Page 69 of Strong Side
The stadium operations coordinator comes over to us and directs us to an area in the outfield. As the kids follow, I stay in the back to make sure none of the kids wander off.
I feel a pull on my elbow.
“Noelle, wait.” Trey is at my back, speaking close to my ear. “I just want to talk to you for a minute.”
I turn to face him. “You cannot be serious.”
“Yeah, I am serious. Let me explain.”
His hand is still on my elbow, and I yank it away.
“No, Trey.”
I turn to walk away again, but he grabs my hand this time.
“Noelle, come on.”
“I met your son today, Trey. In the restroom. Hank’s adorable. Really. What is he, like one and a half?” I fold my arms across my chest.
“You met him? How?” He puts his hands on his hips and leans in closer to me. It’s obvious he doesn’t want anyone to hear us.
“They came into the restroom when I was in there with some students. He needed a diaper change. The mom—what’s her name?” I tilt my head to the side.
“Faith,” he mumbles.
I can’t help but laugh. “Faith?”
“Come on, Noelle. Don’t make a scene.” He’s so close to my face that he’s practically spitting in it.
“I mean, how can you not see the irony here? Does Faith believe you’ve been faithful to her? Does she go to school here?” I lift my hands.
“No, she was my girlfriend in high school, and she got pregnant, so she stayed home instead of coming with me to school.” He huffs.
“So, what, you just saw them whenever you felt like it? How? When? We were together since our freshman year, Trey.” I feel like I might cry, but I will not give him the satisfaction.
“We made it work the best we could. Why does it matter to you? I was withyouall the time.”
He reaches for me again, and I step back.
“I’m sorry. Please tell me you aren’t insinuating that I’m the reason why you didn’t see your baby!” I hold up my hand.
“You were so needy all the time, so, yeah, I spent more time with you. Besides, King was always sniffing around, and I wasn’t about to let him take what was mine.” His jaw is clenched.
“You know, Casey tried to warn me about you. After the first time he met you, he told me he didn’t trust you. But I was so fucking stupid to believe every single lie that came out of your mouth. And theI love yous, which also came with criticism. The horrible way you manipulated, gaslighted, and made me second-guess myself all the time. You loved to tear me down and basically had me thinking I was the one doing you wrong. That I needed to be better. Do better. For you. When really, all along, you never deserved me or my time. You definitely didn’t deserve my love or my body. I gave you every first I had. And you … lied the whole time. You made me the other woman.” I stop, my breathing shallow. “It’s taken me being loved by someone real. Someone who would never lie to me. Or hurt me to make himself feel better. To believe that I’m worth the kind of love he has to give me. I feel sick to think I gave you that power over me.”
“You think he never lied to you? That’s cute. Did he tell you how he felt about you? Did he ever tell you about the time he came over and threatened me?” Trey laughs.
“Whatever you’re trying to do here, just stop. Everything that comes out of your mouth is a joke. And honestly, I feel sorry for Faith, but mostly, I feel sorry for your little boy. Because he’s going to grow up with you as his role model. For his sake, I hopeyou do better.” I shake my head. “Be better, Trey.” I turn and walk away and back to my group.
I hear someone ask him if everything is okay, but I don’t turn back to see who it is. I keep walking because I think this is it. This is the moment I puke. I’ve tried holding it in the entire game. But I’m not sure I can anymore. My mentor looks at me, question in her stare, but I shake my head and make my way off the field.
I barely make it to the trash can just outside the gate before I puke.
CHAPTER
TWENTY-SIX
CASEY
