Chapter 35
SADIE
Once practice is over, I can barely walk. Coach Lauda trained us harder than before. It was drill after drill, and now my legs are mush.
“Bloody hell. Do you think Coach was trying to compensate for something?” I ask Vanessa on our way out of the locker room.
“I think she’s peeved that it took pressure from Coach Clarkson to get Nick Fowler dealt with.”
“Yeah, I’m not happy about that either. Why couldn’t the school do it from the get-go? It’s bloody aggravating.”
“Do you think he got involved because he’s your dad?”
I clench my jaw tight, not knowing how to answer that. When I don’t reply right away, Vanessa continues.
“Sorry. I didn’t mean to put you on the spot.”
“It’s okay. I don’t know. I…. We aren’t close anymore.”
“Shit. I had no idea, Sadie.”
“It’s okay.”
My mood has definitely taken a swing downward. Dad meddling in the Nick situation, plus what happened this morning is doing my head in. I don’t know how to feel about him.
Vanessa, probably sensing the switch in my disposition, doesn’t say another word. We continue the trek down the hallway in silence until we’re out of the building and she nudges my arm.
“That ought to cheer you up,” she says.
My head had been elsewhere, so I didn’t see Danny standing in front of his car waiting for me. He’s leaning against the door with his legs crossed and hands in his pockets in a casual stance. The pose has pushed his jeans lower, showing a hint of golden skin.
Damn it, now I’m drooling.
I was never one prone to big displays of affection in public, but I find myself running in his direction.
He straightens before I jump into his arms and seal my lips to his.
Laughing, he kisses me back with a whole lot of enthusiasm.
We only break apart when Vanessa and my other teammates start wolf-whistling and making crude remarks in jest.
“Hi,” he says, smiling from ear to ear.
“Hi. I didn’t expect to see you here.”
“I wanted to surprise you.”
“I see you survived the meeting with Dad in one piece.” I press my hip against his crotch.
“Barely.”
“Was it that awful?”
“It could have been worse.”
“What did he say to you?”
“He hasn’t forbidden us to date, but he doesn’t want to see any PDA in front of him.”
I twist my face into a grimace. “Like I’d want to do that.”
“I hope you aren’t busy. I want to take you out on a proper date.” He reaches for a strand of my hair and rolls it around his finger in a distracted motion.
“I’d love to, but can this date be for takeout we get to eat in bed? I’m knackered. Coach worked us hard today.”
“In bed, huh? I think that can be arranged.” He kisses the corner of my mouth, making me melt on the spot.
“Get a room, you two,” Vanessa hollers.
I step back from Danny’s embrace and glower in her direction. “Piss off, Castro.”
Danny laces his fingers with mine and tugs my arm. “Come on. I’ll walk you to your car.”
“Maybe drive me to it?”
He quirks an eyebrow. “Really? You can’t walk? I thought you were a top athlete.”
I hit his chest playfully. “Shut up. I was five minutes late today, so I had to park all the way in the back. And didn’t you hear me when I said Coach Lauda destroyed us?”
He laughs. “I’m just teasing you, sugarplum. Come on.”
It literally takes less than a minute to drive to where my car is parked.
I get out quickly before I get too comfortable and decide I don’t need to drive today at all.
Danny waits so I can follow him. I blow him a kiss, and I’m still smiling when I face the side of my car and get the shock of my life.
The window is busted, and someone spray-painted “Cunt, you will pay.”
The blood in my veins grows cold, and my entire body is paralyzed. I hear Danny’s door open, but I can’t take my eyes off those awful words.
“Sadie?” he calls, then says, “What the fuck?”
“I-I can’t believe someone would do this,” I say, disheartened.
“I’m going to kill him,” he grits out.
His statement snaps me out of my shock. I look at him wide-eyed. “You don’t think Nick Fowler did this, do you?”
“Who else, Sadie? You shot him down multiple times, and your dad got him expelled.”
I shake my head, still in denial. “You won’t do anything. Promise me, Danny.”
His face is beet red, and the fury shining in his eyes tells me he has murder on his mind. I can’t let him go after Nick and destroy his career. I grab him by the arms and shake him a little.
“Danny, please. If you love me, you won’t go after Nick.”
“How can you ask me that? He’s threatening you.”
“Let the authorities deal with him.”
“Do you know how impossible your request is?”
“Fine. I’m calling on my favor, then.”
His jaw drops, and the look in his eyes tells me he didn’t expect that. “Are you serious?”
“Dead serious.”
My heart is thundering in my chest now. I hadn’t considered the implications of the words sprayed on my car until Danny pointed it out. I try to control the fear that’s constricting my chest, but the familiar panic is rising. I let go of him and hug my middle.
He pulls me into his arms and hugs me tightly. “I won’t let anything happen to you, Sadie. I promise you.”
I bury my face in his chest, curling my fingers around his T-shirt while I try to force my heart to slow down. Being surrounded by Danny’s strong arms does help to keep my fear at bay. I want him to take me away, but not until we deal with this situation properly.
“We need to call campus security,” I say.
A car pulls up behind Danny’s. It’s Vanessa. She lowers her window and sticks her head out.
“What’s going on?”
I ease out of his embrace to reply, “Someone vandalized my car.”
“What?” she shrieks.
She’s out of the car in the next second and staring at the damage.
“Son of a bitch. Do you think this is Nick Fowler’s doing?” she asks.
“Who else?” Danny replies angrily.
Vanessa has her phone out and glued to her ear before we can say anything else. She calls Coach Lauda first, then campus security. I let Danny steer me to his car and wait for everyone to arrive at the scene inside and away from prying eyes.
My teammates are the first ones to see the damage, but then Coach Lauda appears with my father in tow. Great. I hadn’t considered that she would call him too. Both stare at my car for a brief moment before they exchange words in hushed whispers.
“I’m going to talk to them,” Danny tells me.
“Okay.” I sink deeper in the seat, crossing my arms in front of my chest.
I should be the one speaking to them, but I’m still reeling from the ugliness of the situation. I know once I’m over the shock, anger is going to take control, and the thirst for retaliation is going to light my veins on fire.
I probably spaced out, because I get spooked when Dad knocks on the window. Clenching my jaw, I lower the barrier.
“What?”
“Are you okay, honey?”
“I’m fine.”
He frowns, obviously not believing the lie.
“Do you want to stay at my place for a few days?”
I swallow the huge lump in my throat. I don’t know why his offer makes me want to cry. It’s like I’ve reverted to my six-year-old self who would love nothing more than to let her father protect her.
“I want to stay with Danny,” I reply.
Dad’s jaw clench tells me he’s not happy about my answer, but what can he do?
“All right. We’ll get to the bottom of this, sweetheart. You don’t have to worry, okay?”
“I’m not worried.”
It takes another fifteen minutes to be done with the circus. I have to answer the campus security questions, but my testimony isn’t that helpful. Sure, we all suspect Nick Fowler, but without eyewitnesses, there’s nothing they can do.
On the way to Danny’s place, my mood switches from stunned to aggravated. When he parks in front of his building, I want to smash things. My hands are balled into fists, and my nails are digging into my palms’ soft flesh.
“We’re here.” Danny covers my hand with his.
“I know.”
“Tell me what I can do to help.”
I look at him and wrestle to find the right answer. I don’t want him to pick up on my murderous vibe. It took a while to calm him down and dissuade him of the idea of kicking Nick’s ass.
“How about that date?”
He stares at me as if trying to read my thoughts. “Anything you want.”
I touch his face. “I want tacos, a silly movie, and you.”
He takes my wrist, turning my hand around to place a kiss on my palm. “That can be arranged.”