14. Talon
Talon
The pool is teeming with excitement at our upcoming finals. The last run of the season, and we’re poised to be on top. I’ve been practicing for my last heat, the last time I’ll swim for any type of team.
It wasn’t my idea in the first place, but dad insisted, so it was done. If only to get him off my back.
At the last turn, something hits the water and I have to stop myself from pushing hard off the wall. Losing my breath and heading to the surface to wring whoever’s neck is responsible for fucking up my run.
Cin wraps her hands over my shoulders and lifts all of her weight down, sending me crashing back under the surface. She lets go not long after and lets me surface, only to repeat the action again.
“What the fuck?” I shout, slinging my hair to the side and wiping a hand over it.
Coach is screaming at her, and everyone else is starting.
“You’re a fucking piece of shit, Talon Rossi,” now she’s screaming while treading water, “you have the audacity to act as if you’re God around here, yet you nearly cost a man his job.”
I smile, because holy fucking shit, I didn’t think she had it in her. Especially with an audience.
“Did you hear me? You almost cost a man his job,” she lunges toward me again when Cody swims behind her and wraps his arms around her chest.
“Let go of me.”
“You’re making a scene,” Cody whispers in her ear.
“Yeah, Spice, you’re making a scene, about time too, and with witnesses?” I tut my tongue at her, “I thought mommy taught you better.”
She struggles against Cody’s arms, and I laugh, swimming to the edge of the pool and climbing out. He lets her go and she spins around, eyes hard and flinty.
I don’t care to hear their couple squabble, so instead I head to where Coach is on his phone, calling Finnighan I assume.
His eyes catch mine, flaring wide, then his face drains of color.
That can’t be good news.
When he hangs up he mutters, “you and I need to talk.”
I can still hear Cin as she lets Cody have all of the wrath that was meant for me. It gives me a sick satisfaction watching their little ‘friendship’ crumble.
Coach signals for me to follow him to his office and on the way I swipe a towel to hook around my waist.
“What the fuck is going on?” He demands as soon as the door is shut, “Finnighan is livid with you, says you’re out of the race this weekend.”
I scoff, okay, sure.
“I’m not bluffing kid,” his face remains in its usual pissed off state and I bite the inside of my cheek to keep from doing something stupid.
“If he does that, we’ll lose,” I say confidently.
“You think I don’t know that?” He lifts his cap with one hand and uses the other to comb through his hair. Turning his back to me he inhales deep, and I contemplate leaving. I don’t need to be here for his little freak out.
With the meet tomorrow, I need to focus, and Finnighan will not be pulling me from the last fucking race. Storming to the locker room to pull on some sweats and a Ravard Ravens t-shirt, I slam the doors on my way. If I can’t hit someone, I’ll hit something else. Students who are still milling about scurry out of my way as I make my way across campus.
Finnighan’s yappy guard dog, also known as Mrs. Davis, tries to stop me the whole walk down the hallway. Going as far as stepping in my way. I’m not above knocking her down. Crashing open the doors to his office, Finnighan is on the phone with someone, and by the looks of it, it’s not a fun conversation.
Too bad for him, his day is about to get a whole lot worse.
“If you pull me from tomorrow’s race—” I begin, and he interrupts my tirade.
“You’ll be swimming, I just spoke with your father and Miss Morgan’s mother, we came to an agreement.”
“An agreement?” my anger still simmers, but I’m curious.
“That’s none of your concern,” he bristles.
Still fuming about being talked over, I leave his office and head toward my dorm. I need to call my dad and see what kind of agreement he worked out with Cin’s mother.
Henry and Banks are here, I can tell from the empty take out containers. I don’t bother them, instead I stalk to my bed and plop down on it, grabbing my cell and tapping on dad’s contact.
“You’re lucky I answered,” he says by way of greeting.
“What deal did you strike with that fucking whore?”
“Boy,” he starts, his voice commanding and clear through my speaker, “you’re going to leave that girl alone, do you hear me? One more thing and I’ll be there to personally handle your ass.”
I scoff, “yeah, okay.”
“I mean it Talon, enough. Toby can’t protect you forever, and you’re going to have to learn to accept that not all women are like your mother.”
My chest tightens, my throat goes dry, and my nose burns, “fuck you.”
Clicking the end button, I throw my phone against the wall and punch my pillows. If the athletic building wasn’t so crowded right now, that’s where I’d go.
I don’t like thinking about her, the half of my DNA that’s supposed to love her children. The half that left and never came back. The hatred I have for her runs deep, but I don’t compare other women to her.
How can I when I hardly know who my mother has become.