Teacher's Pet

“Leena told me on the way up she explained to you about me hiding my phone in the locker room, right?”

“She did, yeah.”

“Okay. Well, this is what I picked up. I've cut the audio file down to just the conversation that matters. I'll play it for you. Just a warning: you're not going to like what you hear. Are you okay with that?”

“I don’t like the fact that I’m laid up with a sprained ankle – can it get worse than that? Whatever it is, I need to hear it.”

“Yes, I think you do,” he agreed.

He took his phone out and tapped the screen a few times, and then two, familiar female voices, soft and muffled — but definitely recognizable — started coming from the speaker: Tammy and Kelly.

First was Kelly’s voice. “Did you see that bitch go down like a sack of fucking potatoes!” Kelly laughed.

“Right? It was fucking hilarious,” Tammy replied.

“Did anyone see you do it, Tams?”

“I think Eva might have seen me trip the slut up, but that stupid, fat bitch knows I'll break her fucking nose if she says anything about it.”

They both giggled. I felt my blood boiling with anger, and I could see that Leena was furious, too.

“Shhh,” Tammy said, “Here comes Leena. Don't say anything else about it. You know how close that dumb skank is to Eryn.”

“Yeah, what a pair of-”

Wade cut the recording off there and cleared his throat, obviously feeling a bit of awkwardness at the way the recorded conversation was going. “I, uh, I don't think the rest of it is necessary,” he said.

“No,” I replied, “what we heard was more than enough,” I assured him.

Leena drew in a deep breath. “If it wasn’t stooping to their level, I’d punch them both right in the mouth,” she huffed. We all sat in silence for a while, ruminating on what we'd just heard.

“So, what do we do now?” I asked eventually. “I mean, the evidence is right there. What happens next?”

> “It is,” Wade replied. “And, they are definitely going to face the consequences. I’ll be removing them both from the team. I just wanted you two to hear the evidence first. I wanted you to know I wasn’t taking this lightly.” His gaze fixed on mine and rush of warmth spread through me.

“Thank you, Wade,” I said softly. “I really, really appreciate you making an effort to do something about this.”

“Yeah, Wade,” Leena added. “I'm glad you thought ahead and made a plan to catch those two-” She stopped herself before she said something ugly. “It's just so...so low, what they did to Eryn. All because they are jealous. Bitches,” she mumbled the last word and I couldn’t help the small smile that crept over my lips.

“It's malicious and inexcusable,” he agreed, his face grim with anger. “Nobody attacks my star player and gets away with it. Nobody.”

I was impressed at how intensely he wanted to defend me. His eyes caught mine again, and I couldn't ignore the sheer intensity that ripped through me at the look that passed between us. More than ever, I wanted him – and I knew that he wanted me, too. That made it even more painful, the fact that we both understood that we couldn't be together.

“Thanks again,” I said to him, trying to diffuse the electricity of the moment between us. “I really do appreciate this.”

He smiled his heart-stopping smile. “I just want to make sure they get punished for this. And that nothing like it happens again. Anyways, that's all, I guess. I'll deal with those two delinquents tomorrow. We’ll let ‘em get comfortable and think they got away with it. I better get going. I hope you ladies enjoy the rest of your night.”

“Would you like a drink, Wade?” Leena asked.

He got up and shook his head. “I appreciate the offer, Leena, but I'm afraid I can't. I have some, uh, business to attend to that just can't wait. I'll see you girls tomorrow on the court, though.”

“Uh,” I grinned and began pointing at my bandaged ankle.

“Oh, uh, yeah, that's right,” he said. “I guess I won't be seeing you on the court, Eryn. You just take it easy and let that ankle heal up. I’ll check on you later. I will see you, though, Leena. All right, ladies, I’m going to get going. Have a good evening.”

“Bye, Wade,” I said.

“Have a good night, Wade,” added Leena as she walked him to the door.