Nets and Lies(30)

I fought hard not to pass out. “What kind of evidence?”

Garrison glanced down at his shoes. “Let’s just say it’s of a physical kind pertaining to Ms. Solano’s case.”

“Oh, I see,” I replied, trying to hide my relief that they didn’t have anything connected to me.

Clearing his throat, Garrison met my expectant gaze. “After hearing the evidence, your father and I feel it would be in your best interest not to attend the rally tomorrow.”

“But why? You said the evidence belonged to Jordan’s case, not mine. Coach T didn’t do anything to me so why can’t I go?”

“Melanie, when this evidence comes to light, it will prove without a shadow of a doubt that Mark Thompson was intimate with Jordan Solano—”

I gasped. So Jordan had been telling the truth when she admitted the affair to me in the bathroom. She really had slept with Coach T.

“Now whether it comes to pass that it was rape or consensual, we don’t know right now. Because of what all that means to Mark Thompson’s reputation, your father and I do not feel you should attend the protest.”

“But I’m dating Coach T’s son. Doesn’t that already sully my reputation?”

Garrison sighed. “I’m sorry. That’s our professional counsel.”

“So does that mean I’m not supposed to go to the banner painting either?”

“Yes,” he replied.

I threw up my hands. “I can’t believe this!”

“Once again, I’m very sorry, Melanie. Perhaps it would have been better coming from your father.”

“Whatever,” I grumbled.

“Listen, I’ll come by your house later this evening to take your statement.”

“Fine.” I brushed past him and ran out to the court. Coach Simms didn’t bother riding me about being late. There would be no suicides for me since I was excused. But I hated being an exception. I would have rather taken the punishment and run until I puked.

Dread hovered over me at practice. I kept eyeing the scoreboard, waiting for Will to arrive for the boys’ practice. It was the worst scrimmage of my entire career. I continuously missed shots and couldn’t even connect with my teammates to see the ball down the court.

Finally, Coach Simms blew the whistle. “Reeves, over here!”

I pushed my sweat soaked bangs off of my forehead and trotted over to her. “Yeah, Coach?”

She stared me down. “Melanie, I’ve been making an exception for you because of what happened—”

I held up my hand to silence her. “You don’t have to say anything. I suck today, but I would rather you call me out than let me ride on what I was doing because of what’s going on.”

Coach Simms pursed her lips and nodded. “All right then. Point taken. Here’s what I think. You’re done for the day. Go ahead and change. Make sure when you come back tomorrow that your head is outta your butt and on straight. Got it?”

I nodded. “Yes, Coach.”

She smiled and then turned her back to me, giving her attention to the team—the ones who weren’t total failures. I sprinted off the court into the locker room. I didn’t change. Instead, I grabbed up my stuff and went outside to wait on Will.

I pushed through the double doors to find him and some of the guys sitting on a truck tailgate in the parking lot. The moment he saw me, his eyes lit up. He hopped down and jogged over to me.

“Hey beautiful,” he said, planting a quick kiss on my lips.

“Hi,” I said, my voice choked into a whisper.

He raised his eyebrows. “What’s wrong? Is practice already over?”

I glanced past him to the guys talking and joking at the truck. “Um, no, it’s not.” I bit my lip. “Can we go somewhere to talk?”

“Yeah, sure.”

Will led me around the side of the gym where we were alone. “What’s wrong?”

“Garrison met me as I was coming out of the locker room.”

“Oh?”

I shook my head. “I don’t know how to tell you this, Will.”

He reached out for me, his hands rubbing my arms. “It’s all right, Mel. Whatever it is, just tell me.”

“He says that I can’t go to the protest tomorrow afternoon.”

Will snatched his hands off me. “What? Why would he say something like that?”

I ducked my head. I didn’t know how I was going to tell him about the evidence with Jordan. Stammering, I said, “H-He said t-there was some new evidence, and that because of all that I couldn’t go.”

“What kind of evidence?” Will demanded.

“Physical evidence tying Jordan and your dad together.”

Will made a choking noise. “Are you serious?”

I nodded. “He wouldn’t tell me exactly what it was, but he promised it would prove they had been…together.”

For a moment, Will stood frozen like a statue. He didn’t even blink. Tentatively, I reached out and took his hands in mine. “I’m sorry. I didn’t want to have to tell you.”

He shook his head. “No, I’d rather hear it from you than someone else.” His eyes were a mixture of sadness and anger. “I just can’t believe that there’s some alleged evidence, and he was really with her. He swore to Mom and me he hadn’t been with her.”