Page 57 of The Coach

She flashes a wicked grin. “By the power of bullshit. And the Force. Like in Star Wars.”

I blink. “So we’re Jedi Knights now? That’s youractualplan?”

She waves a hand dramatically. “These are not the girls you’re looking for.”

I can’t help but laugh a little at her homage to one of my favorite movies. Still, I’m now skeptical thatfatewill just take care of this.

Before I can protest further, we’re already in front of the security guard. The guy is massive—built like a brick wall with a grudge—and he doesn’t look remotely amused.

Lauren steps up, confidence radiating off her like a damn politician. “Excuse me, sir. We’re Jackson Knox’s sisters. Our grandma just had a heart attack, and we need to tell him.”

The guard blinks, and looks us up and down.

“…Jackson Knox doesn’t have sisters. Just one sister.”

Lauren doesn’t miss a beat. “Distant sisters.”

The guard folds his arms.

Plan A? Failed.

Lauren glances at me, mutters, “Time for Plan B.”

Then—before I even realize what’s happening—she yanks down the top of her dress, flashing him.

“WHAT THE HELL?!” I hiss.

The security guard gawks, sputters, “Ma’am, what the?—”

But it works.

Because in the half-second of his complete and utter shock, Lauren gives me a nudge and I bolt past the security guard.

My pulse pounds.

I have no idea where I’m going.

The hallways are long, white, and sterile. Loud voices echo from the locker room area.

I turn a corner—and there’s another security guard.

Shit.

Think, Ivy.

I reach into my purse and pull out the only thing that even remotely looks like credentials.

My school ID.

I flash it at him casually like it’s a top-secret clearance badge. “Hi, emergency faculty business. I just need to slip through real quick.”

The guy barely looks at it. Nodding as he scrolls his phone, he waves me through.

I exhale shakily.

Okay. That worked. Somehow. I guess the inside security is more lax than the outer.

The smell of sweat and cologne hits me as I step inside the locker room area.

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