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.