“My pitching position had nothing to do with it. You were the one obsessed with it, Claire. If you truly wanted it all you had to do was ask me for it. I’m sorry, but I used your jealousy to make this happen. Honestly, I never thought you were going to sleep with him.”
Claire snorted and Coach Mae shot her a look to get her to shut up.
“What was it for then?” Coach Mae questioned.
“She did it for me,” Renee said, walking into the office with Brian behind her.
My heart sank. Having Renee involved was not what I wanted. Everything I did was to protect her from what she’d just walked in on.
“Nene, what are you doing here?” I asked, extracting myself out of Trip’s embrace and moving in front of her, as if I could block Coach Rutching.
“What the hell is she doing here?” Coach Rutching screamed, bouncing up on his feet, his finger shaking as it pointed to Renee.
“Put your shriveled dick away, Bruno. Trip called me and told me you were up to something.” Renee glanced at me and frowned. “He didn’t know if he was going to catch you in time, so we both took off so at least one of us could stop you,” Renee answered.
Coach Mae ran her hand through her short hair. “How are you a part of this?”
“I’m the stupid high school girl who let Coach Rutching get pregnant,” Renee answered coolly.
“She’s lying. She was sleeping with some marine. Everyone knew he was the father. She even admitted it. I will say, it looks like you’re doing pretty good for yourself, now. Brian Wright isn’t a bad catch for a teenage slut.”
Brian moved so fast he was a blur. Coach Rutching was once again knocked down on his ass, his nose bent at an odd angle.
“Don’t,” Brian seethed, his fists at his sides. “You’re done. I’ll make sure your name’s ruined, and you’ll never be around young naive girls you can take advantage of again. And as for Renee’s daughter you’re correct she’s not yours. She’s mine. And if you so much as think about her, I’ll find you and cut your dick off. Do you understand me?”
Rutching let out a brittle laugh that gurgled from the blood pouring down his throat. “You can have the kid. You don’t have to worry about me trying to help raise a slut’s baby.”
“That’s enough,” Coach Mae screamed, but it was too late.
Brian reared his hand back and connected with the side of Coach Rutching’s head, knocking him out cold.
“It was never about the position?” Claire whispered wide-eyed, gazing down at Coach Rutching.
I shook my head, feeling even guiltier at the lost look on her face. “I’m sorry, Claire. I didn’t think you’d actually have sex with him.”
“You guys get out of here. I need to sort this out,” Coach Mae broke into my stare down with Claire.
“It was my fault, McKenna. Softball’s my only way out. I thought you were trying to take my future away from me by opening your legs. I wasn’t thinking. When I was offered to play overseas, I was afraid if I wasn’t starter the position would be revoked.” Claire’s eyes simmered with tears as she pleaded with me to understand.
“I’m sorry. You should have told me. I shouldn’t have used you the way I did. It was wrong. I promise I’ll make this up to you,” I told her.
“I’m so fucking stupid. You would have given it to me,” Claire said not as a question but a statement.
“I would have and you can have it now,” I told her, moving to give her a hug. “It’s the least I can do for using you the way I did.”
“Raine, that position’s not yours to give. Especially when Hoffer violated her player contract. Even if you manipulated her it was still her choice to try and get her position the way she did.”
Claire’s cheeks streaked with tears as she watched Coach Mae take her dream away.
“Practice’s canceled today. Raine, get out of here and take your entourage with you. We’ll have a team meeting tomorrow to discuss the rest of the season.”
I hugged Claire, her arms wrapped around me like a vice grip. I was a shitty person.
“It will work out. I’ll quit the team just so they have to give you the position. Go home and get some sleep, and be at practice tomorrow,” I whispered in her ear.
“Thanks, McKenna. I’m sorry. It’s just there aren’t many options for a future as a softball player. I was desperate.”
“So was I.” I squeezed her hand and walked out of the office.
