Whatever Happens

by Lyla Grace

  Still ignoring her, I glance down at the phone in my hand, and all the missed calls and messages. Most of them are from my parents. How am I supposed to face them? What am I supposed to say? After everything they have done and sacrificed for me, I went and did something stupid like this to embarrass and disappoint them. That's Cody's domain. Not mine.

  “Carter,” she shouts.

  She's closer now. She's out of breath from running, but her pants remind me of the ones that were escaping her last night. I shake the thought out of my head. I want to stay pissed at her rather than pin her against my truck. That's what got us stuck in this situation, to start. The other was the fact that she lied to me.

  “What?” I snap at her as I turn around. The bite in my tone makes her stop dead in her tracks. “What the hell do you want?”

  “Carter, I’m so sorry. I never meant…”

  “Never meant for me to find out? How was that going to work? How else could you get your dream job?”

  She looks stunned that I could even suggest such a thing. “No. That’s not…”

  “Just shut up,” I shout. My hurt and anger are getting the best of me. The pounding in my head intensifies. The harshness of my tone causes the tears that are threatening to fall. “What the hell is wrong with you? Why didn’t you tell me who you were?”

  “I was scared.”

  “Scared? You were scared?”

  “I was scared that you would end things.”

  I run my hand through my hair. "I never would have started anything if I knew who you were."

  “I know. I’m sorry. I wanted to tell you, hell I tried. I just…” She pauses momentarily.

  “Just what?” I want her to say something that will make this better, make us a possibility instead of an improbability.

  “It doesn’t matter.”

  She's right; it doesn't. Nothing is going to change the fact that she's my coach's daughter. Nothing she can say will make us being together okay. And frankly, right now, no apology is going to make me hate her any less. "You're right; it doesn't. We're over. You are nothing more than my therapist. Understood?"

  A sob escapes her. "Don't say that. I'm sorry, Carter, more sorry than you will ever know."

  “I don’t care how sorry you are. I can’t forgive you for this. Not now, not ever.”

  I get in my truck and drive. If I don't, I'm going to pull Lexie into my arms, comfort her, and never let go.

  Chapter 6 – Lexie

  What in the hell just happened?

  I am standing in the parking lot of the stadium completely stunned. This entire morning has been one huge whirlwind. Not in a good way either.

  My heart, my world just imploded on me. Not that I can complain too much; it was my own doing. I'm the one who did the approaching. I'm the one who lied. I'm the one who created this whole stupid mess.

  Except for the video, that was not my doing. Well, not wholly, at least. I certainly was a part of it, a very pleased part of it, but still. Who would do that to someone? Sure, I'm lucky; technically, no one knows it was me. Just the thought of people seeing me like that, seeing Carter and I like that. The idea makes my skin crawl. I'm no prude, but I'm no porn star either.

  I slowly walk to my car as I shoot off a text to Abbie.

  Me: He knows.

  He knows, and he hates me. I wipe away the tears. I don't deserve to cry. I am the one that hurt him. I am the one that did this.

  Abbie: And?

  Me: He hates me.

  I wait patiently for her, ‘I told you so,' but it doesn't come. Instead, she sends me a crying emoji. I had hoped that, given enough time, Carter would like me enough not to care that I was the coach's daughter that we would somehow figure out a way to make it work. He's worth it — worth whatever crap I would have to deal with from my father.

  I had hoped that he felt the same. This morning, suggesting I keep some things at his place, I was almost sure he did. I thought his feelings were deep enough that he would forgive me when he found out the truth. Not so much. The whole thing had transpired much worse than I thought it would. Then again, I never thought it would be my father who gave away my identity.

  Abbie: I’m so sorry, Lex.

  Me, too.

  By the time I walk into my apartment I'm in a complete daze. I'm still trying to understand how this all happened, how Carter and I went from happy and content to utterly destroyed in less than two hours. It's not fair.

  “Hey,” Abbie greets when I walk in.

  I toss my stuff on the floor. “Hey.”

  “How are you holding up?” she asks.

  "You mean between a sex tape and being dumped? I'm great." I plop down on the couch next to her and rest my head on her shoulder. "I screwed all of this up."

  “What exactly happened? And why do you have a sex tape?”

  Well, there's the million-dollar question. One that I wish I could figure out the damn answer. I was so hurt and upset and desperate to get Carter to forgive me that I never asked him if he found out how or who leaked the tape.

  Frankly, I don't care. Unless Carter decides to tell the world, which is extremely unlikely, no one will ever know. Well, except for Abbie.

  “I have no idea where that video came from. All I know is that it’s what set off this whole awful chain of events.”

  “So your Dad knows? And his head didn’t explode?” Abbie asks.

  She knows my Dad well enough to know that there is no way in hell, even though I am twenty-six, that he would let me get away with a sex tape. I'm pretty sure he would have a damn heart attack if he found out.

  "Not exactly. My dad knows about the tape, but he doesn't know it's me. Carter is the only one that you can see, so…" I take a deep breath in and then exhale. "So, Carter is being punished for being a bad boy, by being forced to go to his hometown to recoup, with me training him."

  “Woah, what? You’re kidding, right?”

  “I wish. Nope. Good old Coach Dad decided that Carter needs out of the spotlight with the emergence of this video and that he should go home. He also thinks that I am the perfect trainer to get Carter back in shape before the season starts.”

  “Well, he’s right on the second part. I mean, at least that’s a good thing.”

  I nod in agreement. There was a time when my father didn't recognize my skills as a therapist and trainer. It's why I jumped so quickly when he said he would offer me the position with the knights. It's what I have always dreamed of doing. How could I turn that down?

  “Yes, but that means that I have to go home with Carter.”

  My phone goes off. Speak of the devil.

  Carter: We leave first thing in the morning. Be ready by six.

  Me: Can I come over now? Can we talk? Please?

  It sounds needy and desperate, but I don't care. It's exactly what I am. I am also not getting a response which I can only assume means no. So, I go for the one thing I know he can't say no too.

  Me: You really need to do some therapy before we leave.

  Carter: Fine. Gabe’s Gym. 5 am. We’ll leave from there.

  Me: See you then.

  Yeah, like he cares.

  “Maybe this will be a good thing,” Abbie says. “It might give you time to get back into his good graces and convince him to forgive you.”

  I shake my head. “You didn’t see how he looked at me.”

  My eyes flutter shut, keeping the tears that threaten at bay. The look on his face when he turned toward me in the parking lot is cemented in my brain: pain, hurt, and the utter contempt and disdain for me. No, there was no coming back from this.

  I pull out my suitcase and begin to pack. What choice do I have? I’ve already lost Carter. There is no sense in me risking my dream job too.

  Trying to lighten the mood, good old Abbie comes up with, “I still can’t believe your pussy is on a sex tape.”

  The sound of her laughter makes me start to laugh too. "That makes two of us. God Abbie, why the hell did you let me ap
proach him? What was I thinking?"

  “That he was a fine piece of ass and you wanted some?”

  "Yeah, well, now we're both hurting, and there is nothing we can do about it. Damn him and that stupid bubble bath."

  Abbie’s arm wraps around me. “Awe, Lex,” Abbie coos as she wraps her arm around me. “I’m sure he’ll forgive you. Just keep reminding him how good you two are together. How much you care about him.”

  Chapter 7 – Carter

  I toss in the bed for what feels like the millionth time. I've barely slept, hell, I've hardly done anything except stare at a damn wall since my world imploded on me this morning.

  First, I wake up to a sex tape – my sex tape. And if that wasn’t bad enough, the woman in it, the one that I fell for – hard – is none other than my coach’s daughter.

  I fought the urge to go out with the guys tonight. My ass is already in enough trouble. I don't need to add to it. The one urge I couldn't resist was to text Lexie. I messaged her to tell her when we were leaving. When she responded, saying she wanted to talk, I just stared at the phone. My thumb hovered over the Y for an eternity. Until I got another text from her telling me I needed to do therapy. I gave her the name of the gym and tossed the phone to the other side of the couch. If I held it any longer, there was no doubt in my mind. I would invite her over.

  Standing in the parking lot, watching her cry and beg my forgiveness broke my heart. I wanted nothing more than to take her in my arms and make all of this go away and go back to the way things were last night. I can't do that, though. The ramifications of what we've both done sealed our fate.

  Unable to sleep, I get up and take a shower. Resting my hands against the wall of the shower and hang my head as the water runs over me. Visuals of having Lexie in this exact position the other day fill my head. Christ, I am fucked and not in the right kind of way. As if it's not bad enough that I have to deal with having feelings for her and knowing she lied to me, I also have to spend every waking moment with her. What the hell am I supposed to do with that? How am I supposed to be able to resist her?

  That is my actual problem. Sure, I'm pissed, I hate that Lexie lied to me. If I'm going, to be honest with myself though, I would forgive her – eventually. Knowing that she's my coach's daughter though – that is a game-changer. Coach that holds my career, my future, and everything I have worked for in his large hands.

  Knowing that she would lie to me, hide important information from me, doesn't exactly make me feel inclined to put everything on the line for her. I did that once, and it backfired on me. No way am I going down that road again.

  I turn the shower off. It’s not helping. Nothing is strong enough to keep Lexie off my mind and make me forget the way she made me feel, how she made everything better when everything was falling apart.

  I look at the clock. It's just after three. No sleep, and it doesn't look like it's going to happen any time soon.

  I throw on some clothes, grab my bags, and head out.

  It's early. Too early to be knocking on someone's door. But, when that someone happens to be Lexie, I don't care. Except, it's not Lexie that opens the door.

  “Well, damn, this is one view I do not mind waking up to,” the woman says.

  “Sorry to wake you. Is Lexie here?” I ask.

  The woman sighs heavily. “Lucky bitch. Yeah, she’s here. The last door down the hall,” she says while pointing in the direction I need to go.

  “Thanks. I’m Carter,” I tell her even though it seems she already knows.

  “I know, believe me, I know,” she replies. The woman extends her hand to me, “I’m Abbie.”

  “Nice to meet you, Abbie.” I turn to head toward the room she pointed out as Lexie’s.

  “Hey,” she calls after me. I turn back and look at her. “I know she fucked up, but she cares about you, a lot. So, go easy on her.”

  I give her a slight smile and head to Lexie’s room.

  When I enter, she’s lying in bed, sound asleep. She looks so peaceful. “Rise and shine, Princess,” I say as I enter the room.

  “What time is it?” she asks groggily.

  “Time to get up,” I say.

  Her head snaps up. The sound of my voice finally registers with her. “Carter? What are you doing here?”

  “I can’t sleep, I want to go to the gym,” I admit.

  “Can we talk first?” she asks.

  “No. Let’s go.”

  The happiness that had only moments ago covered her face is replaced with irritation. "No. You said five. I will meet you at five." She lies back down, pulling the covers over her as she does so.

  “I said, let’s go.” I pull the covers off of her. Fuck me. That was a huge mistake. She’s curled in a ball wearing nothing but some boy shorts and a tight tank top. My dick instantly hardens.

  She tries to pull the covers back, but I yank them clear off the bed.

  "Hey," she scolds as she sits up in the bed. Her hair is a mess, hell, she's a mess. But she is a beautiful, sexy mess.

  "You're my therapist; I need therapy. Let's go."

  “Ugh, fine.” She gets out of bed and starts to stretch, arms extended in the air, her tank top rising on her stomach. “Carter!”

  “Huh? What?”

  “I said, get out so I can change.”

  “Yeah, right, sorry,” I tell her even though I’m not. I would much prefer to stay, continue to watch her stretch, the way her body moves.

  I hear here mumble the word “fine” but have no clue what she’s referring too. Until I see the tank top slide over her head, her perfect tits on glorious display right in front of me.

  While she may have gotten one type of "rise" out of me, I sure as hell am not going to let her know that she got another, the one that she wanted. I cross my arms and lean against the door frame. After all, if she doesn't care who am I not to watch and enjoy the show? Every movement is an even bigger turn-on even though she's putting clothes on, not taking them off.

  "I'm ready," she replies. I am so fixated on her ass that I don't even realize she is finished and standing in front of me. I clear my throat because suddenly it is getting hot and dry in here. I was ready, too. Just not to go to the gym anymore.

  When we arrive at Gabe’s, the place is empty. It’s just the two of us.

  A couple of weeks back, I asked him to do me a favor – to give me an hour at the gym with no one here in exchange for a very generous donation on my part. So for the past two weeks, I have been getting up at an ungodly hour to come workout uninterrupted and without a bunch of fans watching me.

  “Are we supposed to be here?” she asks.

  I jingle the keys in front of her. She rolls her eyes at my lack of response. The entire way here, I didn't speak a single solitary word in the car.

  I place my keys and bag on the bench and stand in front of her awaiting my instruction.

  “You know you’re going to have to talk to me at some point, right?”

  She wants me to talk? Fine. “What do you want me to do?” I ask a matter of factly. “Better?”

  “Carter…”

  "I'm not doing this Lexie. You're here to provide me therapy. Either do your job, or I'll ask your father to find someone else who will."

  She looks pissed. “Fine. Twenty minutes on the elliptical.”

  I do as she says. I'm not giving any reason to look like I'm not complying. I want to rehab my arm, but I also want to get back into Coach's good graces. Following orders is one way to do that.

  Lexie is still setting up when my twenty minutes end. I head to the weight area. Being here by myself, without a trainer around to stop me, I've begun doing some additional work on my shoulder. The chest press machine allows me to keep the strength in my chest while moving my joint. The best part is, I can only do five pounds. It makes me feel like a Goddamn pussy. It's what I can do, though, so I deal with it. I head to the machine and sit down.

  “What the hell do you think you’re doing?” Lexie shouts.


  “What does it look like?” I ask with just as much harshness.

  “You can’t lift, your shoulder is not in good enough shape yet,” she tells me as if I don’t know that my arm is hurt. I’m the one who has to deal with the pain every damn day. Not to mention the realization that I may never get to play again.

  “I know what I’m doing,” I reply.

  Ever since I struck up my deal with Gabe, I’ve been doing the same workout each morning. It started with no weight, and now I am up to an epic five pounds.

  “This isn’t a good idea,” she says.

  “And who’s going to stop me?”

  Lexie plants herself in front of me. Don’t get me wrong, she's a decent height, not too petite, probably around 5'7". Her body is perfectly toned, firm, but soft in all the right places. All that considered, she still couldn't stop me if she tried. I can easily out lift her one-handed.

  Defiance radiates off of her. "I am your trainer, and whether you like it or not, I am here to help heal your arm. And that's what I intend to do. If that means, I have to stop you from being an idiot and hurting yourself, even more, then that is what I'm going to do, by any means necessary."

  I laugh in her face then turn back to the machine.

  In a flash, Lexie's hand is on my shoulder. She digs her fingers into a spot that damn near brings me to my knees.

  “What the fuck,” I cry out.

  “Hate me all you want Carter, but don’t fuck your arm up more just to spite me.”

  I'll be damned if her yelling at me and taking charge isn't a turn on. I stare her down. My body is rigid, desire coursing through my veins. My hands reach for her wanting nothing more than to grab her and kiss her.

  Just before I do, a gruff voice breaks the tension between us. “Hey Wallace,” Gabe’s voice shouts from across the gym.

  I turn my head to see Gabe standing near his office.

  “I’ll be back,” I tell her.

  “This isn’t over,” she tells me.

  Like hell, it isn't.