20
Addie
Roland picks me up in his Mercedes, along with two other guy friends in the back seat who aren’t even a couple.
Honestly, I’m a little relieved that this really does seem to be a group thing, because I have zero interest in him.
When we arrive at Fisher’s house, we have to park a block away because of all the cars.
At one time, I remember my mom telling me that when she and Dad were dating, he would drop her off at the entrance if he needed to park the car more than a few steps away. Clearly, Roland is not cut from the same cloth as my dad, which is just fine by me because I’m not in the least bit attracted to him, and this is not a date.
As we tromp down the street toward Fisher’s house, Roland walks ahead of me with his bros, passing around a flask.
Strangely, I think Coach Ford is a lot like my dad. I bet he would be super protective and attentive on a date. My stomach flutters a bit at the thought of going on a date with my coach.
I wonder what he would wear.
I wonder what I would wear.
Would I put my hair up or down?
I bet he would bring me flowers.
I bet he would not only drop me off at the entrance to the party but also hold open my car door for me. And he’d definitely never walk five steps ahead of me.
We finally make it to the party. Roland disappears immediately, supposedly to get us drinks, but never comes back. Ridley and her gaggle of mean girls are there, eyeballing me but not speaking to me. I get the feeling Roland is using me to make Ridley jealous.
I wander around the party feeling like a nun in a sex toy shop. I just don’t belong here, and soon I’m scoping the party for anyone I know well enough to give me a ride home.
Eventually I console myself with chips and salsa and find my way into Fisher’s parents’ library, where I settle into a wingback chair.
21
Weston
Ray, the men’s swim coach, pops into my office to tell me he heard about a big party tonight at one of his swimmers’ houses.
“I know these kids think we don’t hear the things they talk about in the locker room, but just wanted to give you a heads up. I think I heard something about some of your girls being invited. Knowing Roland and Fisher, there will probably be alcohol. Those twerps understand the consequences of their actions, but I feel bad for the girls getting dragged into it. You might want to talk to them.”
I wrap up my work and log back into my computer, thanking Ray for the heads up.
I don’t waste a single second in looking up where Fisher lives and staking out the place. No way in hell am I letting Shermer fuck up her life because of a dumbass party.
22
Addie
“Coach? What the hell are you doing here?”
I’m outside on the back porch, reading a book that I swiped from inside. Fisher’s mom has quite the collection of bodice rippers. Coach Ford has appeared seemingly out of nowhere.
“Shermer. Who else from the women’s team is here?”
Weird question but I’m intrigued. “Me, Ridley, Hadley, Daphne. I think that’s it.”
“Where’s Hunter? I thought the two of you—”
“Hunter’s with her boyfriend I think—that’s all I can tell you.”