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Chapters (39)
  1. Dedication
  2. About the Book
  3. 1
  4. 2
  5. 3
  6. 4
  7. 5
  8. 6
  9. 7
  10. 8
  11. 9
  12. 10
  13. 11
  14. 12
  15. 13
  16. 14
  17. 15
  18. 16
  19. 17
  20. 18
  21. 19
  22. 20
  23. 21
  24. 22
  25. 23
  26. 24
  27. 25
  28. 26
  29. 27
  30. 28
  31. 29
  32. Epilogue
  33. Three Years Later
  34. A Note from the Authors
  35. Acknowledgments
  36. About the Author
  37. CoraLee June
  38. About the Author
  39. Carrie Gray

Moisture collected in my eyes. He was right. I handled everything wrong, and now all the progress we’d made with Oakley was ruined. I slowly averted my eyes, staring at the concrete in slumped shame. “Go home. If I have to repeat myself, it won’t be pretty,” Coach said.

I ran inside the hotel room with Oakley hot on my heels, choking back sobs as I went. Coach Howard was screaming at Oakley to stay put, but he ignored him. I guess things couldn’t get much worse, so it didn’t matter.

I let my tears fall freely as I frantically shoved all of my clothes into my suitcase. Oakley grabbed my hand in an attempt to get me to stop, but I shrugged him off. I had to just get out of here. Like, now. I was mad at myself for not thinking to call Coach, I was mad at Oakley for getting into that fight, and I was mad at Dale for sneaking out in the first place. Fucking Dale.

But, mostly, I was embarrassed. Oakley had seen the most shameful moment of my life, and I was forced to relive it with the people who made my life hell. I was embarrassed that I managed to fuck everything up for about the millionth time, and I brought Oakley down with me. I just couldn’t take it.

I headed for the door, and Oakley followed, this time reaching up for my shoulders and gently spinning me toward him.

“I’ll come home with you,” he said gently, not a trace of judgement in his eyes.

“No. Absolutely not. You need to stay here and support your team,” I replied firmly, wiggling out of his grasp.

“Amanda, if this is about the video, I don’t care.”

“But I do. It was embarrassing. I can’t escape it,” I cried out. “And now it’s affecting you. I can’t believe you saw that.” I shook my head.

“You know what I saw?” Oakley asked, and I didn’t want to hear the answer. He stepped closer, locking me in with his body and hard stare. “I saw my beautiful girlfriend struggling. I saw people taking advantage of you. I saw people shaming a body and a person that’s very precious to me. I would stand by your side and defend you every time if given the chance.”

More tears streamed down my cheeks. “Oakley, can’t you see? Somehow in this dynamic, I’ve become the problem. I’ve got to go. What you did was very sweet, but I might have already ruined both of our futures. I just need space.” I opened the door, took one last look at Oakley, and walked out. I just needed to be alone.

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