Chapter 3
CHAPTER THREE
TARYN
When I walked into the gym, I spotted Aaron cuddled up to Jenna in the top row of the bleachers.
We made eye contact, and I motioned for him to join me.
He whispered in Jenna’s ear. She nodded and kissed his cheek but watched him make his way toward me with concern.
I smirked. Seems she was smarter than Lucas.
“What’s up, Calder?” Aaron bounced up to me.
“I need a moment of your time.”
He smirked and let his eyes roam over my body. “You can have as long as you want.”
“I thought you had a girlfriend?” I smiled, letting my dimples show.
“Not if you’re interested.” He leaned closer.
He was so close, I could smell the mint of his gum. “Maybe someday,” I winked. “I need a favor, and since I saved your little girlfriend this morning, you owe me.”
Aaron grinned, “I heard about that. What can I do for you?”
That’s why I liked him. There was no attraction on my part, but a guy like him would never believe that. So, I made sure to throw in a few dimples here and a few winks there. Also, he understood and accepted the status quo.
“I need you to talk to your dad about letting Ethan back on the team.”
“Shit, Taryn.” He ran a hand through his hair. “That’s not going to be easy. The dumbass called him out in front of the entire team. My old man doesn’t take things like that lightly.”
“I know. That’s why he’s going to apologize in front of everyone at practice today.” I narrowed my eyes. “I also want you to remind him that Ethan brings in numbers. Wins bring funding. Funding keeps the boosters happy.”
“I’ll do everything I can. He knows we need Ethan to get into the playoffs, so that works in his favor.” Aaron scratched his arm, obviously nervous. “Hopefully, that’s enough.”
“Make it enough.” I stared him in the eye. “Besides helping Jenna, there are other things I’ve done for you. Don’t forget it.”
He nodded, “I’ll get it done. He’ll be practicing today.”
I turned and headed into the locker room to change for cheerleading practice. There was nothing else to say. He’d get it done or suffer the consequences.
Cheer practice smelled like sweat, hairspray, and the sharp sting of disinfectants the custodians sprayed too late in the day.
Coach Daniels paced the mat with a clipboard tucked under her arm, eyes sharp, voice clipped. She didn’t need to yell. The girls watched her hands as if they held the secrets of the universe.
I stretched without being told.
Madison was already in position. Brooke adjusted her stance and then corrected the girl standing next to her. Lila watched me, waiting.
Assets.
“Warm-up,” Coach yelled.
Jumping jacks snapped in unison, sneakers striking the mat in perfect rhythm. Sweat broke out on my brow—Texas heat, stale air, and bodies packed too closely together. My muscles protested the movements, sore from the morning workout my father had decided I “needed.”
“Five. Six. Seven. Eight.”
We moved.
“Sharper,” Coach barked.
I corrected Madison’s landing without looking at her, shifting my weight just enough that she mirrored it automatically. Brooke missed a count and flinched, eyes darting to me before Coach could react.
I didn’t look at her.
That was the correction.
“Again,” Coach said.
We ran the routine twice more. Then a third.
By the fourth pass, their breathing became ragged, and their legs began shaking. A sophomore on the end faltered, her knees dipping too low on the jump.
The coach’s gaze flicked to me.
We understood each other, and she appreciated the standard I set for our team.
“You’re late, Allison. Fix it,” I snapped.
Tears welled instantly. “I—”
“Reset,” I ignored the theatrics. “From the beginning.”
She swallowed hard and nodded. If I were that weak, my father would probably have already put me out of my misery.
Now, who was being dramatic? I smirked at the thought.
We ran it again. This time, the jump was clean.
When Coach finally blew the whistle, relief rippled through the line. Girls bent over, hands on knees, sucking in air like they’d been underwater too long.
“Hydrate,” Coach said. “And don’t forget—Friday matters. Fans come to see us as much as they do the football game.”
Friday always mattered at Ashford High during football season.
Madison collapsed beside me on the bench, laughing breathlessly. “She’s going to kill us one day.”
“Not today.” I grabbed my bag.
Brooke wiped sweat from her neck. “You’re leaving?”
“Yes.”
Madison huffed out a breath. “I thought we were going to hang out. I wanted you to talk to Mr. Tusk about my math grade.”
I raised a brow. “Deal with your own shit.”
“But Taryn—”
“No.”
Coach didn’t question it when I nodded toward the door. She never did. Like recognizes like.
As I walked out, voices followed—low, reverent, and resentful.
“She’s such a bitch.”
“She’s the only reason we placed at competition.”
“I hate her.”
“I want to be her when I grow up.”
Love-hate.
A conflict I knew and understood well.
Outside, the heat hit like a wall. The football field shimmered in the distance, empty now, but I could feel it humming with anticipation. Ethan Holt jogged toward me from the locker room, his hair still wet from the shower.
“Coach put me back on.” The relief in his voice was evident.
“I know,” I smiled.
He blinked. “Aaron talked to him.”
“Yes,” I smirked.
Ethan hesitated. “What do you need from me?”
He wasn’t as dumb as he looked. “I need you to back me up with the principle and then keep your mouth shut. Do you think you can do that?”
“Yes. Anything.” He nodded eagerly.
“Then follow me.”
I didn’t decide to ruin Lucas Rowen all at once. It’d been brewing for a while. Part of me knew it was wrong, but the other part of me didn’t give a shit.
We passed his classroom, heading to the office without slowing. I didn’t need to see him. I already had what I needed: timing, a witness, and the truth—reshaped just enough to be condemning.
As we walked, a memory surfaced uninvited.
Not of Lucas but of Adrian. My stepbrother.
Older. Smarter. And full of shit.
I’ll find a way to come back.
You’ll be fine.
You’re strong.
Lucas will still be here for you.
All of it was complete bullshit.
He just wanted to escape the aftermath, leaving me with Ben, a man devastated by grief. A man who mistook cruelty for preparation and discipline for love. I learned quickly that I was on my own—nobody gave a shit—and all their reassurances were just a waste of breath.
Rationally, I knew Adrian had only been fifteen at the time and didn’t have much choice in the matter.
But what really pissed me off was that, in all this time, he’d only visited a few times, barely acknowledging me when he did.
I’d been a stupid eight-year-old girl who idealized him.
I should have known as a step-sibling, he didn’t really give a damn.
Adrian had graduated from MIT and had an important position at NASA. I guess he just grew too busy with his life to care about what I was dealing with.
I wish he’d become less attractive, but if anything, he’d grown more so. Slim and built like a dancer with muscles that a computer nerd shouldn’t have.
Lucas, on the other hand, hadn’t left town, but he might as well have. After Adrian was gone, it didn’t take him long to forget about me.
I became invisible.
He quit coming around, not interested in the plight of a child. Only caring about himself and which girl he could lure into the bed of his truck.
What was about to happen was his fault, really. And his dumb luck that Adrian was out of my reach for now.
Principal Morales’s office smelled faintly of lemon cleaner and old books. The walls were glass, but the blinds were half-drawn, giving the illusion of privacy.
I sat when she gestured. Ethan stood until she told him to take the chair beside me.
“What can I help you with?” Morales asked, folding her hands on the desk.
I took a shaky breath. “I didn’t want to come in.” I looked down at my hands. “But after today, I don’t think ignoring it is the right choice.”
Her gaze sharpened. “Ignoring what?”
“Mr. Rowen,” I looked up, making eye contact. “His conduct toward me.”
Principal Morales’s eyebrow went up. “Explain.”
I knew he was beloved by the staff, and all the female teachers creamed themselves when he gave them the slightest attention. I really had to sell it.
“Yes, ma’am,” I spoke barely above a whisper.
“He’s been keeping me after class for no reason.
Trying to get me alone at every opportunity.
Small touches that make me uncomfortable, even when I made it clear that I didn’t like it.
” I squeezed a tear from my eye. “Today he asked me to meet him after school. Implying there would be consequences if I didn’t. ”
Ethan shifted beside me.
Morales noticed. “Why are you here?”
I narrowed my eyes at Ethan, hiding my expression behind the fall of my hair.
“I’ve witnessed Mr. Rowen’s behavior on several occasions.” His voice grew in strength. “I encouraged Taryn to report it.”
Morales studied my face—longer than was comfortable. I’m sure the old bat was panting after Lucas, too.
“Until this is reviewed,” she said finally, “Mr. Rowen will be instructed to avoid all private interactions with you. There will be a meeting with the board to address all of this. It will be completely private to protect you.” She cleared her throat. “We take these things very seriously here.”
I was counting on it.
“I’ll be happy to talk to them if needed.” I sniffed back tears, trying to hide my smile.
She looked at me with concern. “That’s very brave of you, Miss Calder. I know this was hard.”
Ethan exhaled beside me.
He’d done well. I’d forgive him for running his mouth about the bio test.
Morales’s voice softened slightly. “You did the right thing bringing this forward. You could be helping other girls who aren’t as brave as you are.”
I stood and nodded meekly in agreement.
As we left, Ethan whispered, “Did I get it right?”