13 Scottie
13
NDA – Billie Eilish
‘Failed?’ I repeated back. Jon’s stoney expression seared into me as he held the letter from the agency that had performed the drug tests. ‘How is that possible?’
He’d leaned back, his desk chair creaking on its hinges. ‘I mean this in the most respectful way, I can say it, Scottie—’
‘I’ve taken nothing,’ I assured him. ‘Not even during my time off. Did I enjoy my fair share of Champagne and cocktails, yes? But drugs, no. Not even once. I’m enough of a lightweight as it is.’
When he’d asked me to meet him in his office after practice was finished, the last thing I’d expected was to be accused of cheating. Again. But now the result of the test from a few weeks ago had come back as a fail, and there was an accusation in Jon’s tone that didn’t sit right with me.
His eyes softened slightly, his head tilting to the side. ‘If there’s a chance of anything, you know you can tell me.’
I pushed my hair out of my face, tucking it behind my ears before pressing my hands to his wooden desk. ‘I’ve put everything on the line here, Jon.’ I tried to calm my nerves, almost scared to ask my next question. ‘Do you think I’d risk that? After everything?’
‘I don’t,’ he said quickly. ‘But you understand, I had to ask.’
Relief relaxed me back into my chair opposite his desk, nodding my head as I did. ‘I know.’
‘With everything that went down with your dad, how you reacted, I knew this couldn’t be right from the moment I read it.’ I tried to hold on to his words, let them soothe the growing anxiety building, but it did little to alleviate it.
How did this happen? Was something happening to me without my knowledge again? I tried to recall the opportunities somebody had to mess with my food. I mostly drank bottled water, and always checked the seal was intact. It was a habit I’d picked up after Wimbledon, a distrust of where my food and drink came from. For a long time, I prepared my own, choosing only to drink bottled options when I was out at restaurants or bars. Therapy had eventually helped me manage the fear, but I was still easily triggered from time to time. Here, I’d felt safe with Elena preparing our food. After all, she had the Jon seal of approval, right?
‘When did you get the letter?’ I asked.
‘Yesterday morning.’
My eyebrows pressed together. ‘And you waited until now?’
He shrugged off my reply. ‘I needed to think. It’s not only our reputations on the line. Nico’s is wrapped up in this now too.’
Panic raced through my body at the mention of his name. If Nico found out about this failed test, there would be no partnership. He would never trust me. He’d have the paper evidence of exactly why he shouldn’t.
‘I don’t know how this happened, Jon. I promise, I haven’t touched anything.’
‘I believe you.’
I let a deep breath out, the tightness of anxiety loosening for a moment. Those three words soothed me more than anything.
‘Thank you.’
‘But I need to understand how this happened. I’ll dispute the test with the agency and try to get it straightened out before it all goes public.’
‘Public?’ I repeated.
He waved a hand, dismissing my obvious worry. ‘Don’t worry, I won’t let it get to that stage. We know this isn’t right.’
I nodded, trying my best to register his words. ‘My suspension isn’t officially over yet. Could they add more time because of this?
He shrugged. ‘I’m not sure. We’re going to sort this out, I promise.’ He was trying his best to be sincere, his expression relaxed and friendly. I knew Jon and could trust he would do his best to stop this. After all, it had been him who approached me, who came up with this plan for mixed doubles. His career would be affected by this too.
‘Thanks, Jon.’
‘But until then, this is best kept between us. Don’t tell anyone and let me sort it out.’
I paused for a moment, uncertainty ringing in my words. ‘You don’t think we should tell Nico?’
‘He tends to …’ Jon trailed off, his hands motioning in midair as he searched for the right words.
‘Overreact?’ I offered.
He squinted his face before rewording. ‘Nico reacts quicker than he can think sometimes. You haven’t told him about what happened … with Matteo?’ I shook my head in answer. I couldn’t be sure he would have believed me if I told him, and now that there was something else, the truth was even riskier. ‘Then he might not understand. We know how this looks to an outsider, but we know the truth. Let’s figure this out, and we’ll tell him once it’s resolved. It’d be less messy that way.’
I thought over his words, recognizing Jon knew Nico better than I did. ‘Okay, I can do that. But I don’t want to lie to him.’
‘I know, but you aren’t lying about anything. Just … waiting.’
I nodded. ‘Okay.’
‘Good. I’m glad we’re on the same page.’ Jon smiled, sitting up straight in his chair as the conversation came to a close.
‘And you’ll let me know as soon as you hear anything?’
‘Of course,’ he replied. ‘But until then—’
‘Keep it inside these four walls.’
‘Exactly,’ Jon confirmed.
Taking a deep breath, I got up from the chair, thanking him again for his help. All the while, my head kept spinning, trying to figure out if there could be any truth to the result. I had to believe there was some sort of mistake, a contamination or mix up. I’d been consistent about giving samples during my time off to ensure nothing else was happening to me without my consent.
As I opened the door of the office and slipped into the hallway, distant footsteps caught my attention.
On the other side of the long corridor, walking away from the office, was Dylan Bailey. She turned, a quick glance over her shoulder revealing the same icy expression she’d been giving me for weeks, but this time there was something resembling a knowing smile on her lips.