Page 95 of These Wicked Games
“Did you watch the press conference?”
“Who I’m in love with has nothing to do with the sport I play.”
“No, why? Did I miss something?”
“You’re the asshole. I’m going to shower. Get dressed. I want to go to the hospital. Did Atlas go?”
“Yeah, he just left.” Oli nods, leaning in to kiss me one last time. “He’s going to meet us there.” I think back to what Atlas said, and I know he’s probably beating himself up about this. Injurieshappen, but something like that is still sickening to watch. Oli grabs his clothes, walking toward the showers.
I dress ready for the long night ahead of me, and I think about Atlas rooming with Grey. I’d invite him to stay with us tonight, but I know it’s going to take everything in both Oli and me to pry Atlas away from the hospital.
Boots sound behind me, and I feel a chill down my spine. Without even looking, I know he’s found me. “You know, for a while I thought you knew what you were doing. You were winning games. Not embarrassing me for a change. Then you get caught kissing a man.” I swallow, turning to see Tripp. Fear slaps me in the face, but it ebbs a moment later. “Not even just a man, but that man.”
Fuck him. Fuck him! I don’t have to be afraid of him. “Fuck off. Go slink back to whatever hole you crawled out of. I’m done. You do not control me. You have no power over me.” He steps up to me, and the tiny child I had been shrinks a bit in my mind. I don’t have to live with this anymore. I’m stronger, faster, and so much better than he’ll ever be.
“One of these days, you’re going to understand everything I—”
“You abused me, Tripp. You abused your only fucking child. Not because you wanted me to be better, but because you knew I’d be better than you. You’re a fucking disgrace. When the whole world finds out about you, your legacy will go up in flames.”
“I made you stronger. Faster. I—”
“You beat me! You fucking beat me! Then you fucked over my best friend, and I don’t know why?”
“What?”
“The cups, Tripp. I know you switched the label on Oli’s cup with mine all those years ago. But I don’t know why. You nearly derailed his career. The Vipers were—”
“They weren’t going to sign him.” A sick smile spreads on his lips. “I told him that, but it wasn’t true.”
I’m confused. “Why? That doesn’t even make sense.” I think back to the scouts at the game, but they never came over to talk to us. Which isn’t unusual. Tripp had told us after that game they were there for Oli.
Tripp looks around, his eyes hazy. He’s definitely been drinking. “You two were so close. I saw it then, the way you looked at him. It was disgusting. He was a distraction, and he needed to go!” he hisses. “I made him believe the scouts were watching, so that when I switched the labels on your cups he’d be even more pissed off. That way he wouldn’t ever talk to you again. You didn’t need the distraction! He was perverting your brain. Looks like he still is.”
“I’m gay, Tripp!”
“Shut the fuck up, you don’t know what—”
“I am. I didn’t stop liking men just because you ruined his career. I didn’t stop. Great fucking job, because here we are back again, only this time . . .” I step to him. “I love him. I am in love with Oli and there isn’t anything you can do about it.” I know he’s a sick fuck, but I can’t believe he did that. “You treated him like a son.”
His eyes go cold. “I have no son.”
I’m not sure why the words hit like they do. I’ve never really considered him my father. I guess I deluded myself all these years into thinking that his sick training and mind games meant he loved me. Tripp doesn’t love anyone. “Get the fuck out of here.” I turn my back, searching for my hoodie.
Pain explodes across my face. I’m shoved straight into my locker cubby and I stumble, dazed.What the hell.I turn on him, and I feel warmth slick down my eye. I’m done. Fucking done. I punch him. He’s not expecting it, and neither am I.
I punch again, and again, all the fury I’ve contained for years exploding inside me. Tripp pushes me back. “You’re pathetic.” A flash of silver catches my vision before he slashes my arm. Blood beads to the surface. I’m distracted. He catches me off guard with a punch. I feel every ring on his knuckles. I go to fight back, but instead, Tripp gets jerked backwards and slammed up against the wall.
Oli.
“Touch him again and I’ll snap your fucking neck.” He holds him by the throat, pinning him to the wall. Tripp’s turning purple.
“You’re both disgusting!” he spits.
“Beating your child and disguising it as practice is disgusting.”
“He’s not my child! He’s a liability. A fucking disgrace!” Oli squeezes harder, cutting off his choked words. Blood smears across his teeth as he laughs. Oli cuts it off, squeezing harder. His eyes bulge, fingers desperately grabbing at the iron grip Oli has around his throat.
“Oli, he did it. He switched the labels.” I don’t tell him about the Vipers. Later. “He wanted you to get kicked off, so we wouldn’t be around each other.” Oli squints, looking at me then back to Tripp.
