Page 71 of Fake Dates and Home Plates
Keeping my voice steady but kind, I say, “I need to know this conversation is going to stay between us for now. If you can’t do that, you can go. No one is going to be mad at you. You don’t have to say or do anything you don’t want to.”
I mean it. It’s no one’s job to put themselves in a vulnerable position, no matter what they know or have seen firsthand. It doesn’t make them any less in my eyes.
When no one leaves, pride swells in my chest at their bravery.
My throat tightens, but I push past it. “If you have proof—texts, screenshots, pictures, videos—I need to know if you’d be comfortable sharing them.”
The room is so quiet, I can hear my heart beating wildly in my chest. Everyone stares at me with wide eyes. This could backfire on us easily, and who knows the trouble they could face as a result. I might be out of here in a couple of months, but they have to stick around and deal with the repercussions. Despite that, I know this is our only chance.
“Henley…” Willow starts, hesitating.
“I wouldn’t ask if it wasn’t important,” I say quickly, leaning forward to make eye contact with each of them. “But the more we have, the harder it’ll be for them to keep hiding. I don’t want it to just be rumors anymore. I want them exposed.”
Lily leans back, crossing her arms. “You’re planning something.”It’s not a question; she knows me that well.
I meet her eyes. “Yeah. At the HVU versus Shoreline game. Everyone will be watching.”Students, staff, the press, scouts—it’s the biggest stage I could think of. “It’s the only way I could think of that would get people to pay attention.”
Lauren fidgets with her straw wrapper, her voice small. “And if we do? If we put it all out there?”
“Then they don’t get to pretend anymore,” I answer.
My chest feels tight as I continue. “No more whispers, no more excusing it as boys being boys. People will see the truth, and we can make sure they won’t have a choice.”
I drink the last of my hot chocolate as I wait. For a few minutes, the place is filled with hushed whispers until one voice breaks through.
Maddie’s the first to volunteer. “I took screenshots of some of the comments they left on my posts. I also have some messages from Dakota where he admits he used me to get back at you.”
Wow.I mean, we both knew that’s why he hooked up with her, but that he was cruel enough to say it to her like that?
Lauren’s hand tightens around her phone. “I saved some too, just…in case.”
One by one, they agree, voices joining in with things that could help. They remain worried and hesitant, but it’s enough.
“If you’ll send whatever you can to this email…” I send the contact information to them in our team chat. “We’re working on finding out who the anonymous accounts belong to.”
“Then what?” Lily asks.
I smile. “I need everyone who wants to, to show up to the game next week. It’s time to end this.”
A round of agreements comes through the room, and I let out a slow breath. “Okay. Good. Thank you.”
The table relaxes again, and the conversation shifts back to safer topics. We talk about classes and finals. The seniors talk about graduation right around the corner. The underclassmen talk about next season.
But under it all, the promise hangs in the air.
Those boys might have fucked around, but it’s their turn to find out.
Leaving the diner, I have Lily drive me over to the meeting spot I arranged earlier. Chase is there, already waiting for me.
“I’ll wait here,” Lily says as I get out of the car.
Nodding, I shut the door.
“Hey, Harkin.” He greets me with an easy smile. “To what do I owe the pleasure?”
I sit next to him, cautiously. “I want to ask you a few questions, and I would prefer it if you’d be honest about it.”
Chase looks nervous now. “Alright.”
