In the Fast Lane (Fast Series Book 1) (21 page)

“Little late to be crying, kiddo.”

“I know,” she said, angrily wiping the tear away.

“But it’s definitely time to face the music.” He turned his attention to Dalton. “I’d love to fire your ass, but I can’t. In a shocking turn of events, you appear to be innocent here.”

“I wouldn’t say
innocent
—”

“I would, if I were you,” Sawyer warned. “You’re going to continue coaching the flyers, but Jessi, I’ll be working with you from here on out.”

“Sawyer,” she pleaded.

“Enough! I don’t want to hear another word. When we get to the Games, I’ll be busy, so you’ll have to work with him then—there’s no other option at this point. But until then, stay away from each other.” He looked at Allie. “What’s our plan from here?”

“There are a couple of options. Since they’re both consenting adults, there’s not a lot of damage Claudel can do, especially considering he saw Jessi, and not Dalton, making the moves.”

“He can lie,” Dalton pointed out.

“He could, but I don’t think he will. We have enough pull over him to keep him quiet. I suggest we admit to the relationship—lies always come out. We will simply say that as professionals, the three of you recognized the issue of Jessi and Dalton having feelings for each other and took control of matters. How you did that doesn’t really matter.”

“Fine. When does Lemaitre get here?” Sawyer asked.

“He’ll be here at three.”

“Good enough. The three of us will meet with him.” Sawyer turned to leave. “Dalton, go to the pool and get the flyers warmed up.” Sawyer left the room without sparing a glance at Jessi.

“I’m so sorry,” Jessi whispered once Sawyer was gone.

“Not your fault,” Dalton said without looking at her.

“Dalton, please.”

“I really don’t think more people need to witness us having relationship drama, Jessi. Let’s just leave it for now.” He stood.

“I didn’t mean for this to happen.”

Finally, he looked at her. “I know. But it did. Now, no matter what we say or do, there are going to be stories about my past all over the news.”

“Dalton, I can’t say there aren’t risks here,” Allie broke in. “But we have a lot of options. It’s pretty easy to paint Claudel as a jealous ex-boyfriend. He acted rashly.”

“It doesn’t matter,” Dalton said coldly. “I don’t think I can stand another story highlighting my exploits. I took this damn job just to make sure those stories stopped. I’m done.” Dalton stood and walked himself to the door.

Jessi jumped from her chair. “Dalton, wait!” She ran after him, catching up just outside Allie’s door, and grabbed his arm.

He shook her off. “Jessi, get down to the pool.”

“Dalton, don’t do this. I didn’t mean for this to happen!”

He stopped. “Yeah, Jessi. I know. I don’t blame you. This is as much my fault as it is yours.”

“Let’s just talk about this, okay?” She reached out for him again.

He stepped back. “There’s nothing to talk about. In a day or two, there will be stories of us all over the place. It’s best if we stay away from each other. We shouldn’t have done this, Jessi. Any of it.”

“Dalton, you don’t mean that.”

“Yes, I do. And once it settles in, you’ll realize it too.” Dalton walked away. Jessi watched, helplessly aware that she had to let him go.

Allie appeared at her side. “You okay?” she asked.

“No.”

“It’ll be okay, Jess,” Allie said soothingly.

“How?” Jessi couldn’t imagine how any of this could be all right.

Allie rubbed a hand down her back. “We’ll figure it out. I’ll talk to Sawyer. After our meeting with Claudel, I’ll get him to agree to letting me up to the dorms tonight.”

As much as Jessi would love for Allie to magically fix everything, she knew it wasn’t possible. Dalton wouldn’t get over this. “Allie, it’s no use. You don’t have to go to all that trouble. No need to push Sawyer any further than we already have.”

“Let me handle Sawyer. And yes, I do have to do this. It’s part of the girlfriend code.” Allie smiled at her.

“I’ve never really had one of those. A girlfriend, I mean,” Jessi replied.

“Well, prepare yourself. Girlfriends are the only way to get over a break-up, and you’re about to be subjected to some seriously girly therapy.”

Chapter 22

Sawyer pulled Jessi out of the pool a little before three-o’clock. True to his word, he had worked with her throughout the afternoon practice. She felt so guilty. It was clear Sawyer needed to be focusing on other things, but here he was, coaching her and worrying about her mess.

“It’s time, Jessi. Let’s go get this thing over with.”

Reluctantly, she followed Sawyer out of the pool. She really didn’t want to see Claudel. Jessi was disgusted with what he’d done.

They walked into the conference room together. Allie and Claudel were already seated.

“Jessi.” Claudel acknowledged her with cool regard. “Allie has informed me that you’re upset about your personal life becoming public.”

“Is that supposed to be a question? Of course I’m upset. Why did you leak that information, Claudel? I knew you were mad about Dalton and me, but this is beneath even your ethical standards.”

“It’s news, Jessi. What is going on here is inappropriate and needs to be shared. Hopefully, any other cases of coaches taking advantage of swimmers will be uncovered.”

“Knock it off, Lemaitre.” Dalton suddenly walked through the door, exuding a cool confidence. He took the seat next to Jessi. “This is nothing more than jealousy, pure and simple. Leave Jessi alone. It’s me you want.”

“Please. Me, jealous of you? I think not.”

Dalton shrugged. “Whatever you say, buddy. In any case, there isn’t a story here, and you know it.”

“That is for the public to decide.” Claudel glared at Dalton.

“Actually,” Allie interrupted, “I don’t think it will be.” She smiled sweetly at everyone seated at the table. “Claudel, I appreciate your efforts to uncover any untoward behaviors going on in the facility, but I can assure you, there is nothing inappropriate with Jessi and Dalton’s relationship. He is no longer coaching her directly, and they’ve put aside any further romantic interaction until the Games are over.”

Claudel’s eyes widened in mock dismay. “So, you’re saying there is nothing wrong with sleeping with your coach?”

“Watch it, Lemaitre,” Sawyer growled.

“Nah, let him go.” Dalton was leaning back in his chair, looking deceptively relaxed. Only the tic in his jaw gave him away. “If he thinks ruining Jessi’s reputation will get her back, I say let him hang himself.”

“It’s not Jessi’s reputation I’m attempting to ruin here, McKinney,” Claudel spat.

“Well, don’t waste your time with mine. There’s nothing left to tarnish.” Dalton smirked as if he were completely unfazed by the prospect of bad press.

He was breaking Jessi’s heart. He was playing the nonchalant swimboy—a role he’d worked so hard to leave behind—for her sake. “Dalton, don’t,” she said forcefully. “Let Allie handle this.”

He spared her a glance, then shrugged as if he didn’t give a damn one way or the other.

“Claudel, I’m afraid you can’t have access to our swimmers if you’re going to report erroneous stories. I’ve been in touch with your agency. You can go forth with reporting this matter if you like, but I’m warning you that anything false will be refuted—and legally analyzed.”

Claudel looked at Jessi. “Do you really want me to tell everyone what I saw? If you question anything I say, I’ll tell the story of you in that hallway. America’s sweetheart feeling up her coach...that’s not exactly endorsement-winning behavior.”

Jessi was quickly tiring of this game. “I’m not particularly concerned about money at the moment, so why don’t you tell me what you want, Claudel?”

“Excuse me?” He seemed to be caught off guard.

“What do you hope to gain from this? Don’t pretend it’s about getting me back. It’s not, and you and I both know it. So let me ask again, why would you do this?”

“To get him.” Claudel pointed to Dalton.

Dalton simply raised a brow and slung his arm over his chair.

“What do you have against Dalton?” Jessi asked incredulously. “You barely even know him.” None of this was making sense.

“He has always been between us. I never knew what it was that kept you from wanting me the way you should have, but there was something that held you back,” Claudel growled. “Then I remembered how you would act when we were in college, and really any time after that, when people would mention his name or roll footage of him in the pool. You would close up. You would never say anything good or bad, just close up. You always smile, Jess. You didn’t smile when people talked about McKinney. You just looked...sad. It hit me when I was putting the footage together for the exposé.”

Sawyer threw his hands in the air. “What are you talking about, Lemaitre? Just say it, already.” Unlike Dalton, he wasn’t hiding his agitation.

“Ask Jessi. Ask her about the interview in Brazil.”

My God
. She’d forgotten about that interview. She and Dalton had one awful, awkward interview together during the Brazilian Olympics. She had stared at Dalton in wide-eyed wonder throughout the entire thing. In the years since, she had cringed whenever she saw footage of it. Her friends had always made fun of her for being starstruck. They had no idea she had been in love.

Jessi remained silent. She knew exactly what kind of ammunition Claudel had. He had evidence of a previous relationship and a present one. He could play this out in a number of ways—Jessi as the not-so-innocent All-American; Dalton as a player who preyed off the affections of those he had power over.

“So you see,
chéri
,” Claudel said softly, “I couldn’t have you because you weren’t mine to have. You never were. You’ve been his for a long time. I don’t know the specifics, but you have been, and are, in love with that man.” He pointed at Dalton.

“Leave her alone,” Dalton said in low voice. He was no longer pretending to be bored.

“Oh, you care about her now?” Claudel shook his head. “That’s rich.”

“Okay.” Allie set both hands on the table. “This has gone far enough. Claudel, do what you want with the story. You’re cut off from the team. My office has a press release ready for anyone who wants to run this story. We aren’t denying the relationship, so you’re not going to get the ratings that come with a scandal. It’s a nonstory, Claudel. Let it go.”

“If it’s so unimportant, why are you spending so much energy burying it?” Claudel stared Allie down.

Allie leaned toward Claudel. “Because this is my job. I’m in charge of keeping weasels like you away from our athletes. You do what you want with whatever it is you think you have, but I’m warning you now, Claudel. This won’t turn out well for you.”

Claudel glared at Allie, but remained silent.

“Lemaitre, it’s been a pleasure, but I think it’s time for you to go,” Sawyer said.

Claudel smirked and rose from his chair. “Until later, then.”

Once he was gone, Jessi looked at Dalton. He didn’t meet her gaze.

Sawyer turned his attention to her. “Jessi, you’re done for the day. Dalton, let’s get back to the pool.”

Dalton pushed himself from his chair to meet Sawyer at the door. They left in silent, brooding contemplation.

Jessi looked to Allie. Her eyebrows were furrowed in sympathy.

“That wasn’t so bad, Jess. Relax. I’ll talk with Sawyer before I leave. I’ll be up to your room around seven.” She patted Jessi on the shoulder as she walked out.

Jessi sat at the table for a few more minutes. Finally, she forced herself to rise. She walked on weak legs to her room, feeling as though she was in a daze. Collapsing on her bed, Jessi revisited the meeting in her head. There were any number of issues to be concerned about—serious, career-altering issues. Jessi didn’t care about any of them. The one thing that kept playing over in her mind was what Claudel had said about the interview in Brazil. He was right. Every damn thing he’d said was true. Jessi was, and always had been, in love with Dalton.