respond. Chloe surprised her when she glared up at her father and said, “Why should I have tried? You know I couldn’t make the shot.”
Jorden was firm. “No, Chloe, I don’t know that. You’ve made clutch shots like that in other games. In fact, for a while there I thought you and Mac had worked out a way to help you when you started to freeze at the foul line.”
Chloe sniffed dismissively and glared at Mac, then at her father. “I know you think she’s perfect and can do anything, even keep me from freezing. Well, guess what, Dad, it didn’t work. Even the great Mac Durant couldn’t make your daughter into the basketball star that you and she were.” She added with an angry snort, “Sorry, Dad, guess it’s up to Emma to take you back to your glory days. I’m not Emma, and I’m not you or her!”
Before Jorden could answer, Chloe rose to her feet and backed away, obviously heading for the door. “Besides, I don’t want to be on this stupid team anymore, and I don’t want to be with her.”
Jorden was at her side in seconds. He caught her arm and firmly sat her back onto her chair. His voice was soft, riddled with danger. “Chloe, I don’t know what this is all about, but you may not be rude to Mac or to me. Do you understand?”
Mac was startled when Chloe turned on her father in anger. “Why Dad? Why can’t I tell her what I think? Because she’s your girlfriend?”
Jorden exhaled a long breath and then said, “No, Chloe, because she’s your coach and I am your father, and you need to respect us both.”
“Why isn’t mom here, Dad?”
Jorden frowned, then answered carefully, “That’s a good question, Chloe. I wasn’t aware that your mother was supposed to be at the game.”
Chloe tossed her head. “Why should she be? So that she can see you and the coach make googly eyes at each other?”
Jorden was quiet for a long moment, then turned to Mac. “Would you excuse us, please, McKenna? Chloe and I need to talk privately with one another.”
Mac swallowed hard and nodded. She rose to her feet, willing her shaky legs to hold her upright. With as much dignity as she could muster, she left the room.
****
Jorden forced himself to speak quietly. “What is this about, Chloe?” He was surprised when Chloe whirled on him, obviously angry.
“Admit it, Dad. I know you’re dating the coach.”
Jorden shrugged. “What if I am, Chloe? Coach Durant is a lovely woman and neither one of us is married. What’s wrong with us seeing one another?”
Chloe practically shouted, “Because you’re my father and she’s my coach! It…it’s not right for you to be with her. She’s supposed to be my coach, not your lover.”
Jorden was stunned at her use of the term but before he could respond, Chloe dropped the bombshell.
“Besides, if it weren’t for Coach, I know you and Mom would get back together.”
Jorden somehow found enough air in his constricted lungs to answer without choking on his words. “Chloe, I have no idea how you could possibly think such a thing. Your mother and I don’t even speak to one another.”
Chloe interrupted. “I know, but you would if it weren’t for Coach. Mom has changed so much, Dad. She told me she was sure that you and she could patch things up if only Coach would get out of the way.”
Jorden took several deep breaths, then faced his daughter head on. He spoke as quietly as he could, striving to keep the anger from taking over his voice. “You need to understand, Chloe, this has nothing to do with Coach Durant. And frankly, I despise your mother. I will never forgive her for the things she has done to our family. I’m shocked that she told you that there could ever be anything between us. She knows that’s impossible. In fact, Chloe, I’m doing everything I can to prevent her from spending any more than minimal time with you and Emma.”
Chloe was fierce. “I don’t believe you, Dad. And Mom doesn’t. We both know that if it weren’t for Coach, you and Mom would—”
Jorden held up his hand. “Chloe, please hear me. Your mother and I will never get together. Ever.”
Again Chloe interrupted. “Mom said you would say that.” She hesitated then her expression hardened. For a moment, Jorden almost saw Francine, particularly when Chloe narrowed her eyes and said with a dismissive smile. “You say that now.” She added derisively,
not masking the implied threat, “But, then, maybe after Mom gets custody of me and Emma, you just might change your mind.”
Chapter 21
At the vibration on her hip, Mac reached for her phone. She was relieved to see that it was a text. She knew she couldn’t talk to Jorden—not now. To be honest, she didn’t know when she would be able to. A staccato drumbeat pounded against her temples, threatening to break through the skin. As for her stomach, forget it. Anything she’d eaten in what felt like the last week had been deposited in the john at the gym. Thank God the coaches’ locker room was empty. She didn’t know how long she’d sat on the floor in the toilet stall leaning against the wall. Long after she’d passed the dry heave stage, she didn’t trust her stomach or her shaky legs enough to think about trying to stand. The tile floor and metal stall were comfortingly cold. Even in her gym shorts and team t-shirt she was sweating. Although, the moisture on her face could have been tears. More likely, it was a combination of sweat and tears. But at least no blood—yet.
