“I don’t fucking know, but Amber is in the middle of it. I can feel it.”
“Because her uncle?—”
“Yes, but don’t talk about it here.” I cut him off and ran my hand over my face, suddenly exhausted at balancing it all. We still had some time running through plays on the field, which could last two hours if we really got into it, and my body sagged. I wanted to find out what happened with Amber and to not be in a constant state of worry.
“Maddow!” A stern voice had me looking up and I didn’t expect to see Nicole glaring at me. “Get over here.”
I shared a worried glance with Brandon and adjusted the strap on my shoulder. “Yes, ma’am.”
She crossed her arms over her chest and jutted her chin toward her office. I caught up to her but whatever had her pissed off radiated in the air and I remained quiet. Normally, she’d be busting my balls about what I was eating or drinking before the season, but this time, the quiet unnerved me.
Does she know what’s going on, too?
“Get in.” She almost forced me into her office before shutting the door. She stomped to her desk and slammed her hands on the top of it. “Are you shitting me? Seriously? Senior year, Jeff? You? Yeah, you were kinda a dipshit for a bit, but you got your head on straight.” She put her head in her hands and gave me thesaddest, most disappointed look I had ever seen in my life. “You failed the drug test.”
No.
No way.
I laughed. “Uh, come again?”
“You failed your drug test, Jeff.” She showed me a piece of paper just as the door slammed open and my coach walked in with a lethal look on his face. “Coach.”
“I told you to wait,Nicole.” His gaze never left my face and his tone sent a tremor of terror through my body. “Get your stuff and meet me in my office.”
My throat closed up and my body froze in place. He added, “Now.”
My legs could barely move, like my shoes filled with cement with each step I took. Some of the guys on the team stared at us, but I could only look at the ground.Failed? How? How could I fail the drug test?
“Tee—end practice early and have everyone report back here first thing in the morning.”
“Yes, sir.”
I glanced up to Coach Tee and my entire body tensed at the almost happy expression on his face. His eyes bore into mine and I swore he winked.He’s framing me.“Coach, listen?—”
“No, you listen.” He slammed his office door when I got inside and pinched the bridge of his nose. “We will retest you at the end of the week but until then, go to the house and stay low.”
“There has to be a misunderstanding. I think—” I paused, unsure if I should continue. He could be in on it, too, but I never imagined he’d let Coach Tee frame me for a failed drug test. I swallowed, the action feeling like nails in my throat, and hated how my voice trembled. “I don’t do drugs, dir.”
“You’ll come back Friday to test again. Don’t say anything to your roommates until they get home. You understand?”
“No. No, I don’t fucking understand.” I stood up, on the edge of hysteria at the bullshit going on. “Someone framed me.”
“And why would anyoneframeyou, Jeff?” he asked, a glint appearing in his hard eyes. “Who would have motivation or the time?”
My voice stopped working. I wanted to tell him it had to be Coach Tee unless it was him. But I had no proof. The anger pouring off him scared me to the point where I thought I might throw up and my phone felt like ten pounds in my pocket.
The texts.
If I could find out who’d sent the warning texts than I’d have a leg to stand on. In a scratchy voice that sounded like I had been living in the desert for a week, I said, “I don’t know, sir.”
“Then own your results. You’re lucky I’m letting you test a second time.” His jaw tensed and he appeared much older than I was used to seeing. “Now leave.”
Without another word, I left his office and kept my head down on the walk to the car. My mind swirled with anxieties and my throat burned. I knew it was a possibility that I’d piss someone off, but fucking with my scholarship and playing time?
Who are these people?
“Fuck!” I screamed and slammed my fist against the steering wheel.Lost.I felt lost and I fumbled with my phone and called Amber. It rang for a full minute before it went to voicemail—so I tried again. This time, she answered and relief flooded my senses, causing me to relax for the first time since she left me that morning. “Amber, Christ, I need… Where are you? Are you okay?”
