Chapter 15 #2
“I didn’t think everyone would believe it,” he says. “Not like that.”
The room holds the admission in a silence that feels too large for Marsh’s office.
“You added something to Jude’s blocker today to weaken it,” Marsh says, each word careful enough to count. “What did you add?”
Tate swallows nervously. “Just some lotion.” He digs into his pocket and pulls something out before placing it on Marsh’s desk. “It wasn’t going to do anything, just…”
I glare at the tube, my eyes widening as I recognize the brand. “You little fucking… Tate, that’s a scent enhancer. It would blast his fucking scent everywhere. What the actual fuck?” I start toward him, Coach’s growl keeping me from doing anything stupid.
Coach takes a moment and then faces Tate again. “Seeing by the surprise on your face, you were stupid enough not to check what you were doing. Which also tells me this wasn’t all your idea.”
Tate nods once, then puts both hands over his face. “Yes, it… Reece said it would be harmless. I just… Jude wasn’t supposed to be this good the second time around and we… he….” He trails off but I’ve stopped listening.
The athletic director asks the required questions after that.
Tate answers badly, then better, then in full sentences once he realizes denying anything will only make the footage play again.
He says Reece caught him outside the showers before practice.
He says Reece told him Tate owed him for keeping his name out of last year’s mess.
He says Reece wanted Jude rattled because Jude had his chance to shine and he ruined it.
Marsh asks if Reece said what happened last year. Tate shakes his head, but his eyes don’t lift from the floor. “He said Jude got what he earned,” Tate says. “He said if Jude hadn’t tried to act like he belonged in the lanes with real swimmers, none of it would’ve happened.”
I hold back a snort as the security guard moves to grab Tate’s shoulder and guide him out of the room.
He stops just before the door, the athletic director a few inches from him.
“I understand competitiveness. I understand the need not to lose to an Omega as an Alpha. But I don’t understand your need to destroy a teammate, let alone put him in harm’s way.
Today could have gone horribly but last year?
He could have been ripped to shreds or drowned.
You weaponized his own biology against him, Tate.
This isn’t just grounds for removal from the team.
It’s expulsion and very possibly criminal charges you’ll be facing. ”
Tate lets out a small sob as he twists around. “Can I at least tell Jude I’m sorry. I didn’t mean…”
“No,” Marsh answers, and for the first time all afternoon, something in me unclenches. “You don’t deserve to ask him for anything right now. The fact that you think a mere apology will do anything for him tells me you still don’t understand the gravity of your actions.”
I merely just watch as the security guard guides Tate outside, letting myself relax for a second before Marsh nods toward the door.
The athletic director slips out and then pulls Reece in.
He arrives irritated, not scared, and that tells me plenty.
His warm-up jacket is unzipped, hair damp from the pool, expression already set into the bored mask he uses when he thinks everyone else is moving too slowly for him.
He looks at Tate’s empty chair, then at the monitor, then at me.
“Is Tate having a breakdown?” he asks.
Marsh points to the chair. “Sit down.”
Reece sits, but does it like a favor.
Marsh tells him Tate gave a statement. He tells him the footage shows Tate switching Jude’s blocker. He tells him Tate said Reece supplied the tube and ordered him to make the swap.
Reece laughs once. “Tate said that?”
“He did.”
“Tate would say anything if he thought it made him look less pathetic.”
Marsh doesn’t react. “Did you give him the tube?”
“No.”
“Did you discuss Jude’s blockers with him?”
“No.”
“Did you have access to Jude’s bag last year?”
Reece’s eyes move to me for half a second before returning to Marsh. “I don’t know what Tate told you, but you’re reaching. Jude had a public meltdown last year, and everyone’s desperate to pretend it was some conspiracy because he swam one decent heat and got himself a little fan club.”
The athletic director says, “Reece.”
Reece leans back, smiling now because he thinks he found the soft place in the room. “What? We’re all supposed to act like he wasn’t unstable? Like he didn’t make half the team deal with his Omega shit because he couldn’t manage himself?”
Marsh stands slowly and the smile fades from Reece’s face.
“You are barred from team activities pending investigation,” Marsh says. “You will not enter the ready room, locker room, pool deck, supply areas, or team meetings. You will receive written notice from the athletic office and conduct office before the end of the day.”
Reece looks at the athletic director. “Based on Tate lying?”
“Based on Tate’s statement, current sabotage of another athlete’s medical safety protocol, and your conduct in this room,” the director says, sounding like she has finally remembered what her job is supposed to be.
Reece’s gaze cuts back to me. “You’re captain. This looks bad for you too, standing here like his boyfriend with a badge.”
I count to three before answering, refusing to give Reece the last word.
“I’m not here as his boyfriend. I’m here as the team captain, trying to figure out why teammates are pitting themselves up against each other.
Adding scent enhancer to someone’s blockers is a criminal offense, Reece, and I can’t stand for that on my team.
If I was really here as his boyfriend, my arm would be at your throat as I demanded the truth. ”
Reece huffs and heads back out, the athletic director giving us nod and disappearing as well. I push to my feet, ready to leave when Marsh’s voice stops me in my tracks.
“I should have asked more questions last year,” Marsh sighs, running a hand down his face.
“However, I only got hired right around that incident and the evidence was compelling. Jude insisted that it just happened, that it was a mistake but it never made sense.” He frowns at the open tab on his computer.
“I don’t understand why they’re still so mad at him. ”
“Because they’re arrogant and believe they should be at the top. I’m going to tell Jude where we are with this but I know for a fact Reece isn’t letting this go. He’s going to try something else or slip up somewhere and I’ll be right there showing everyone.”
Coach Marsh just shakes his head. “There’s no point in asking for you to handle this responsibly, is there?”
“That has long since passed. He’s not just my teammate or an Omega anymore and I don’t want him to be afraid of the one thing he loves.
He still flinches around the sounds, the whistles, and the chaos, all because someone thought he wasn’t worthy of being in the water.
When I catch Reece, everyone is going to know what he did.
” A sly grin spreads across my face. “And yes, there will be criminal charges.”
For a moment, I wonder what will happen to the swim team but in the end, it doesn’t matter. Jude’s safety and happiness means more to me than that. Coach Marsh seems to understand that and just nods.
“I think we’ll be seeing a lot of changes over the next few weeks when it comes to this program, Bishop. I, for one, will be happy for them.”
I nod and head out, shooting a text to Hollis and Jude.
Me: Where are you?
HOLLIS: I’m cuddling my Omega. He’s very warm.
JUDE: In my room.
I rush over there, unsurprised to find the curtains drawn and Hollis all but swarming Jude between the pillows and blankets of the nest. Hollis is behind him, arms wrapped around his middle, chin on Jude’s shoulder, purring with a rough edge that tells me he has been doing it for too long without stopping.
Jude looks up before I close the door. “Tell me.”
I sit on the floor in front of him, loving the way Jude pulls me closer. “The camera caught Tate going into your bag and adding a scent enhancer to the tube,” I say. “Marsh installed cameras after last year. That’s why they had footage this time and not then.”
Jude looks down at the blanket. Hollis' arms tighten, then loosen when Jude’s hand settles over his wrist.
“Tate folded,” I continue. “He admitted Reece gave him the tube today and told him to add the substance. Tate’s being expelled and criminal charges will be brought against him for attempted assault and whatever else can be pinned on him I guess.
They still don’t have the missing tube from last year or footage from then.
They don’t have enough to prove the old sabotage yet but Reece is on probation too. ”
Jude opens his eyes again. They are wet, but his voice is steady. “So I wasn’t crazy.”
I reach for his hand slowly, palm up on the blanket between us. He looks at it for a moment before sliding his fingers into mine.
“No,” I say. “You were never crazy.”
Hollis makes a sound against Jude’s shoulder and presses his face there. “I’m sorry,” he says, voice breaking around the words. “I’m so sorry.”
Jude turns his head enough for his cheek to brush Hollis' hair. “You didn’t do it.”
“I wasn’t there.”
“Neither was Bishop.” Jude’s fingers tighten in mine when he says it, like he knows exactly where my guilt has been living and refuses to let it become the loudest thing in the room. “You’re here now.”
I bring his knuckles to my mouth and kiss them once. “I’m here now.”
After a while, Jude looks at me. “Reece will try again. He will. Tate folded, and Reece doesn’t know how to lose quietly.”
I nod. “I told Marsh that even if Reece was suspended, that wouldn’t keep him away from you and trying to sabotage everything. We just have to catch him red handed. However, now that he knows there are cameras…”
Jude shrugs. “He’ll do something stupid. I’ll just keep a tube on me, okay? There’s another meet and he’s definitely going to try something.” Jude slides his hand into mine, tugging me into the nest beside him as Hollis’ purr deepens. “I want him to lose because I win.”
I understand him perfectly.
I kiss his knuckles again. “Then we make sure he has an audience.”