Chapter 3 #2
“Discipline,” I repeat quietly. “For what?”
Principal Masters sputters. “Should we call Owen’s parents?”
“He doesn’t have parents,” Toddy says snidely. “Just that sister of his and she can barely take care of him. Look at how he is.”
I lean into him and say, “Shut your fuckin’ mouth, or you’re going to be sweeping up your teeth from the floor of this locker room.”
“You can’t threaten me like this,” Toddy says, but looks around worried.
Bucky examines his fingernails. “We didn’t hear anything. And if you know what’s best, you didn’t either,” he says to Principal Masters.
Toddy juts up his chin. “Kid has a smart mouth. He’s just as trashy as his old man and sister. He needed to be taken down a peg or two.”
Principal Masters closes his eyes and says, “Effective immediately, you’re terminated.”
The door opens, and Sheriff Matthews rushes in, his eyes taking in the room.
“Thank God you’re here! These psychopaths threatened me!” Toddy yells, looking at our crew and back at Sheriff Matthews.
“Sheriff,” I say with a nod. “Jeremy Toddy assaulted Owen Murphy, and we’ll be pressing charges. Owen’s in the hall and can give a statement.”
Sheriff Matthews looks around, and everyone nods, and he gapes at Toddy in disbelief. “You assaulted a student?”
“He tripped!” Toddy says. “You can’t listen to them. They’re biased. Probably all fucking his sister. That’s why they all have that slut’s brother’s back.”
My fist makes contact with Toddy’s face, and satisfaction fills me.
Sheriff Matthews pushes himself between us.
I step back. Whatever happens next, that was worth it. For Owen and Poppy. Especially for Poppy. I won’t let anyone disrespect her like that.
“You saw that! Arrest him!” Toddy sputters, wiping the blood from his mouth and nose.
“I actually didn’t see anything. I was looking at the kid in the hall, whom you just said terrible things about and his family. What happened? Did you trip?” Sheriff Matthews asks, pretending to be concerned.
I laugh as the guys follow me out into the hall. I slip an arm around Owen’s shoulders. He leans into me, little fingers gripping my sleeve.
“We need to call his sister,” Principal Masters says, looking like he does not want to make that call.
Owen whispers, “Are you sure you want to do that? She’s gonna be so mad. She’ll probably weld all their truck doors shut.”
I chuckle because, honestly, Owen isn’t wrong. Poppy’s going to be pissed as hell about this. And God help them all when my sister Cami gets wind of this. Toddy might as well change his name and go into witness protection at this point.
“Owen’s leaving with us,” I tell him, looking at the exhaustion on Owen’s face. What Owen needs is a shower, fresh clothes, and a breather from this shithole.
Principal Masters starts to object. “He can’t just leave with you. His guardian needs to approve.”
“I’m his emergency contact,” I remind him.
“And you’d better believe he’s not staying here after this.
He needs a damn minute.” I glare at him until he relents with a resigned nod.
“You should have kept him safe. Toddy better not have access to kids ever again at this school, or I’m coming for you and your job next. ”
“And now I have to find a new coach,” Principal Masters mutters, shaking his head.
Owen leans in and whispers, “I have basketball tryouts today after school.”
I turn and glower at the principal. “He’ll be back for tryouts. And there better be no funny business.”
Bucky nods toward the exit. “Let’s move out.”
We leave the school in formation, Owen surrounded by turnout gear and people who love him without question.
Kids peer out from classrooms as we pass.
Owen notices, and his chin lifts.
I catch his eye and smile. “We got you, Buddy.”
And the little spark of pride on his face makes my chest feel tight.
Nobody messes with him. Not when he has me. And definitely not when he has us.
The station felt like a safe house the second we walked through the bay doors, with the smell of beef stew simmering in the kitchen.
Owen now has an ice pack pressed to his cheek and a bowl of stew in front of him.
The guys made sure he got the biggest piece of cake, too.
That alone tells him he belongs here. He looks tired.
Sheriff Matthews came, got his statement, and looked madder than a hornet.
It’s safe to say Toddy isn’t going to have a good day today. Asshole.
“Oh, man. Even you guys have the Crock Pot,” Owen says with a groan but grins.
But it does feel good to see him smile. I’ll take it. “One day you’ll learn to love the Crock Pot.”
He shakes his head and his bruise looks even redder.
“We have to tell Poppy,” I say gently, sitting down beside him.
He nods without looking up. “I know. You know she’s going to be so mad.”
“Not at you,” I tell him. “But Coach Toddy is probably getting a glitter bomb sent to his house by my crazy sister, Cami.”
He throws his head back and laughs. “We both have crazy sisters.”
“Yeah, we do.” I sigh and think about my sister Cami, who on more than one occasion has done crazy shit.
She’s been compared to Beth Dutton from Yellowstone.
Combine her with Poppy and it’ll be quite the storm.
Those two are going to be so mad when they find out that Coach put his hands on Owen and said those things.
I don’t even know how to begin to tell her any of this.
“Owen.” I nudge his shoe. “You can’t be scared to call us. We’re your family. You always call when you need us no matter what.”
His throat bobs as he swallows. “I just don’t want to bother Poppy. She’s stressed, Ollie. She isn’t doing good with money. I think my dad comes and takes it from her.”
My jaw locks so hard it hurts. I’m not sure all of the details of her and Sully’s arrangement, but I don’t like it one bit. Sully’s only done three things right in his life. Marry Grace, and have Poppy and Ollie, and that’s it. He doesn’t deserve any of them.
“Even when it’s stressful, we gotta know what’s going on. We can talk to Poppy together.”
Owen nods and pulls his knees up in the chair. “Everything has been hard lately. But you help us. And the guys, too. We’re lucky to have you.”
“Hey.” I tilt his chin up, so he sees me. “We’re the lucky ones, bud.”
The crew pretends not to watch, but they are all listening. That is what we do here. We keep our eyes on our people.
I pull out my phone to text Poppy.
Me: How’s your day going?
Poppy: Swamped. Think you could get Owen from tryouts today? He’s nervous he won’t make the team. I hate that coach.
Oh, I hate him too. And she’s going to hate him even more when I tell her tonight what happened.
Me: No problem. Get caught up. I’ll get him all set and bring him home after.
Poppy: You’re a lifesaver! Thanks!
Later, when my shift ends, I drive Owen back to the school for basketball tryouts. He keeps his head down, but he walks a little taller than this morning.
Principal Masters steps out of the gym the moment he sees us. He looks like a man who has aged five years since lunch.
“Owen,” he says carefully. “I’m sorry about earlier. Coach Toddy won’t be coming back.”
Owen nods, polite but still leery, and I can’t say I blame him. I still don’t trust Principal Masters either.
“Who’s coaching?” I ask, seeing all the boys lined up on the court, practicing free throws. They keep anxiously glancing around, and it dawns on me that they’re looking for Toddy. Asshole probably made these kids so nervous.
Masters sighs. “We don’t have a coach lined up to replace Toddy, yet.”
“I’ll do it,” I say before I even think. It just comes out.
Masters looks surprised. “You will?”
“Sure.” I shrug.
Masters straightens and looks me in the eye. “Thank you. For what it’s worth, you’d make a much better coach.”
“Listen,” I tell him. “Owen’s not my kid, but I don’t let anyone mess with him—or anyone else’s kid, for that matter. I’d commit war crimes to protect any of these kids. I’ll keep them all safe. That much is true. That should be your focus. Keeping kids safe.”
Masters’ eyes widen before he nods hard. “Thank you. I’ll email you a few forms I need you to fill out for the district, but you’ve volunteered for us before, so it shouldn’t be a problem as long as you don’t punch anyone.”
Owen grins up at me like I just promised him the moon.
“You got it,” I agree, except for the punching part. I’d do it again if I needed to.
We step closer to the court. Nervous kids dribble basketballs and check over their shoulders.
I skim down the roster and see fifteen names—a perfect team.
No one needs to be cut. Owen told me Toddy threatened to cut almost all of them.
That makes my teeth grind all over again.
They should be having fun, not being threatened and bullied by a coach.
I clap my hands loudly, and it echoes.
“All right,” I call out. “Listen up. I’m your new coach. Coach Ollie. There will be no cuts. You show up, you work hard, you’re on the team.”
Heads lift, spines straighten, and hope sparks. Then they cheer and fist-bump each other.
Owen looks happy as he lines up with the other kids.
Okay, I think. Let’s do this.
This is what it should be like. Someone stepping in and keeping kids safe.