I snorted. “Babe, I think everyone except you two knew you were supposed to be best friends. Kane told me that when we were in high school and he’s one of the most oblivious people I’ve ever met.”
Evie covered her face with her hands, curling into my shoulder with a groan. “Oh, my god. You are so right. Kane really said that?”
“Before I left Fankirth.”
“Shit,” she mumbled, looking up at me with bloodshot eyes.
“I can’t do it anymore. I need to make sure this breakup is final. Cody is too great of a guy to waste his life with me, but he’s too loyal to let go himself. This is going to hurt him.”
I wasn’t sure what to say that would help, so I hugged her, rubbing her shoulder in support.
“Worst case, you can always come visit me back in Fankirth. Plus, isn’t he going to travel heaps for work?”
“Yeah, he’ll be gone a fair bit when… wait, why would you be in Fankirth?”
I told her everything. She had known about the fight, but not about quitting my job and the need to get out of the city. Explaining money shortage to someone who was rich wasn’t the easiest thing, but supporting others was a fundamental part of Evie’s personality, so instead of trying to dissuade me, or calling me out on running from my problems, again, she offered to help me pack up my house.
In that moment, I made a silent promise to maintain my friendship with Evie. She truly was one of the best people I knew.
My heart was breaking at the idea of leaving everything behind, but with alcohol buzzing through my veins, and a good friend opening up to me, I reminded myself this was just another new beginning. Everything would work out for the best.
Kane
One week later…
Last trial.
I couldn’t believe I was preparing for my final race of the nationals trials. Years of preparation had gone into this moment and I was ready. Kind of. I had spent more hours in the gym this week than ever before, ostensibly training for this moment, but in reality, I had been trying to outrun my thoughts. Layla still wasn’t answering my calls. I hadn’t seen any more articles written by Darcy in the Swenton Times, but the Daily had released a scathing report on defamation in sports. No names, of course, but from what I had heard, the Times had taken a large hit to their readership in the days following the article. The board of directors had made no mention of the story about me, and that should have made me nervous, but I found myself unable to think of much else other than Darcy. Where was she? What was she doing?
I had come to the decision in the early hours of the morning that I was too selfish to lose her again, so I was going to earn her. Everything Layla said had been on point. I couldn’t blame Darcy for decisions she made when we weren’t together. Hell, if I had been there, I wouldn’t have known what to do any better than she did. I owed Evie a lot for being there to do what should have been my job. Fuck. It killed me knowing Darcy had been all but alone going through that.
My concerns about my father’s influence were valid, no matter what Layla and Cody said, but I had a plan for that too. I was going to start seeing a therapist.
I would become the man Darcy deserved.
It wasn’t going to happen overnight, but I just had to hope that she didn’t find someone who deserved her while I got my shit together. I was going to prove myself to her.
The plan gave me a measure of peace that had been missing lately, allowing the focus I needed to get through this final race. My knees bounced, pent up energy coursing through me as I fiddled with my goggles, waiting for my race to be called. Coach watched me from the corner of his eye, brows pulled low. He had been more reserved since my blowup with Darcy, but I couldn’t tell if he thought it was a positive turn of events or not. He had always looked out for me and my swimming career, no matter what it cost him. Come to think of it…
“How did you know Darcy was pregnant back then?” I asked, taking in his deer-in-the-headlights expression.
“Was it some update given to all the staff? That seems like a violation of privacy or something, isn’t it? Why didn’t you tell me?”
Coach opened his mouth to answer just as a bang echoed around the room, followed by the click of heels and the scurrying of a second pair of shoes.
“Miss, you can’t be in here.”
Evie appeared around a set of lockers. Her long hair was disheveled, dirt smeared across her face. It was clear she had been looking for me as her eyes narrowed on me in a way that had me seeking out the nearest exit. Evie was never anything less than put together, so her appearance was shocking enough, but I’d also seen her temper once or twice — rare though it was — and I knew I didn’t want to be on the receiving end of it. Figuring it was better to get a jump on things, I threw my hands up as she approached.
“I didn’t do it. Whatever it is, I’m sorry.”
“Do you know where I’ve been for the last few hours?” she asked, putting her hands on her hips and glaring.
There was no right answer to this, I was sure of it. Shooting a look at Coach, I noticed he was eyeing the exit, much as I had.
“Don’t even think about it. You’re coming clean now too. All of this finishes today, one way or another.”
What the hell was she talking about?
