I quickly unwrapped the bandages and sighed with relief. No water had gotten in, though my skin looked irritated. I needed to air it out and get some Vaseline on it. So I slipped my goggles off and ripped off my rubber cap.
“Shit,” I groaned.
As I stood to my feet, Benji’s words tumbled around in my head. What did he mean by all of that? Did this have something to do with Max? Or the crew? Had they done something?
Am I in trouble?
I didn’t know what to do, but I knew who to call. I had to talk with Max. I scrambled to my feet and ran into the locker room, desperate to gather my things. I slipped into my clothes, pulled my hair up into a bun and shoved my things into my backpack. Max needed to know what happened. He needed to know that Benji was bad. That Benji wasn’t on his side.
And there wasn’t a moment to waste.
30
Max
“Rupert, I’m telling you. You paid last time. You had to settle that tab when I was drunk off my ass. So I’m picking this one up.”
He shook his head. “I invited you out. It’s my tab.”
I yanked the check from him. “Tough shit, asshole.”
He grinned. “I’m getting the next one.”
“Yeah, you are. And we’re taking shots on that one, too.”
As I handed my card and my check to the waitress, I heard my phone ringing with a familiar tune. Usually, I had my phone on silent. But, with shit the way it was right now, I had my ringer on constantly. I didn’t want to miss a call. Or a text. Or a voicemail. Or any notification from my guys, for that matter. But when I heard the ringtone I’d set specifically for Dani ringing from my pocket, I didn’t hesitate to pick it up.
“Hey there, gorgeou--”
“Max! Max. Holy shit, thank God. You have to listen.”
I quickly stood. “Where are you and what’s wrong?”
Rupert stood with me, concern etched over his face.
“Max, you have to listen to me. I just--hold on. Fuck, I can’t--”
“Deep breaths. Are you on campus?”
The waitress came back with my check and I nodded at her, stuffing everything into my pocket.
“I got the tip. Let’s get out of here,” Rupert whispered.
I pointed at the table. “Dani!”
She gasped. “Sorry, sorry. I just--I uh, I was at the pool, and I was swimming--”
“With your tattoo? Did you have it covered?”
“Damn it with the tattoo, Max! Benji was there!”
I felt my blood boiling. “What the fuck did he do to you?”
I grabbed Rupert and dragged him out of the bar. I felt all eyes on us as we rushed out the front doors. We got out to our bikes and I put her on speaker so Rupert could hear. Just in case I needed an alibi before I killed Benji myself.
“Dani, are you there?” I asked.
She sniffled. “Max, something bad is happening. This isn’t like all the other times. He was talking nonsense. Talking crazy.”