Page 214 of Whistle

As he straightened off the wall, the black-and-white flannel tied around Max’s waist swished from under his leather jacket. “I read every single paper when Wes joined this team. I’d never let him commit to something I knew nothing about.”

“For once, your overbearing, possessive ways are helpful,” Wes said from within the group.

Max winked at him.

Dean Cardinal drew himself up, and I admit he was formidable. Probably looked good on the posters and brochures for Westbrook. “Well, if you read them that thoroughly, then you must also know that they won’t be released until the season ends. This season has started. You all swam in the first meet.”

“Not all of us signed those. You can’t make everyone swim. And the ones you can?” Ryan said, picking up where Max left off. “They’ll swim like shit. They’ll tank this team’s good rankings, and your prestigious money maker”—he gestured to the pool—“will become nothing more than an overchlorinated fish tank.”

“You think you are the only swimmers to exist?” the dean roared. “You think I can’t replace every last one of you?”

“Sure, bro, you can. But this season will be over before you do. Your reputation will be in the shitter,” Jamie said.

“Not even Drain-O gonna fix this,” Kruger quipped.

“Who’s gonna recruit the new swimmers?” Rush wondered. “Pretty sure Resch personally scouted more than half this team. I didn’t come to Westbrook because you look good in a suit,” he said. “I came because Coach Resch made me believe I belonged here. He made us all feel like that.”

Heads nodded.

“Your new coach will too.” Dean Cardinal tried.

“We don’t want a new coach,” Lars said. “We won’t swim for anyone but Coach Resch.”

Dean Cardinal spun on his heel. His eyes seemed wild in the center of his face, giving him an outlandish and bewildered appearance. Finding Emmett, he grimaced. “How dare you let them behave this way, Emmett?”

Emmett shrugged. “What do you want me to do? I’m not their coach anymore.”

Philip made that sound again, kinda like a dying bird. “This is how you’ve led this team? Just look at them!” he roared, face going crimson. “Impudent. Disrespectful. Arrogant! If you weren’t already leaving, I’d fire you for declining team morale.”

“Our morale is just fine,” Ryan said. “But yours is questionable.”

“Excuse me?”

“Actually,” Walsh said, taking a step forward and lowering his voice, “it makes me not want to swim for a school that so easily tosses out a coach who’s been nothing but dedicated to this entire university for over fifteen years. He’s shown up every single day, and he’s never asked for anything. The one time he does something you don’t like, you toss him on his ass faster than I can swim a lap.”

“For shame,” Jamie intoned.

“Elite morale is where it needs to be—with our team, which includes Coach Resch. We’re loyal to him because he’s been loyal to us.”

The dean erupted. “He’s sleeping with a swimmer!”

“We don’t care,” someone shouted.

“Well,” Dean Cardinal said. “I have heard you, and I understand your position. Please be advised that this changes nothing. University bylaws state a coach cannot be in a relationship with a student athlete. For those hell-bent on withdrawing from this team—which is an epic mistake—you can put it in writing and see the appropriate parties in administration.” The man glanced over his shoulder at Emmett again. “I hope you’re proud of yourself, Emmett. You took the entire team down with you.”

Emmett was pale, the dark scruff lining his jaw seemingly black against his colorless skin. The bleak splinter in his eyes proved exactly what I knew all along.

This would break him.

“What if I quit the team?” I burst out, rushing after the dean who was trying to forge a path through the swimmer wall.

He stopped. He didn’t turn, but oh, there was interest in the way he tilted his head.

“If I’m not on the team, Coach Resch can stay. There will be no conflict of interest.”

“No,” Emmett growled, wrapping his hand around my bicep and pulling me around. “Absolutely not. You will not give up your place on this team so I can keep mine.”

“But isn’t that what you’re doing?”

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