Page 210 of Whistle

Bodhi went rigid and probably would have attempted to castrate my old friend if I hadn’t stepped in front of him, shielding him. Or maybe protecting the dean. Which, frankly, he didn’t deserve.

“You can say whatever you want about me, Philip,” I said, voice quiet, “but talk to him like that again, and the next words you say will be through your missing teeth.”

Dean Cardinal made a face, adjusting his jacket and tie. After a light sniff, he said, “So that’s really how you want to play this, then, Emmett?”

“I’m not playing anything,” I said low. “I know it’s against university policy to be involved with a student. I am, and it will never change. I appreciate the opportunity I’ve had to coach here all these years, and I love my job. But I can coach anywhere, and there’s only one man I’ll ever love.”

Bodhi made a low grunt, and his fingers wrapped around my forearm.

My stomach fluttered, but I didn’t look away from the dean. I was finishing this. “Out of professionalism and respect for this college, I typed up a formal resignation and have informed you of my departure. I can finish out my two weeks, or I can be gone by the end of the day. I will concede to your choice, Dean Cardinal.”

Dean Cardinal cleared his throat. “Clear out your office by the end of the day.”

Landry gasped.

“Broooo,” Jamie drawled.

“Broooo,” Kruger echoed.

“This is not the Elite way,” Rush spat.

“How are we supposed to swim without Coach?” Wes asked.

“You’ll meet your new coach by the end of the week.” Dean Cardinal decided. He acted as though it were easy to find someone who could step into my shoes.

Good luck with that.

I knew this was coming. I’d held it off as long as I could because I was afraid. I couldn’t even fathom what my life would look like without this office, this pool, Elite. I thought my life would fall around me, that all the stability I’d worked so hard to build would be ripped from beneath my feet.

I learned something about myself in that moment.

I didn’t need Elite the way I thought I did. Yes, this was bittersweet and monumental, and maybe when I got home later, I’d feel some type of way. But right now? Standing here in my “former” office—knowing after that day, I wasn’t coming back—I didn’t feel my world collapsing. I felt it expanding.

“I’ll be out by three.” I confirmed.

“Ryan,” someone murmured, but Ryan said not one word.

Swallowing, I faced the group. “Back to practice. You don’t get to slack off around here just because I’m no longer in charge.”

“Landry, you can run practices until the new guy shows up. And, Walsh.” Ryan looked up. “Help her. Elite is going to need you.”

For once, Walsh didn’t seem so eager to be in charge.

“I don’t want this,” Bodhi said, wringing his hands.

I glanced at him. “You don’t want me?”

A pained expression twisted his face, and he bit down on his lip.

I grabbed his chin. “Because I want you a hell of a lot more than this job.”

“You shouldn’t have to choose,” he mumbled, looking up at me with big blue eyes.

“There’s no choice,” I whispered.

Lifting the whistle, I put it between my lips and blew. One last send-off for the Speedo gang.

Phweeeeeeeeeeeee! “Back in the pool, mouth breathers! Don’t embarrass me by swimming like shit! Go earn your oxygen!”

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