A part of me wanted to shove right through the other teammates, yank Melanie up by the collar of her shirt, and shove her on the ground too. No words, just actions…but I couldn’t do that. I would never touch a woman like that—let alone an athlete of mine—and even if I was that kind of man, this is Bennett University. I am a replaceable coach. Melanie has a father who attends all the races and donates handsomely to the school, especially to the track team. And how do I know that? Because Hamilton has mentioned it to me several times.
Hamilton can’t stand Melanie’s dad, and she also can’t stand Melanie. They’re selfish, greedy, privileged people. Everything was handed to Melanie, including this scholarship, and she isn’t even that damn good. Definitely not worthy of a full-ride athletic scholarship to an Ivy League college.
I was outraged by what happened to Amber, I really was. But what could I have done? I’ve yelled at Melanie before and it resulted in me being suspended from coaching two games, all thanks to Mr. Howard demanding it from Hamilton. Hamilton had no choice after the dean told her to make it right.
After putting Amber on the back of the golf cart, I get behind the wheel and drive back to the tunnel. I glance over my shoulder once, but Amber isn’t looking my way. Her focus is behind her, staring back at the track and field. I don’t know why I feel a tightening in my chest when I notice.
When I’m in the tunnel, I park the cart close to the hallway where the locker room is and climb out, picking her up in my arms.
She yelps and clings to me, avoiding my eyes. The conditioning room is two doors down from my office. I swing the door open and walk inside, placing Amber down on one of the tall, wide tables. Amber clutches her ankle and winces.
“Veronika should be here any minute.”
She nods and then sighs. “I’m going to be late for class.”
“You’ll be fine. Kids here are always late.”
She’s quiet a beat. “Do you think it’s too late to transfer to another college?”
I fight a smile. “You’re on a scholarship. You’d breach it, and I’m sure wherever you go next, you won’t be able to run with a team.”
“I know.” She shrugs, but I notice the strain in her smile.
“Let me get you more ice.” I walk away before I can say anything else. I can’t look at her while she pities herself like that. A good athlete. A broken athlete. She’s supposed to be happy here—eager to practice and hang out with her teammates, not wanting to transfer.
I walk to the freezer and take out another ice pack. As soon as I turn around, Veronika charges into the room, taking off her satchel bag and tossing it on a chair in the corner.
“Sorry it took me so long!” she chimes, and for once I’m grateful that Veronika is here. She talks a lot, like a lot, but she’ll be a good distraction for me right now.
I don’t know what else to tell Amber. I don’t know how else to give her hope. I feel like a fucking pussy for not saying anything to Melanie at the very moment I saw her foot swing over. Amber won’t understand why I held back, but I need this job. This is the first real, professional job I’ve had and it took a lot of patience and effort for me to get here.
I think of my mother and the loneliness that follows her around like her own shadow. The sadness that will never go away. If I didn’t have this job—this career—I wouldn’t be able to help her. I can’t lose it because some selfish girl is hatefully jealous of another. Amber will only be here for four years and Melanie finishes this year. I plan on being here for the next decade-and-a-half or more, if I’m lucky.
I place the icepack on the bed as Veronika inspects Amber’s ankle. “Are you in severe pain?” she asks, examining the swollen side carefully.
“It hurts, but it’s not completely unbearable.”
“Hmm. Well, it looks like it could just be a mild sprain to me.” Veronika places Amber’s foot down. “I think you might have rolled it a little too hard. How did this happen?”
“We were running on the trail that leads to the football field.” I speak before Amber can say anything. “She might have caught one of the branches.”
Amber glances at me, and then lowers her head. I hate that look. I know she hates me right now for lying about what really happened to her, but I have to. This is to protect her. Veronika has a big mouth. She’d tell everyone the truth, including Amber’s teammates and it will only result in more drama for Amber. She doesn’t need that.