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“Earth to Brenda.” Liz snapped her fingers in front of my face. “Are you going to apply or not?”
I chewed on my inner cheek. “I don’t know. Do I really want to go back to St. Brigid’s and Whispering Falls? It’ll look like I’m trying to relive my glory days.”
“Sis, you’d be doing me a favor. Miranda Halpern is acting like a total bitch. She thinks she’s so much better than me in every way. She veers into my running lane when Coach isn’t watching and does her best to make me fall flat on my face.” She lifted her leg and pulled up her sweatpants to reveal a ghastly scab. “Look at my knee. This will scar. And my palms are all scratched up.”
My jaw dropped, and I grabbed her hands. “You told me you fell at practice. Why didn’t you tell me someone had purposely tripped you? And why didn’t you tell Coach? She needs to be thrown off the team.”
“I’m not a tattletale. I can handle Miranda, but it would be nice to have some backup. Please apply. For me.”
I wasn’t stupid. Liz could take care of herself. She wanted me to apply for the internship because I desperately needed the money. If she had any idea about my feelings for Coach Gordon, she would die a thousand deaths.
“Fine,” I said, relenting and dropping her hands. “You can stop with the puppy dog eyes. I’ll apply, but that doesn’t mean I’ll get it.”
She threw her arms around my neck. “Coach Gordon loves you. Of course, you’ll get it.”****I couldn’t believe I was back at St. Brigid’s ready for my first day as Coach Gordon’s assistant. The butterflies in my belly weren’t just flapping their wings; they were creating a hurricane of anxiety.
I glanced around, but there was no sign of Coach. I laughed to myself. Had I expected him to welcome me with open arms and to roll out the red carpet?
I’d started the application process when Liz left my dorm room last week. I honestly hadn’t believed I would get the position, but a few days later, Coach Gordon had emailed to say the internship was mine if I wanted it.
I hadn’t immediately replied and had gone back and forth in my mind, weighing up the pros and cons. After my classes had ended for the day, I typed up an acceptance email, but it stayed in my drafts for a few more hours before I finally got the courage up to hit send.
Walking onto the field brought back an avalanche of memories. It’d only been two years since I’d left, but in some ways, it seemed like a lifetime ago.
The cheers from the bleachers. The smell of the asphalt. The feel of the euphoric runner’s high after a race.
I’d spent most of my high school years on the track, practicing drills and racing against myself to better my time. Sometimes I missed the simplicity of those days.
Liz, who had finished stretching with the other team members, spotted me and waved. She got herself into position on the runner’s block. When the race started, I watched intently, trying to figure out if she or any of the others needed help with their form.
On the last bend, my sister’s gazelle-like legs took the lead, closely followed by Miranda.
Miranda veered slightly into Liz’s lane again and again and again. Not enough for someone who didn’t know what to look for to notice.
Finally, she achieved what she wanted. Liz stumbled and landed on her knees, but like the warrior she was, she got up and continued running, coming in second place.
I sprinted over to the finish line, where Miranda raised her hands in victory. When she spotted me, she smirked. “I win again.”
I placed my hands on my hips. “Cheating isn’t winning.”
She shrugged. “I didn’t cheat.”
“You purposely veered into Liz’s lane.”
“Says who?”
“Says me.”
She eyeballed me up and down, not trying to hide her disgust. “Who are you?”
She knew exactly who I was, but if that was the game she wanted to play, then fine. “Liz’s sister and your new assistant coach.”
“Is there a problem, ladies?”
Shivers ran up my spine. Like always, his deep southern drawl dampened my panties, and I had to fight to control my breathing.
Reigning in my hormones and my temper, I explained, “Ms. Halpern cheated her way to victory by veering into Liz’s lane. She purposely tripped her up.”
Coach Gordon moved beside me, the scent of his familiar woodsy cologne wrapping around me like a hug. I didn’t dare look at him because if I did, everyone would be able to tell how much I ached for him. Instead of begging him to take me into his office and screw me over his desk, I kept my eyes forward and my focus on Miranda.
“Is this true, Miranda? Liz?”
