Chapter Thirty
Ashton ripped the cardboard protector off her Starbucks cup and proceeded to shred it into a million pieces.
Frank Bristol’s story had been eye-opening.
As soon as the door clicked shut, he’d spilled his guts.
How he’d met Nancy through a mutual friend.
How she’d promised to put in a good word for him at the professional level if he helped her with a player issue.
He’d thought it ended with Razor’s ejection, but she’d pressured him to file a formal complaint.
The revelations left everyone in a state of shock at how far Nancy’s betrayal went and how far she was willing to go to tear Razor down.
By the time he’d finished, everyone in the room was emotionally drained.
Even Frank, hearing his own words, had looked apologetic.
After he left, a meeting was scheduled, and decisions were made.
Ashton moved on from the cardboard and started tearing into the cup with more gusto. At first, she’d been disappointed. Now, she was angry. She was so focused on her demolition project, she barely registered Courtney’s hands on hers, stopping all movement.
“Breathe,” Courtney instructed.
Ashton looked down at the remnants in her hand and threw them into the trash. “How did it get to this? She’s my friend and our colleague.”
“She’s not your friend, Ashton. A friend wouldn’t do this.”
“I just want to know why she did it.”
“I’m not sure I want to know the why,” Courtney admitted.
“Why the hell not?”
“Because all it will do is prove Nancy is malicious, vindictive, and will do whatever, hurt whomever, to get what she wants. And the thought that I brought someone like that on to my staff makes me sick to my stomach.”
Ashton tightened her lips. She knew Courtney would kick herself for allowing Nancy to do what she did.
In some ways, Ashton felt guilty, too. All season there’d been little signs.
But she’d looked past them, believing her friend was just looking out for her, believing her friend was fearful of losing respect from the players and the coaches. Boy, how they’d all been fooled.
A sharp knock on the door startled her. Nancy walked through the door, not waiting to be invited, a sickeningly sweet smile on her face.
“I just heard the good news about Razor’s reinstatement. I knew that claim was bullshit.” She took a seat.
Courtney perched on the edge of her desk. “Yes, she’s in the process of signing her reinstatement papers right now.”
“So? What now? Want me to start practicing with her and Summer immediately?”
Her nonchalance grated on Ashton’s nerves. She wanted to scream, to tell Nancy about Frank’s confession. But this was Courtney’s show.
“No, that won’t be necessary. In fact, from now until the end of the season, Ashton and I will be assuming pitching coach duties. Effective immediately.”
The color drained from Nancy’s face. “What the hell am I supposed to do, then?”
“Nothing,” Courtney said, “because you’re fired.”
Nancy looked between them and scoffed. “You can’t fire me. My contract allows me to finish the season.”
“On the condition you fulfill your duties. I’ve talked to the bullpen, and they say you’ve been phoning it in lately. You don’t offer direction or advice. You just have them work out on their own.”
“They’re not who I was brought in to coach,” Nancy said defiantly.
Courtney’s nostrils flared. “Yes, they were, along with Summer. These girls respect you. They look up to you. They needed your experience, but you decided to throw a temper tantrum.” Nancy sulked in her chair while Courtney’s tone softened and held a tinge of sadness.
“I was willing to look past this. Let you finish the season with dignity. But I cannot do that after the latest developments.”
“And what developments are those?”
Courtney turned to compose herself, so Ashton picked up the thread.
“We talked to Frank Bristol. He told us everything.”
Nancy’s eye twitched. “I don’t care what that idiot says. You can’t prove anything.”
“Bill Storm, Summer’s father, saw you talking to Frank after the game.”
“Doesn’t mean anything. I talk to umpires all the time. You have nothing except the word of someone trying to cover his ass.”
“Except this isn’t the first time you targeted Razor, is it?”
Ashton snapped her head to Courtney. What was she saying?
“I talked to Haley. She told me what you did.”
Nancy fidgeted in her chair under Courtney’s scrutiny. She obviously knew something Ashton didn’t. Courtney turned a sorrow-filled gaze to her.
“The reason everyone turned on Razor after Gary was cleared? Nancy told the team that Razor had lied about the whole thing to get rid of Gary. Haley was too scared to contradict Nancy even though she knew the truth. So, naturally, everyone turned on Razor. Called her a liar. Because why wouldn’t they believe their coach? ”
Ashton seethed. “You caused this?”
Nancy had the nerve to look contrite. “I thought I was doing what was best for the team. We were on the verge of repeating the championship, and Gary was part of that.”
“So you manipulated the situation and threw Razor to the wolves? Humiliating her, targeting her, ostracizing her to the point she believed she’d allowed a rapist to go free?
You caused a wonderful, caring, loving person years of pain and self-doubt.
” The puzzle pieces fell into place, and Ashton gasped.
“That’s why you were hesitant to have her on the team.
You worried Razor blamed you for what happened, and she might tell everyone your secret. ”
The air left Nancy’s body in a long exhale.
“I never knew for certain if she found out it was me. I didn’t want to take the chance, but it was out of my hands.
” Nancy frowned at Courtney. “After a few weeks, I felt I was in the clear, that we could work together again. I didn’t expect she’d betray me a second time. ”
Ashton was curious about the second time comment but allowed Nancy to continue.
“After Courtney let Summer and Razor call their own games, and I saw how good they were, I knew it was just a matter of time before I was out of a job.”
“That’s when you convinced Frank Bristol to harass her and get her kicked off the team,” Courtney said.
Nancy shrugged. “He was easy to convince. The hardest part was convincing those around Razor that she wasn’t worth the time or energy.”
A light bulb went on over Ashton’s head, and she pinned Nancy with an icy stare. “It was you. You sent me those pictures of Summer and Razor together. You wanted me to suspect she was cheating on me.”
“I said I’d keep an eye on them for you.”
Ashton lunged for Nancy. Courtney stepped between them and held Ashton off, but not before Nancy jumped up and scrambled backward.
“She’s not worth it,” Courtney whispered.
“I think she is,” Ashton growled. “She nearly ruined the lives of two people, allowed a predator to go free, and for what?”
She lunged again, but Courtney pushed her back.
“There’s nothing she can do to hurt you or Razor anymore. She’s done.”
Ashton’s pulse calmed, and she returned to her seat as Courtney turned and addressed Nancy.
“I’ll give you a choice.”
“What kind of choice?”
“I can fire you right now, and by end of day, it’ll be all over the sports wire, including why I fired you.”
Nancy sighed. “What’s the second choice?”
Courtney got right in her face. “You retire. Right now. Quietly. Discreetly. Give whatever reason you want, and I’ll corroborate it.
But I never want to see you around softball ever again.
If you so much as coach a T-ball team, I’ll reveal what I know about your connection to Gary Newman and how you helped cover up his crimes. ”
Nancy looked defeated and nodded. “Fine. I’ll retire.”
Courtney went back behind her desk and shuffled some papers.
“I’ll expect a letter in my inbox by the end of day. And I want proof it’s been sent to the athletic director and the dean. You’re not to attend any practices or games this weekend, and I want your office cleared out by Monday.”
Nancy opened her mouth to protest, but Courtney’s stern look prompted her to close it. She straightened her shirt, raised her head high, and walked out of the office. No good-bye, no nothing. Just gone.
Ashton looked at Courtney, who appeared as if she wanted to slide to the floor.
“You okay?”
Courtney nodded. “That went a little better than I expected.”
“Thanks for holding me back.”
She laughed. “I almost didn’t. I would’ve loved to see her get a punch to the face, but then she’d probably sue us both, and I just want to be done with her.”
“Agreed.”
“Now she has to live with the choices she made and know they cost her the one thing she loved most.”
Ashton nodded. She knew she probably should feel some remorse, but that was long past. She wanted to focus on the future, on healing. Both tasks involved Razor as a major player, and she couldn’t wait to get started.
* * *
Razor vibrated with energy when she strolled into the sport complex.
Her meeting with the athletic director had gone as expected.
He’d apologized again, then quickly had her sign her reinstatement papers.
She was relieved when the meeting concluded, yet her mind immediately turned to Ashton and Courtney, and how things had gone with Nancy.
She approached Courtney’s door prepared to hear raised voices, but instead she stopped short as the door opened and revealed only Ashton and Courtney, in good spirits.
“Hey, you two.”
Ashton smiled. “Hey. How’d it go with the AD?”
“Smooth sailing. Papers are signed and filed. I’m officially reinstated.”
Courtney gave her a strong hug. “That’s wonderful to hear.”
“How was the meeting?” Razor asked.
“About as good as can be expected. She’s agreed to resign from her position,” Courtney said.
Razor nodded, relieved it was all over. Ashton gave her a shy smile and blushed, and her heart swelled. She loved this woman, there was no doubt about it now. And knowing Ashton had her back amplified that love.
Courtney cleared her throat to get Razor’s attention. She sported a knowing smile. “Well, I have kids to pick up from preschool before practice. I expect to see you dressed and ready in a couple of hours.”
Razor gave a mock salute. “You got it, Coach.” She turned and found Ashton’s gaze fixed on her. There was a gleam she didn’t notice earlier. “Where are you headed?” Razor asked.
“Back to my office.”
“I’ll walk with you.”
They headed toward the lobby.
“How are you?” Razor asked.
Ashton chuckled. “I’m good. How are you?”
“No, I mean, with what happened. I know Nancy was your friend.”
Ashton’s smile dimmed. “On one hand I feel foolish for not seeing her for who she truly was, but I know I can’t blame myself because she was a master manipulator.”
Razor nodded. “Yeah. She had everybody fooled.”
“Not you,” Ashton corrected. “You knew what she was capable of from the beginning. I can’t help but feel guilty for putting you in that situation again.”
“Hey.” Razor grabbed her hand as they stopped in front of the exit.
“You didn’t force me to do anything. I’ll admit, you made one hell of an argument when you came bursting into Slugfest looking all wild and…
” She stopped herself from saying sexy and cleared her throat.
“Anyway, my point is, I could’ve said no, but you saw the truth.
You knew I wanted to say yes. And while it hasn’t been ideal, I’m not sorry I did this.
If anything, I’m grateful to you for giving me this second chance. ”
Ashton smiled sweetly and gripped her hand tighter.
Razor’s thumb brushed across her knuckles, enjoying the softness underneath her fingertips.
Ashton stepped into her space and stood toe-to-toe.
Her eyes dilated and filled with a longing Razor recognized.
Ashton’s breathing shallowed, anticipation building.
Slowly, Razor lowered her head when two powerful arms wrapped around her torso in a bear hug.
“You’re back! You’re finally back!”
Razor looked down at an auburn head resting against her chest.
“If you don’t let go, you’re going to break something, and I’ll be on injured reserve again.”
“Sorry.” Summer immediately let go. “So, what’s the plan? Do we need to go warm up? Shake off the rust?”
Razor opened her mouth, but Ashton spoke first.
“I need to head to my office. Why don’t you and Razor get a jump on warm-ups. I’ll see you this afternoon.”
And just like that, she was gone. Razor looked at Summer and the smile on her lips. “What?”
“You have it bad, don’t you?” Summer said.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Hey, I get it. She’s pretty hot.”
Razor squinted. “Don’t you have a girlfriend?”
“I can look.”
She pulled Summer into a headlock and guided her down the hallway. “Come on, you. Let’s get warmed up.”