Page 138 of Off Limits
I glance back at Ashlyn. ‘Will somebody please tell me what the fuck is going on?’ she says.
‘What did Kathleen say?’ I ask.
‘She walked into the locker room and announced that you would be taking some time out.’
‘Time out?’ I question. ‘Samatha Conway fired me. She said the words. I was escorted from the premises.’
‘I’ve called an emergency meeting,’ Harmony blurts from the driver’s seat, as we lurch into another lane. ‘We’re assembling at my place. What did she have on you?’
‘Everything. Said she’d received two anonymous emails, first thing this morning.’
‘You meanwith best regards from your own son.’
‘They found Persia’s uniform. In my bag.’
‘Shit,’ Harmony says. ‘That asshole!’
‘Can you slow down a little?!’ Ashlyn squeals from the back seat when Harmony almost takes out a convertible. ‘I’d like to make it to your apartment alive so I can make sense of what just went down back there.’
‘Everybody, find a seat. Grab a space where you can. Get in here.’
The entire squad has gathered at Harmony’s apartment. It’s a crush. The girls squeeze in, perching on the arms of the couch and huddling on the floor. I look around at expectant faces. I can’t believe they’re all here. For me. I know some of them have jobs to go to. It seems Kathleen didn’t provide an explanation for my being escorted from the stadium, and nobody wants to ask, but all eyes are on me all the same.
Shame still washes over me in waves when I think about my meeting with Samantha Conway. It doesn’t matter to me that she knows. It was only a matter of time. But it matters to me that I’ve let all the girls in this room down. I draw my knees up to my chest and hug them.
Once everybody is settled, Harmony stands before us.
‘I’m not gonna sugarcoat this, alright? Serenity’s been fired. By Samantha Conway.’
There are gasps from every corner of the room. Whispers. Hands fly to mouths. I look at Jewel. She’s the only one who doesn’t look outraged. She just stares at me.
Slowly, I get to my feet.
‘You’re sure?’ Harmony asks me.
I nod my head. My eyes are still swollen. I knot my fingers and take a breath.
And so, like two nights ago in front of the Briars and Harmony, I begin my tale again, about the double life I’ve been leading.
When I’m almost done, I look around the room. A silence has descended. A few mouths have fallen open. Jewel has crossed her arms over her chest and is looking at the floor. The sight makes my heart ache.
‘Before anyone says anything…’ I continue, and the feeling is akin to something heavy pressing hard against my chest, ‘that’s not all. I need to tell you that—’ Tears well over. I swallow them down. ‘I broke the terms of our contract. I know I did. And I didn’t just do it once.’
I look at Harmony, perhaps because I need encouragement to say the words out loud. She looks sad, but she gives me a nod. I take another shaky breath and exhale.
‘Samantha Conway also fired me because she found out about the relationship I was having. With Jake Walsh.’
I look at Jewel when I say the words, because I want her to know that I wish I’d taken the opportunity to tell her first. I’m expecting hostility. Instead, I get a hint of excitement.
‘Hold up a sec,’ Angel blurts, raising her hand. ‘You were in a relationship with Jake Walsh?’
‘Am,’ I whisper. ‘I am in a relationship with Jake Walsh.’
This time, there is a collective sucking in of breath. I look at Jewel, my face the picture of a thousand apologies. Her eyes widen to saucers, and she jumps out of her seat.
‘Are you SERIOUS?’ she shrieks. ‘That’swhat you’ve been hiding this whole time?’
‘Uh-huh,’ I nod. ‘I’m so sorry.’
