Page 111 of Cold as Ice

“I just don’t know how we’re supposed to argue this,” Elliott said, gesturing towards the test.

“I’m going to figure something out. But first, we need to tell Coach Blackburn. Well,youneed to tell Coach Blackburn about the test.”

“I’m sure he already knows.” Another sweep of nearly nauseating guilt banished his smile. God, Coach was going to be so fucking disappointed in him.

“No, about the fact that this isbullshit. And I’m sure you’re not going to be the first student who claimed they didn’t fail something a prof says they did. So I’m going with you.”

“Just for that?”

Mal’s expression was soft. Earnest. Supportive. Everything Elliott had never imagined he’d be, especially towardshim, two months ago.

“No, not just for that,” he said simply.

Elliott took a deep breath. “Thank you.”

“Do you believe me, yet?”

“Iwantto. I want to believe I didn’t fuck all this up. The team and you andus. But it’s hard. We’re . . .” Elliott took a deep breath. “We’re conditioned to believe that our professors wouldn’t do anything shady. And why would Dr. Prosser even do this to me? ’Cause I’m an athlete? I can’t believe that. Because she didn’t pull this shit with you.”

“No. I don’t know why she would. It seems impossible, I know. But I fucking believe in you, Ell. This work is all right. It can’t lie. And the same thing happened on that quiz you took before. You knew the right answers. You did all the work to prove your answer, and then it was wrong? That didn’t make sense, then, but I chalked it up to you doubting yourself. But this time? You knew that could happen going in and this time you were going to be careful. There’s no way you screwed this up.”

“I . . .” Elliott found himself getting choked up again, and not because of fear or shame or guilt or sadness. But because he hadn’t known he’d needed Mal to believe in him like this, totrusthim like this, until he did.

“It’s just logic,” Mal said. But it was clear from the glow in his eyes as he stared at Elliott that it wasn’t only that.

And that made Elliott’s heart unexpectedly full, even as he knew that the convo they were about to have with Coach B was going to really fucking suck.

Elliott perched in the chair opposite Coach B’s desk and tried to keep his breathing steady.

Coach tapped his fingers on the desk.

“I got the report, from your professor, of course,” Coach said. “But I was hoping you’d come see me.”

“That’s what I’m here about,” Elliott said, attempting not to squirm too much.

“Whatwe’rehere about,” Mal added.

Coach’s gaze swung towards Malcolm. “I know I asked you to tutor Elliott, but I’m not sure why you’re here now?”

Elliott saw Mal stiffen. “I’m here because it’s not right.”

“I don’t have a lot of choices about this,” Coach said apologetically. “If the grade stands, Elliott cannot continue to play college athletics.”

Mal frowned now. “I know. But it’s not going to stand. When I say it’s not right, I meanit’s not right.Dr. Prosser . . .” He paused, and Elliottknewbecause he was beginning to know Mal, nearly as well as he knew himself, that he was searching for a way to present the information that Coach wouldn’t just dismiss out of hand as frustration. “Dr. Prosser didn’t grade the test properly.”

Coach tilted his head. “What exactly are you implying?”

Mal turned towards Elliott and gave him an encouraging nod.

And yes, he should be the one speaking up in this meeting. Defending himself. Not just letting Malcolm do it for him.

“I don’t understand what happened,” Elliott said. “I was prepared for the test. Mal and I both made sure of that. I knew how to answer all the questions. Mal’s looked over the workI provided and he says it’s all right. But for some reason my answers are wrong.”

Coach looked astonished. “You’re saying the test results are wrong?”

“I’m saying that somehow . . .”Ugh, Elliott knew exactly how this sounded but they couldn’t beat around the bush with it any longer. “That somehow Dr. Prosser changed my answers. She’d done it once before, we think, on a prior quiz. I had gotten some wrong that I was sure I’d gotten right.”

“Huh.” Coach looked incredulous. “And you believe this, too, Mal?”

---