it every day.”
My chest contracted as I let myself feel her body press against mine, let myself soar with the possibility that this was real and that nothing was going to stand in the way.
And just when I was getting comfortable with the idea that this could be our future, the ball dropped.
Because I’d completely forgotten it was hanging there in the first place.
Waiting to strike.
Waiting to destroy.
Chapter Thirty-One
PARKER
I was too excited to sleep that night.
I would get an offer this week, possibly even today, according to Matt.
The excitement was something tangible I could focus on. I knew I was already driving the entire household crazy. Every time I heard a cell phone ring I was ready to tackle the person answering it.
It just wasn’t the good news.
It was news in general that didn’t have to do with Erik or with the vandalism. It had been two days, and the police had nothing. At least it forced Matt to set up cameras around the house.
And that was the other annoying thing. Every time the Ring app went off on my phone, I jumped a foot. Apparently, it detected the slightest motion and picked up on everything from the UPS guy to a bird flying in front of the house. Needless to say, it made me feel both paranoid and oddly safe.
I flipped through a few more channels on the TV and checked my cell. It was nine a.m. the day after tryouts.
Nine a.m. and I was already driving everyone insane.
I clapped my hands in front of me, rolled my eyes, then reached for the remote again and flipped through the channels.
“. . . developing story about a love affair gone wrong.” The hair on the back of my neck stood on edge as I watched the news channel.
A girl about my age described how her doctor had touched her inappropriately. I recognized her as one of the elite ice skaters that had made it to the Olympics during the last trials. She was so pretty, young, successful, and already had her own Wheaties box.
And she didn’t look like herself as she cried in front of the reporter. It was like she was watching someone else relay the story, like she was trying to separate herself from the actual attack. I knew that hollow feeling well. If you admitted it, it had happened. A picture flashed of the team doctor. He was young, attractive, and had been one of her personal physicians for four years.
And according to her, for four years he had taken advantage of her, molested her, and when she spoke up had countersued her for ruining his reputation.
According to him, she was angry he had refused to give her a cortisone shot, and because of that she blamed him for not getting a gold medal. “I would never put my license at risk—no matter who asked me,” he said smugly to the camera as he left court. “No more questions.”
My stomach dropped. This was me. I was watching my life through someone else’s eyes, someone braver, someone willing to risk it all to protect those around her, willing to put her reputation on the line because wrong is wrong. No is no.
“Sources are confident this is going to be a long battle between the two, since Miss Davenport didn’t come forward until recently, when allegations that the doctor had been mistreating other women were discovered.”
I needed to do something.
Say something.
My body vibrated with rage.
My cell went off again.
Stupid Ring app.
I flipped off the TV.
My brain was going a million miles a minute. Was I just as bad as Erik? For not saying anything? For not going to the right people? I thought I had when I told my therapist, without realizing she was sleeping with Erik and had been for months.
I squeezed my eyes shut.
This was supposed to be a happy day.
A happy week.
And still, he haunted me.
Would it always be like this?
“Parker?” Matt’s voice sounded different. I jerked my head in his direction and waited for the good news. Instead, he looked uneasy.
“I didn’t make the team.” I hung my head.
“No, I’m not sure about the team yet, but I did just get a phone call from Darius. He wanted to know if he could stop by and talk with you. I told him he was welcome to come. He was already in the car and should be here in five or ten minutes.”
My chest felt heavy as I tried to read Matt’s expression. “What aren’t you