Chapter 45
TALLY
I’m in a fantastic mood the next morning, until Flip drops me off at my first class and the whispering begins. Then my phone starts blowing up with messages from my dad.
Dad
What the hell is going on?
WHY ARE THERE PICTURES OF YOU ALL OVER THE INTERNET?
I’m trading Flip.
I’m sending him to Winnipeg. He can freeze his ass off for the rest of his career.
Anxiety makes my mouth instantly dry. My first instinct is to ignore my dad’s messages and look at the internet, but I know better on both counts. I address my dad’s text with facts and logic.
Tally
It’s not what it looks like.
And Flip is your lead scorer. You can’t send him to Winnipeg.
Especially not with the playoffs around the corner.
Dad
YOU ARE WALKING OUT OF A RESTAURANT BATHROOM WEARING HIS DRESS SHIRT AND HE IS WITHOUT A SHIRT.
Tally
I’m aware. I was there. Please cease with the SHOUTY CAPS.
Dad
You have better sense than this.
Tally
This will be a conversation. I’m in class. We’ll talk later.
I shove my phone in my bag. I’m sitting in the middle of the row, in the middle of the lecture theater.
Leaving halfway through the lecture will only shine a bigger spotlight on me, so I’m forced to suffer through an hour of whispering and giggles.
My phone buzzes relentlessly in my bag the entire time.
I don’t have a chance to check it at the end of class because Fee and Cammie push their way into the lecture theater—it’s literally like salmon swimming upstream—to escort me out. They flank me, each hooking an arm through one of mine, and guide me into a gender-neutral bathroom.
Cammie crosses her arms and leans against the door. “We’re hanging out here until the next class is firmly underway.”
“Okay. It’s really bad, isn’t it?” The incessant chatter around me during class answered that question.
“I mean, your smutty fanfic didn’t get posted all over your residence building with your picture on it for the university to see.
But there are some photos of you and Flip walking out of a bathroom together.
You’re dressed in his shirt, and he’s minus one, so assumptions are being made. ” Cammie doesn’t sugarcoat things.
“I got my period in the middle of dinner and bled through my dress,” I explain.
Cammie and Fee both gasp. “Oh no.”
Fee’s hand goes to her chest. “So he gave you his shirt?”
“Yeah.” I nod.
“That is so swoony.” Fee’s eyes are all dreamy.
“So swoony,” Cammie echoes.
“But the whole world believes he fucked me in a super classy restaurant bathroom. We were in there for all of two minutes.” Maybe three, but still. “It would have been the shortest, quietest sex in the universe.” I rub my temples. “This is so bad. My dad is threatening to trade him to Winnipeg.”
How will I continue to function if this goes viral? The potential is there. Coach’s Daughter Gets Railed by Player in Public Bathroom is exceptionally click-worthy, even if it’s the furthest thing from the truth. Tears prick at my eyes. Things were finally settling down and now this.
Cammie’s phone pings. It’s Chase.
I need to check my messages, but I’m terrified of what I’ll find.
“Chase is waiting for us at the same exit as last time. Media have swarmed your apartment building and are waiting at the front entrance of this one.”
“The Groundhog Day vibe is strong.”
“You’ll be safe at Brody’s,” Cammie assures me.
“And I’ll bring your car over, so you have wheels,” Fee adds.
“Can you grab my dance stuff and some extra period supplies? I have practice tonight.” Getting into my apartment later will be a feat, but I can only afford to worry about one thing at a time.
“I’ll bring you a ball cap and a plain hoodie or something so you can be incognito.” Fee kisses me on the cheek, checks to make sure the coast is clear, and steps into the hall. She gives us the thumbs-up when she reaches the end.
Chase is waiting at the back of the building, and we take the trail to Brody’s place and slip through the hidden gate.
Brody’s jaw is tight, eyes sharp. “You okay?”
“It’s not what it looks like.”
“I know.” He squeezes my shoulder. “Flip wouldn’t do that to you.”
I drop into one of the chairs on his back deck.
The sliding door opens and Gage peeks his head out.
Brody pins him with a look. “Do not say anything stupid.”
“I wasn—”
“Shut it.” Mac flicks his ear.
My phone buzzes again. I finally pull it out of my bag so I can check the damage. My Babe Brigade is on fire.
Rix
Stay off socials, please.
Hammer
All socials.
Hemi
Flip should have messaged me about this last night so I could get ahead of it, but I’m running interference now.
Essie
I’m sorry
Dred
I’m seeing what kind of strings my husband and his endless-pool-of-wealth family can do. I’ll report back when I have information.
Tally
Aunt Flo made an untimely visit and ruined my dress, and my reputation. So fun.
Another slew of messages follow, all with hearts and empathy. I wish it made this suck less. I exhale my anxiety and switch to the ones from Flip.
Flip
Are you okay?
I need you to message me as soon as you see this.
I’m taking care of this now.
I’ll pick you up as soon as practice is over.
My fingers hover over the keys. I don’t even know what to say. I’m scared, I’m anxious. How will I make it through the end of the semester if I’m the hot topic on campus again?
Tally
I’m at Brody’s. Fee is bringing my car here.
Flip
I will fix this, kitten. And I will be there as soon as I can.
Tally
Okay. I might be at the dance studio later.
The humping dots appear and disappear a few times before another message pops up.
Flip
Make sure the studio is clear before you go.
Tally
I will. I’ll share my location.
Flip
Stay safe, please.
Tally
I will.
I hope that’s not a lie.
“How bad is the stuff online?” My stomach is in my throat.
Cammie and Brody exchange a look.
Mac kicks Gage when he opens his mouth.
“They’re digging into Flip’s past,” Cammie says gently.
“So all the old stuff is resurfacing?” I clarify.
“Yeah.” Chase runs his hands through his hair. It’s a tell.
“What else?” I glance between my friends.
“There are a lot of rumors floating around. They’ve gone all the way back to his university days.”
“What does that mean? What kind of rumors?”
“Just that he had a serious girlfriend at one point,” Mac says quickly.
“It’s hard to know what’s real and what’s not.” Brody’s expression is empathetic. “I’m sure when you see Flip, he’ll be able to smooth it all out.”
I feel like they’re talking around something, but my stress levels are through the roof, and I can’t process anything.
Fee finally shows up with my car. Despite my friends’ repeated attempts to get me to message my troupe and cancel, I go to dance practice.
I understand why they made the suggestion once I’m there, because I get to explain the situation and how things have been taken out of context to Charles and Arya.
Rehearsal does not go smoothly. I’m distracted, and my timing is off.
It does nothing to ease my worries or anyone else’s.
What if this one stupid mistake tanks the rest of my semester?
What if I fail my finals? What if no company wants me?
What if Flip decides I can’t handle the pressure of being his girlfriend and he breaks up with me? How heartbroken will I be then?
An hour into practice, there’s a knock on the studio door. I half expect it to be a reporter, so Arya opens it while I hide in the bathroom.
“You’re safe,” Arya calls out.
I poke my head out.
Arya is holding a box.
“It’s from Flip,” Charles explains. “There’s a card.”
I glance inside the box, which contains lunch from my favorite local bakery, chocolate, and a note:
I don’t regret taking care of you for a second, even if the media wants to twist it into something ugly. I promise I’ll fix this for us.
Xx Phillip
Arya and Charles group hug me.
“At least my dad hasn’t traded him.” Yet.