Chapter 21
Tessa
After Evie leaves, I close my eyes and let my body rest. I’m hoping I can rest for a little bit and sort of forget everything for just a little while.
Thankfully, I fall asleep and sleep for several hours.
When I wake up, my nose still hurts; but I feel a little better.
I sit up and start getting ready to grab something to eat and then work on schoolwork before I have to work tonight.
I also need to check in online and see what I missed today in my classes.
I grab my phone to sign in and see a few missed texts.
I’m surprised to see one from Slater. I open that one first.
Slater- hey, just checking to see how you’re feeling. Text me when you wake up, and I’ll bring you food.
I read it several times. Each time, it sets off the same kind of butterflies in my stomach. I don’t answer that text yet, because I don’t know what to say. I open my text from Evie next, and my stomach drops.
Evie- I know you’d want to know. Slate’s out for the rest of the season. His coach cut him.
I stare at the words in horror, reading and re-reading them.
Then I stand to my feet and find my shoes.
I pull up the campus directory and locate Coach Goodwin’s office.
I don’t even bother with my hair. It’s two-thirty now.
I have to get to his office before soccer practice starts at three.
I’m still wearing Slater’s sweatshirt; I’m pretty sure I’m never taking it off.
I book it across campus. I keep checking my phone as I go, making sure I can get there in time.
The walk is a whole lot longer on foot than it is driving, and it takes me forever to get to the building where the offices are.
I finally make it almost to the building.
My heart drops when I see Coach Goodwin and a few other members of his coaching staff come out of the building.
I break into a jog. “Coach Goodwin.” He doesn’t even look my direction as he and his staff walk out onto the field.
I can see Slater’s teammates warming up out of the corner of my eye, but I don’t look over at them.
“Coach Goodwin,” I call louder. A few of his staff look over at me, but not him.
Frustration burns through me, but I refuse to give up.
I run towards the field, but somebody in a security vest stops me.
Relief flows through me when I see that it’s Damien, one of the guys I work with.
“Damien, I need to see Coach Goodwin. It’s really important. ”
He takes a look at my face and frowns. “What happened?”
I use it as leverage. “That’s what this is about. It’s about one of his players.” He frowns harder. “Please, I just need like thirty seconds with him.”
He stares down at me and then caves. “Thirty seconds, Tessa.”
I breathe a sigh of relief. “Thank you! I owe you!”
“I'll remember that!” he calls out after me.
I race after Coach. “Coach Goodwin,” I call out again.
This time he stops and turns to face me, irritation all over his face.
I’ve seen him in action over the years, and he is not a guy you want to get on the wrong side of.
But I remind myself this isn’t about me; it’s about Slater.
I force myself to keep walking forward, even though my brain is screaming at me to turn around.
One of the assistant coaches puts a hand up, stopping me.
“No students are allowed on the field.”
“I know. I just need to talk to—”
“Whatever you need, you’ll have to set up an appointment, just like everybody else.”
I watch in frustration as Coach Goodwin walks further away. “It’s about Slater Thorne!” I call out, desperation filling me. That makes him stop. Coach turns around and motions me forward. Relief and terror both flood through me, and I force my wooden legs to walk over to him.
“This had better be important for me to delay practice,” he says before I even get close.
“Having your best player play for you in the playoffs is,” I return, still walking towards him.
He doesn’t even wait for me to get to him. “What?”
The words I’d been rehearsing on my way over suddenly flee; my mind goes completely empty. I finally reach him and try to find words...any words. Coach’s frown deepens. “What happened to your face?”
I suck in a breath. “That’s what I’m here to talk to you about.”
“Slate do that to you?”
I suck in a breath and promptly choke on it. “Slater? No! Slater would never hurt me or anybody for that matter. That’s what I came to—”
“Is that what the fight was about?”
“Well, yes. He—”
“The boy Slate had against the wall. He hurt you?”
“Yes. I mean he didn’t mean to, but—”
“You Slate’s girl?”
I struggle to keep up with his onslaught of questions. I don’t know how to answer that one. “Yes,” a new voice says, joining us. Ben, Slater’s teammate and the team goalie, joins us. “She’s Slate’s girl.” I don’t get a chance to deny his words.
Coach turns to one of his assistant coaches.
“Call him. Tell him to be on the field in ten minutes or there won’t be a spot for him.
” Relief flows through me so fast, I can hardly breathe.
Right after that, though, comes the panic because what if he can’t get here that fast. I turn to Ben, panic in my eyes.
“It’s fine,” he says quietly. “He’s in the weight room; he’ll make it.” He looks over my shoulder. “There he is.” Then he looks down at me again. “Thank you.”
His words barely register, and I turn around.
Sure enough, Slater jogs towards us, coming from the main building.
His eyes are fixed on me, and nerves flood my system.
Will he be mad at me for interfering? I figure now is a good time to make my escape, before he gets here.
I take a few steps that way, but Ben figures out I’m trying to escape and stops me with a hand on my shoulder.
“You trying to run now? You already did the hard part.”
“Is there a reason you’re touching her?”
Slater’s voice reaches my ears, and I feel my already taut nerves tighten more. “Just keeping her here for you, Man.” Ben says, lifting his hands away. “She was trying to run.”
Slater eyes me, and I can see the questions in his eyes. I glance at his coach, wondering if I’m going to have to explain everything, or if he will. “You have your girl to thank for getting your position back,” Coach Goodwin says.
“I’m not—” I start.
“You are,” both Slater and Ben say at the same time, silencing me.
“Now, get on the field, both of you.”
Slater turns those dark eyes on me. “Thank you,” he breathes and then shocks me by leaning forward and placing his lips on my forehead.
“Slate, let’s go!” Coach calls out.
Slater doesn’t move. “You good to get back?”
“Yes. Go. I didn’t go through all that, so you get kicked off the team for talking to me. Go!”
“I’ll call you.” And then he turns and sprints across the field. I watch him go. My eyes zero in on his calf muscles as he runs. I shake my head and force myself to turn away and head back to my dorm. When I pass Damien, I thank him again.
“That was longer than thirty seconds,” he points out.
“I know, but it was worth it. Thank you. And it won’t happen again.”
I make the walk back to my dorm room much slower this time. When I finally make it back to my room, there’s a Styrofoam box sitting on the dresser with my name written in marker. “Oh, hey, you’re back,” Stephanie says, coming out of the bathroom. “A guy stopped me and gave that to me for you.”
“A guy?” I ask.
“Yeah. He said he was a friend of Slater Thorne’s, the good-looking one.” She puts her hands up. “His words, not mine.”
I laugh. “Then it was probably Quint.”
“Yeah, I think I remember him saying that.”
I open the box and groan. “Street tacos.” I take the box and carry it over to my bed. “I am so hungry. You want some? I won’t be able to eat all this.”
“Yes, please. I was hoping you’d ask. It smells amazing.”
I rip off the lid and put a taco in for her and some chips and salsa. We eat in silence for the first few minutes. “These are so good.”
“Yes, they are,” Stephanie says after a big bite. “Thanks for sharing with me.”
“Of course.” Together, we finish off the chips and salsa.
I pull out my phone, so I can ask Evie for Quint’s number to text him. But when I look at my messages, I realize I won’t have to.
Unknown number- Tessa, this is Quint. You know, the good-looking one in the group. I heard you got our boy back on the team. You’re amazing! Thank you!
Evie- Thank you, Tess!!
Unknown number- Tessa, this is Zane. Thank you for what you did for Slate. We owe you.
I read all the texts again, and my heart fills with warmth.
I save Quint’s and Zane’s numbers and send replies to each of them.
Then I get to work. I need to study before I have to go to work.
Before I know it, it’s time to get changed and ready for work.
I keep an eye on my phone but don't hear anything from Slater. I figure he got busy and forgot to text, but it doesn’t bother me.
I’m so glad he got his spot back. They’re going to need him this week.
I throw my vest on and grab my cell phone.
“You heading out?” Stephanie asks, standing and stretching.
She’s been bent over books for the last few hours as well.
I don’t know anybody who studies as much as she does.
“Yeah, I have to get to work.”
“All right. Have a good night. Be safe.”
“Thanks, you too.” I head out into the hallway and head downstairs. I make my way across campus to the security shack where I check in. “Hey, Dan.”
“Hey, Tessa.”
“Busy night?” I ask.
“Not really. There’s a swim meet happening right now, but other than that, not too crazy of a night.”
“Got it.” I gather all my supplies and get ready to head out. “I’m by myself tonight, right?”
He nods. “Yep, you are officially trained on your route and good to go. If you need anything, just radio in. Cliff's on tonight.”
“Got it. Thanks.” I head out and make my way towards my first check-in.
It’s chilly tonight, and I’m glad I’m wearing a long-sleeved shirt under my work shirt.
I make it to my first check-in and make my way around the building, scanning my phone when I need to.
When I step back outside, I nearly step right into somebody.
I take a step back in surprise, and a hand reaches out to steady me.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to startle you.”
“Slater?” I ask, looking up at him in the dark. “What are you doing here?”
“I came to see you.”
I blink up at him. “Right now? I’m on security.”
“I know. Here.” He holds out a cup.
“What is that?”
“Hot chocolate.” I stare at him and then at the cup. “It’s for you,” he says, pushing it towards me again, and I take it from him.
“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
I stare at him, trying to figure out what’s going on. “Is this because I got you back on the team? Because you already said thank you.”