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.
I took a deep breath and prepared to fight for my future. My girl Brittany was a miracle worker, and I hoped the coach would look at the evidence that proved I hadn’t actually smoked pot.
We walked in, feeling as if we were about to drop a bombshell. At least, I hoped it was a bombshell.
“Lindsey, Brittany,” the coach said, standing and gesturing for us to take a seat.
“Here,” Brittany said, handing the coach a small flash drive. “Stick that in your computer, and you will see everything we told you is the truth.”
The coach picked up the thumb drive and stuck it in the port, clicked a few files and went silent.
“What am I looking at here?”
“Uh, maybe you need to look closer,” Brittany said in a snide tone. “There is Adam, Lindsey’s ex. Watch Adam head into the kitchen and fill a cup of beer from the keg. Now, watch closely,” she instructed.
The coach leaned forward, staring at the screen. “What is that? What’s in that bottle?” he asked.
“That would be some kind of GHB. Date rape drug, roofie, whatever you want to call it. He dumped that in her drink. Now, watch him grab the brownie,” Brittany ordered.
I watched the coach’s reaction. He got a puzzled look on his face, and putting the video on pause, he looked at Brittany. “What’s special. Why are those brownies labeled special?”
She gave a fake smile. “Because they’re pot brownies.”
“What?” he said in horror. “I can see several people eating those. They were all eating brownies stuffed with pot?”
She waved a hand. “In a manner of speaking, but yes, the USC team served up pot brownies. Now we all knew they were laced and had the choice to avoid them. Lindsey didn’t know. She trusted Adam not to drug her beer or serve her a brownie that would make her fail a drug test.”
I nodded, agreeing with Brittany’s statement.
The coach looked at me, back at the video, and then at Brittany. “How’d you get this?”
Another coy smile. “I know people. Needless to say, you’re not the first coach to see this video. Adam was kicked off the USC team, along with anyone else seen eating those brownies.”
“He was also expelled from the school for drugging my beer,” I added.
The coach was shaking his head. “That is awful. Truly awful. I have a daughter, and this scares me to death.”
“So is she back on the team? This little incident doesn’t go on her record?” Brittany asked.
He shrugged. “I don’t see how I can suspend her for something she didn’t do. Lindsey, you’re back on the team and please accept my apologies. I hope you have learned a lesson from all of this. Don’t trust boys!”
I laughed. “Got it, and thank you.”
Brittany stood. “We’ll see you at practice.”
We both gladly left the office. Brittany walked like a regal queen, clearly very satisfied with her sleuthing abilities and with being able to exonerate me.
“Thank you. I cannot believe you managed to get your hands on that security video,” I told her, still not sure exactly how she had managed to do it.
She shrugged. “It was nothing. I know I will be thinking twice before I go anywhere or do anything I don’t want the world to see. There are cameras everywhere!”
I nodded. “Good plan. In this case, I’m glad they were there. I have to get to class. I’ll see you at practice.”
My phone chimed again. I knew it was Tanner. He had been texting all morning, but I wasn’t quite ready to text him back. I felt betrayed. Telling Brian was something I should have done, or we should have at the very least discussed.
Another chirp. I yanked my phone out of my back pocket, unlocked it and read his latest message.
How did your meeting with the coach go?
I don’t know how he knew. I didn’t care. He could sit in the dark a while longer. I put the phone back in my pocket and put it on silent.
Class dragged on. I was looking forward to practicing with my team. I never thought I’d feel that way, but I did. I was going to kick ass and show them all I was worth keeping around, even after all the drama I’d caused.
At practice, I gave 110 percent, fighting to be better than I ever had. I could feel the difference in the team dynamic. They didn’t trust me. It was going to be hard to work my way back into the close-knit group.
Toward the end of practice, I looked up to see Tanner watching from the stands. I ignored him. He clearly didn’t get the hint. Once practice was over and everyone started to file into the locker rooms to change, he approached me. I knew it was coming. It was best to get it over with.
“Lindsey,” he started, stepping close to me. I stepped back. “Please, hear me out,” he pleaded.
“No. We have nothing to talk about. You told Brian without even talking to me about it. That was not cool. You may have ruined my relationship with my brother because you got shitfaced and couldn’t keep your mouth shut.”
“I’m sorry. What about our training? Are you giving up on that?” he asked.
I shrugged. “I’m not giving up on training, but I don’t think it’s a good idea for me to train with you. That line is blurred. Plus, if I ever hope to repair my relationship with Brian, we need to cool it. I don’t want to give him any more reason to be pissed. You and me working together would not make him happy.”
“Lindsey, stop. Think about what you’re saying. We can keep it professional. You need me. Your brother was drunk. He’s going to get over it. Your family knows I’m the best, and they all want you to reach your goal. I am the one to get you there.”
“I can find another trainer.”
My teammates were filing out of the locker room and leaving. We both stood there, looking at each other, not saying anything, afraid we would be overheard. I could see the other women on my team checking him out. I watched his response and was happy to see he didn’t return their lecherous looks. Sluts.
Once the last person left, I turned to him, “It isn’t a good idea, Tanner. I’m sorry. Thank you for stepping in, but I need to find someone else to train me.”
I turned and headed for the locker room, leaving him standing there, his mouth slightly agape. I grabbed a clean towel from the bin and began wiping off my arms and legs, before toweling off my hair. A noise behind me had me spinning around.
“Tanner,” I said in surprise.
He didn’t say a word. He stalked toward me. His gaze intent, his intentions unclear. I wasn’t afraid, but apprehensive. He looked like a man on a mission. I was his mission.
“Tanner,” I said again, taking a step backward, holding up a hand.
He didn’t give me a chance to finish my warning. He grabbed me on each side and slammed his mouth over mine, pushing me backward until my back was against the lockers. He was pushing into me, his mouth moving over mine, his tongue plunging in, over and over.
I kissed him back. My fervor matching his own. His hands reached down and grabbed mine. He wrapped his fingers around my wrists and pushed my hands up and over my head as he continued to plunder my mouth. All thoughts of telling him to leave had vanished. I needed him just like this. Right here and right now.