Page 26 of Coach's Pet

I don’t see Callum on my way out, but I have every faith that today is going to go as planned. Last night I texted the unknown number that I had the money. Their instructions were for me to leave it in the locker room under my desk.

Once I go home and shower and change, I grab a large manilla envelope and toss the cash inside. It’s just before nine in the morning when I walk into the locker room and do what I was told. I leave the envelope there and walk right back outside.

As much as I want to stay behind and catch the fucker in the act, I don’t. I drive out of the parking lot and do my best to breathe. Now is the time when I have to be patient. Even though that’s the last thing I want to do.

When I get back to my house, my phone buzzes with a new text message. I’d sent a good morning text to Charlotte, but I’m positive she’s still sleeping after how late I kept her up last night.

Unknown: Pleasure doing business with you.

Me: Our business is finished.

Unknown: For now. But I think we’re going to have a lot more deals in the future.

* * *

___

* * *

It’s been two days since I’ve seen Charlotte, but we couldn’t risk it. It’s Monday morning, and the school is buzzing as I make my way to Principal Vale’s office.

My skin feels like it’s on fire when I push open the door. Principal Vale is seated behind his desk with his secretary Meghan in a chair behind him taking notes.

“Coach Shay, thank you for joining us,” he says and points to the only empty chair left.

The office is crowded, but I don’t look at anyone as I take my seat.

“I demand to know why I’ve been brought here,” a man on the far left of the room says first.

“Mr. Rust, if you’ll kindly refrain from outbursts until I’ve finished speaking,” Vale says. “Now that we’re all here, I’d like to explain the reason for this meeting. Mr. and Mrs. Rust, your son Parker is accused of harassment toward Charlotte Dunn, including manipulation of other students to intimidate her.”

“How dare you accuse Parker of—” Mr. Rust tries to cut in, but Vale holds his hands up.

“On top of the harassment and intimidation of Charlotte directly, he blackmailed a teacher for inappropriate behavior toward Charlotte.”

I keep my eyes on Vale as he opens a folder and presents documents for Parker's parents to view. When I finally glance next to me, I see Charlotte sitting there with her hands clenched together in her lap. I ache to reach out and take one, but I don’t dare. On the other side of her is Callum, and beside him is Parker and his parents. Behind all of us is the town sheriff and his deputy.

Vale places the photo of Charlie and me in my truck in front of them, and all eyes turn in my direction.

“As I told you, Principal Vale, Shay is an old friend of mine, and I’ve been asking him to keep an eye on Charlie,” Callum tells him evenly. “After finding out that someone flooded her locker earlier this year, I didn’t want to take any chances.” Callum makes it a point to look at Parker. “I asked Coach Shay to give her a ride home because she felt like she was being watched.”

“We also have confessions from several students that Parker paid them to carry out the bullying of Charlotte.” Vale produces those pages, but the Rusts don’t move an inch in their seats. “We have evidence of explicit text messages sent by Parker along with an unknown number that the sheriff was able to trace to an account that Parker set up.”

“I see,” Mr. Rust says, and although he’s quiet, it’s clear there’s an anger simmering below the surface of his façade.

“They are lying,” Parker whines loudly. “This is all made up.” When he doesn’t get a response from anyone, he turns his glare on me. “You fucked her!”

“That’s enough!” Callum shouts as I tamp down the rage that’s threatening to break.

My vision turns red, and I want nothing more than to climb across these people and choke him to death. But I don’t.

“We need to check your backpack,” the sheriff says to Parker.

“You can’t do that.” He looks to his parents. “Tell them they can’t do that.”

Mr. and Mrs. Rust exchange a look, but Vale is the one to speak. “You’re over eighteen and on school grounds. We have camera footage of you taking money from Coach Shay’s office.”

“But, but…” Parker can’t talk his way out of this one. Admitting that I gave it to him is an admission of extortion. Admitting to taking it makes him a thief.

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