by B. B. Hamel
She comes in a rush and I lap her up, not stopping, not holding back. She shivers and groans, and as she finishes, I move up and kiss her slow. I let her taste her pussy on my lips, let her know how much she means to me. I linger there for a moment before pulling back and staring into her eyes.
“Do you trust me?” I ask.
“I trust you.” She bites her lip, legs still open, pussy shining and perfect.
“Good.” I kiss her one more time. “Then trust that I’m going to get us out of this.”
She nods. I help her get dressed then sit on the couch and pull her into my lap. I hold her tight, kiss her neck, her cheeks, her lips. I can tell she’s still upset, but I’m hoping I calmed her down, at least a little bit.
I need her calm. We can’t both be losing our fucking shit.
Erik is going to pay. That’s the only thing that keeps running through my mind. Erik’s going to pay and I’m going to make sure it happens sooner rather than later. I just need to find a way to do it that doesn’t involve Chloe and won’t blow back on her. I need to make sure she’s safe and shielded from whatever the bastard decides to do to get revenge.
This is going to be up to me. And in the end, she’ll be all mine, no matter what happens.
18
Chloe
I poke at my salad, shifting the leafy greens covered in balsamic around the big black plastic bowl, not able to take a bite. I consider a piece of feta, then an olive, and finally decide to give up on the idea of eating lunch entirely as I tilt my head at Sara.
“You look preoccupied,” she says to me, taking a big bite of her buffalo chicken cheesesteak. Somehow the girl can eat as much junk as she wants without gaining a pound. Well, probably because she’s constantly surfing and doing yoga, but still.
“Oh, yeah, uh, sorry,” I say and smile, even though I don’t feel like smiling. “I just, uh, I’m thinking about something.”
“Yeah? About what?”
“Uh. Just.” I shut my mouth and look away. I take a deep breath. I’ve never been this flustered with Sara before.
All throughout my time at CU, she’s been my rock. When studying got to be too much, when stupid things stressed me out, she was always there. She talked me down, made me popcorn, one time she even took me surfing and tried to give me lessons. That failed miserably, but I appreciated the attempt.
“What’s going on?” she asks, seeing through my discomfort. “Spit it out. You’re freaking me out.”
“I saw Erik yesterday.”
She tilts her head. “You did?”
“Yeah, uh. I slept at David’s, but before that. He came to me after I was done tutoring.”
“Okay,” she says. “Right. What happened? Did you punch him in the eyeball?”
“No,” I admit. “I wanted to though.”
She puts her sandwich down and wipes her hands off on a napkin. We’re sitting outside at a plastic and metal table and chairs with an umbrella up to block the sun. Some wind rolls down from the ocean, bringing the smell of salt and wild sage, and other groups sit around us chatting away like nothing’s happening.
“So what did he want then?” she asks.
“He showed me a video. Apparently, there’s an outside camera on his house.”
She slowly sinks down and her mouth falls open. “What?”
“Yeah,” I say, “but don’t worry, he doesn’t know it’s you. He thinks I’m the one that spray painted his door.”
She gapes at me for a long moment. My heart races in my chest. I was so scared to tell her about this, so worried. I don’t want her to think that I’m throwing her under the bus her making this all about her. In fact, I need her to understand that I’m trying my best to protect her.
“Wow,” she says finally. “Okay. That’s, like… okay. Wow. That’s intense.”
“I know,” I say. “I needed you to hear about it from me, okay? But I’m not going to tell him about you. I’m not going to tell him anything about you, I promise.”
“What’s he going to do?” she asks, and then her eyes go wide. “Holy shit, David wasn’t wearing a mask.”
“That’s how he knows it was us,” I say. “I mean, who else would David bring? Well, at least he knows about me. He doesn’t know it was you yet.”
“Right, right, okay. Wow, this is a lot to process.”
“David’s face is all over the video, and Erik wants me to take the video to Coach Hardy and get David fired.”
“You’re fucking kidding me?”
I shake my head. “No, I wish I were. He says he’s going to take the video to the cops if I don’t do it. And we’ll get in trouble for… I don’t know, vandalism or something.”
She slams her palms down on the table. “That fucking prick.”
“That’s about how David reacted,” I say with a little smile.
“He’s blackmailing you!”
“Yeah, I guess so.”
“He’s blackmailing you,” she repeats. “Can you fucking believe the nerve of him?”
“Yes,” I whisper. “I really can. I was there.”
She leans back and crosses her arms over her chest. She stares at me for a long moment then shakes her head. “I can’t let you take the fall for me, Chloe. If he presses charges, I’m going to admit that I was the one who did the spray paint.”
“No.” I stare at her, eyes wide. “No, Sara. I’m serious. You can’t do that.”
“I’m not going to let you go down for my mistake. I was the one that brought the spray paint and used it. You told me it was a bad idea, but I did it anyway. This is all on me.”
“Sara,” I say, my tone firm. “I’m not joking. You’re not doing that. You can get away with this with no problems at all if you just—”
She leans forward and stares at me. “Oh, hell, no.”
I frown. “What?”
“I’m not just letting you get in trouble while I walk away. I’m not some coward. If you get in trouble, then I get in trouble. I’m not ashamed of what we did. I’ll gladly stand up in front of a judge and tell him why we did what we did, and ask for some lenience. Maybe he’ll listen, or maybe not. But either way, I’m not going to just walk off and let you get in trouble.”
“Sara, you don’t have to do this,” I say. “I’m not telling you so that you feel like you have to be brave. At least one of us should be able to get away with it, right?”
She laughs. “Maybe, but it won’t be me.”
I clench my jaw. “Sara. You’re pissing me off.”
“Good!” She throws her hands in the air. “You should be mad! After all the shit that Erik’s been doing to you, you should be livid. You should be out there trying to cut his goddamn dick off, not worrying about how you’re going to let your friend get away with some bullshit.” She shakes her head. “By the way, it’s not like we’re going to get jail time, so relax.”
“It’s still a bad thing to have that on your record,” I say.
“Whatever. I’m not going to back down from this.” She leans toward me. “Now, what’s the plan?”
“There’s no plan.”
“No plan?” She frowns. “Come on. You have to have some ideas.”
“I really don’t know,” I admit. “David wants a few days, which I’m going to try to get for him. Otherwise, I have no clue what we’re going to do.”
Sara shakes her head and strokes her chin. “There has to be some way to take away Erik’s power,” she says.
“I don’t see how. So long as he’s in good shape and winning games, he can do whatever he wants. I mean, that’s the whole thing, right? So long as he’s bringing money into the school, he’s untouchable.”
Sara snorts. “Maybe we should just break his legs then.”
I laugh a little, but the idea sounds enticing. “We could break his knees. Pull a Tonya Harding.”
“Shit, Tonya had the right idea.” Sara laughs. “Well, okay, maybe not in that case. Maybe she’s kind of a psycho. But Erik would totally
deserve it.”
“Right. So I should just, what, find him and smash his knees with a pipe? Is that what you’re saying?”
“I’m saying that wouldn’t be such a bad idea.” She shrugs. “Or maybe we can just burn down his house. I bet he doesn’t have more than one copy of that video.”
“Now you’re just getting violent.”
“What can I say, he put me in a violent mood.” She picks up her sandwich and takes a big bite.
“I don’t know how you can eat.”
“I can always eat.” She shrugs. “I’m going to go surf after this and blow off some steam. Want to come?”
“No, thanks. I think we already established that surfing is not for me.”
“Fair enough.” She laughs a little. “Look, Chloe, this is going to be okay. We’ll figure it out, okay? I’m glad you brought this to me.”
“I don’t want you to do anything,” I say. “I only told you so that you’re not surprised if I go to jail or something.”
She snorts. “You’re not going to jail. And David’s not getting fired. We’re going to figure out how to stop Erik. We just need to take his power away.”
I nod a little and manage to pick at my salad as Sara changes the topic and forces herself to talk about school instead. I appreciate the attempt, but all I can think about is Erik and what we’re going to do.
I go over to the athletics building and head upstairs for my tutoring session. I keep looking over my shoulder in the heavily carpeted hallways, looking around for Erik, but I don’t spot him anywhere. I head into the study room and find it empty, which is actually a relief. I set up shop in the far corner, my back to the wall, and kick my feet up on the chair across from me.
Sara has the right idea. Maybe not breaking his knees, but we do need to find a way to break his power. If Hardy could just see what his star player is doing and understand how dangerous and psychotic it is, he just might do the right thing. But right now, the man’s blinded by cash.
I take out a book and try to read. I’m supposed to meet with some kid on the diving team, but he’s never been scheduled before, and first-timers rarely show up. Fortunately for me, he’s about average, and ten minutes into my appointment, I’m still all alone.
At least until the door opens a crack. I sit up straight, afraid it’s going to be Erik. But instead, David steps into the room wearing his coaching outfit, the polo in team colors and a pair of black slacks and sneakers. He spots me and smiles as he walks over. I marvel up at him, at his tall, muscular frame, and I wonder how I got so lucky.
“Hey,” he says. “Glad I found you alone.”
“You’re lucky. I’m scheduled to meet with Russ the diver.”
“Russ the diver is stupid for standing you up.” David hesitates then pulls out a chair and sits.
“You probably shouldn’t be here,” I say. “I don’t think anyone else is scheduled, but sometimes people just show up to use the room.”
“I know.” He hesitates. “But I can’t help it. I had to see how you’re doing.”
I shrug. “I talked to Sara.”
“Really?”
“Told her about Erik.”
“What’d she say?”
“She thinks we need to take his power away.” I laugh a little. “Suggested we break his knees.”
David sits back and crosses his arms. He frowns at me for a long moment. “Huh.”
“She was joking,” I say. “We’re not actually going to do that.”
He keeps frowning at me and slowly tilts his head. “Huh,” he says again.
“David.”
“It’s not a bad idea,” he says. “If he can’t play, he’s not worth shit to Hardy anymore.”
“David.”
“I’m not sure how we could do it without getting caught though. But if we broke one of his knees bad enough that he couldn’t play all season, or hell, ever again, that would solve most of our problems. And the fucker would deserve it. We could—”
“David,” I say. “Stop.”
He sighs. “I know. It’s insane.”
“We’re not breaking his knees. You have to come up with another way.”
“She’s smart, your friend Sara.” He chuckles. “Although I wish she hadn’t spray painted that door. Otherwise it would’ve just been throwing toilet paper, which isn’t a huge deal. I would’ve owned up to that.”
“She wants to step up and take the blame for the spray paint, but I’m not going to let her.”
“Good friend,” he says. “But you’re right. At least one of us should be able to get away with this.”
“That’s what I said.” I stretch and yawn. “We just need to take away his power. That’s all we need to do. No problem, right?”
“Sure, no problem.” He leans across the table and reaches out, touching my face. He pulls me closer and kisses me before standing up. “All right. I just wanted to check on you.”
“No breaking his knees,” I warn.
“Sure, whatever you say.” He grins at me. “See you later, my Chloe.”
He turns and leaves the room and I let out a little sigh. A smile slips across my lips, even though all day I’ve felt like throwing up.
Hearing those words, my Chloe, makes me grin like an idiot. Despite all this, having him around, feeling him kiss me, it still drives me wild with need and joy. It’s stupid, I know, and I should be thinking more about what to do with Erik.
But instead, I just keep thinking about kissing my man and feeling him press tight against my body.
19
David
I wander through the athletics building early the next morning, my mind spinning.
Sara said we need to take away his power, and I agree. I keep coming back to breaking the kid’s knees, even though I know that’s not a realistic plan. I can’t just break into his house with a steel bat and go to town until he screams in pain and begs me to stop.
Even though that’s kind of exactly what I want to do.
I head back toward my office, going slow, staring at the floor. I think about Chloe and her beautiful lips pressed against mine, and I think about Erik’s face getting smashed against the ground.
I almost don’t see it.
I know this locker room like the back of my hand. I spend almost as much time in this place than I spend in my own apartment. I definitely think about it more, think about the layout, the way the guys more through the space, what it means for the team to exist here. I think about the flow, as weird as that sounds.
And I still almost miss the sign hanging on Coach’s door.
I double back and frown. It takes me a long moment to digest what I’m reading. Fortunately, Hardy is in early for once, so I knock on his door and poke my head inside. “Got a second?”
He grunts and nods. “Sure. Just going over yesterday’s practice.”
“I saw the sign on your door.”
“Oh, yeah, good. There are a few hanging up in the locker room. Make sure the guys all know.”
“Who’s running the drug test?” I ask. “Is this a school thing or is it the NCAA?”
“League,” he says. “Which makes it more of a pain in the ass. They have a few days to sober up and do whatever they have to do, so make sure they know.”
“Got it.” I tilt my head. “Think anyone will fail?”
“Probably,” he says and sighs. “They always do. Fucking idiots. Can’t stay off weed long enough to think straight.”
“Seems like a dumb thing to get in trouble for.”
“Weed usually gets a slap on the wrist at worst. It’s the more serious drugs. And steroids. If they’re caught on steroids, they could be done forever. That’s the sort of thing that ruins someone’s career.”
“Huh,” I say. “Let’s hope nobody’s using.”
“They’re not,” he says, frowning. “Or at least they better not be.”
“I’ll spread the word.” I grin at Hardy. “Have a good one.”
He grunt
s again and goes back to his computer. I turn and leave his office, walking fast down the hall, my steps echoing off the empty walls. I feel the seeds of a plan forming in my mind.
It’s crazy, definitely crazy, but it might actually work.
I duck inside my office and shut the door. I walk over to my desk and sit down before I stare at the wall, my mind spinning in a million different directions. I could do this, I definitely could, but it would be a huge risk and if I got caught, it would mean the end of my career. Hell, it might mean criminal charges.
But Erik deserves it. Whenever I think about backing down, even for a second, I remember the look on Chloe’s face that first night when he hurt her. I think about the satisfying way his nose cracked against my fist. I think about how much worse he deserves for all the shit he’s pulled since.
I pull out my phone, but instead of texting Chloe, I text Frank.
Me: Hey, you got a second before practice?
Frank: Sure, man, I’ve got no life.
Me: Perfect. Come to my office when you get a second.
Frank: See you soon.
I kick my feet up and lean back, frowning at my shoelaces. I’ve come up with some crazy, out-there ideas, but this is by far the riskiest thing I’ve ever seriously considered. Asking Frank about this is going to be the first step, and it might be the last, depending on how he reacts. But I’m not sure who else to go to. I could ask Chloe, she might know some undergrad that can get me what I need, but I don’t want to entangle her just yet, not if this isn’t going to be real
First, I want to make sure this plan’s going to come together. Then I’ll let her join in, because I bet she’s going to want to.
Frank shows up not long later. He comes in wearing his usual coaching outfit, the gray slacks and team polo. He grins and moves some folders from the chair in front of my desk before sitting. “Man, I always forget how small your office is.”