Nets and Lies(59)

“I thought so at first. Now I think it was more to save me from all the pain and embarrassment. I’m still trying to figure all that out.”

“So, they have you going to therapy?”

“Yep. Twice a week—sometimes Mom and Dad come too.”

Lauren let out a low whistle. “Wow, that’s intense.”

I couldn’t help but laugh at her expression. “Yeah, it’s pretty intense. But I like my therapist. She’s young and hip. And she’s been through something similar.”

“Um, that’s cool.”

“Yeah, it is.”

I could tell there was something else she wanted to ask. “What is it?”

She played with the edge of her skirt before she replied. “What about you and Will? I mean, are you guys okay?”

“We’re fine,” I answered a little too quickly.

“Really?”

“Yeah, really. He came to visit me in the hospital. We had a long talk about everything, and we’re good.” I decided it wasn’t my place to tell Lauren about Will’s vow to attend therapy or the fact that he and I were going to see Dr. Leighton together. It seemed a little premature to be in couple’s therapy when we weren’t even married, but I guess in some ways we were. I knew there would never be anyone else for me, and I was pretty sure Will felt the same way.

Before I could say anything else, Lauren reached over and hugged me. She held on to me for several long seconds.

“Hey now,” I began, “what’s up with all the mushy stuff? You hate hugging and PDA.”

“True, very true,” she replied, as she pulled away.

I cocked my eyebrow at hers and smiled. “Well, PDA with girls you hate…but JT, now that’s another story!”

Lauren laughed. “Yep, once again, you know me too well.”

“We’ve been best friends for too long, I guess.”

“Yeah, we have.” Her phone vibrated in her pocket. One glance and she smiled. “Speak of the devil,” she murmured.

“You’re being summoned, right?”

She nodded. “Listen Melanie, the team and I were all talking, and we sure hope you’ll come to the banquet in two weeks.”

A pain jabbed my heart at the mention of the annual end of season banquet. I’d completely forgotten about it. It was one thing to miss Senior Night, but I’d never missed a banquet in my life. Usually, I came home with my arms laden with trophies and plaques.

But this year would be different. There would be no Coach T keeping the parents in stitches with his remarks about the season. He wouldn’t beam with pride as he called my name out to once again give me the MVP award. If I won this year, I would go down in the Newton Hall of Fame for being the only four time MVP winner in Girls Basketball. The bitter side of me choked back the thought that maybe he’d rigged it all these years. Maybe I wasn’t the Most Valuable Player—instead I was the Most Valuable Piece of Ass.

Besides those thoughts, it would also be the first time I was put on display in front of everyone for something besides my ability. I wouldn’t be the MVP—I’d be the girl Coach T raped. When I walked across the stage to the podium, every eye would be on me while every mind would be dreaming up their own ideas of how it had all gone down. Just the thought of it made me nauseous.

I shook my head and fought my gag reflex. “I don’t know, Lauren. I’ll have to check with Dr. Leighton.”

“Okay, I understand. I just know we’d all like to see you there.”

“Then maybe I’ll be there.”

Lauren smiled. “Sounds good.”

I walked her to the door. “Thanks for the balloons and flowers. But most of all, thanks for coming by.”

Without a word, Lauren put her arms around me. We stood like that—arms tightly around each other—for several seconds. “I love you, Mel.”

“I love you, too.”

I stood at the door and watched her bound down the stairs. She gave a final wave before pulling out of the driveway.

Chapter Twenty-One: Melanie

As I breezed through the glass doors of the Newton County Sheriff’s Department, I felt freer than I had in weeks. I tried not to let the voice in my mind mock me at how cliché that sounded. Just for the moment, I wanted to believe everything was going to be okay. Even in my happiness, I was filled with regret—regret that I hadn’t come forward sooner, regret I had lied to my parents and to Will, and regret that I had blamed myself for someone else’s actions.

Mom and Dad followed me outside into the intense February sunshine. I brought my hand to my face to shield my eyes. The heat radiated off my cheeks and body, making me feel rejuvenated.

We stood on the street corner, unsure of our next move. Dad jingled his change in his pockets. I fought the urge to smile. I was the one who just unloaded all my baggage, and Dad was the nervous one.

But there wasn’t a manual for parents on how to proceed once your daughter admits to being raped and lying to the authorities. I guess they were doing the best they knew how. Fortunately for all of us, Detectives McKay and Pendley were understanding and sympathetic when I came forward with my confession. The hardest part was signing the deposition with everything that happened in gory detail. But somehow I got the strength to do it.

Dad brought me out of my thoughts. “So…”