Page 64 of Catch Me

The look on his face when he hears the entirety of our conversation with Dr. Campbell is priceless. He taps his pen on the desk a few times when I stop the recording. He shakes his head. “And all I had to worry about at school was not letting my grades slip too low so I couldn’t play football.”

“So you believe us?” I ask.

“Informally, yes. Formally, no.”

My brows pull together.

“Miss Page, your brother was a fine player. You’re reminding me of him right now.” He smiles and taps his pen on his desk again. “I’m going to get my own doctor out here to evaluate Reid. This is a big night for him. You know that. If he can be out there, I’m putting him out there no matter what. If the doctor I bring in says he can’t, then there’s nothing I can do. You of all people should respect the fact that I don’t play with my players’ health.”

“Of course, Coach,” I say. I look toward Jules. This is a good thing. That asshole Dr. Campbell said Reid was ready to play pretty much right after he was injured. I have no fear that he won’t pass whatever test this doctor puts him through. “There’s something else, too,” I tell Coach.

“What’s that?”

“There’s nothing you can do about it probably, but we also have evidence that Sasha Pontine paid Eli Richards, the player who sacked Reid the night he got hurt, to hit him hard enough to hurt him. He even put extra weights in his pads,” I say, motioning to my forearms.

“So, that was the noise?” Coach asks.

I blink at his reaction. It’s the same one Lex had.

“I think if you have evidence to that fact, whoever has it should take it to the police, including what you have here. I know you came to me because you want to make it right for Reid, and I’m sure he’s going to be grateful, but if someone is really scheming to hurt Reid Parker, the police should deal with it.”

I nod, agreeing with him. They should deal with it, but just my luck, they’d deal with it like they dealt with my boob pic. I don’t need to get into that detail with Coach Jackson, though, so I thank him for listening, and then Jules and I both march down to the principal’s office.

Mr. Dade is a little harder to convince. I can see the doubt on his face, but Jules and I play the recording for him several times and show him the text message Reid took a picture of between Sasha and Richards. After that, Mr. Dade calls in Ms. Lyons, the school counselor, and Miss Higgins, the cheerleading coach.

Ms. Lyons takes us from the room while Mr. Dade and Miss Higgins discuss what to do with Sasha. I also emailed Mr. Dade the audio file and text message pictures at his request before leaving his office.

When we’re in the school counselor’s office, I don’t get the same vibe in here like I used to. It used to be a place that felt like another trap, another time someone wanted something from me. Even though Ms. Lyons only wanted to help me, I wasn’t in the right space to be helped. Now, I am.

“I think we need to call the police,” she says. “These are some serious accusations, girls, and although SHH will do what we can on our end, I think other action needs to be taken. I can call your parents, so you can talk with them to discuss it, but I strongly urge it.”

Jules looks over at me. “It’s up to you. Actually, it’s up to Reid. This is about him.”

“I agree,” I say, biting my lip. I turn back to Ms. Lyons. “I have to talk to Reid about this, but I can’t talk to him about it right now. He’s got a big game tonight. The Warner’s college scouts are going to be there. He can’t deal with this right now.”

Ms. Lyons nods slowly. “You tell Reid if he needs me to assist in any of this he can come see me whenever he wants.”

I stand, hearing the last bell of the day sound overhead. We spent a lot more time in Mr. Dade’s office than I thought. “Thank you, Ms. Lyons. You’ve always been a help to me.”

She looks taken aback by my words, but recovers. She places her hand over mine on her desk. “You are a strong woman, that’s for sure, Briar Page. I think you’re going to come out the other side of this okay.”

I thank Ms. Lyons again, and then Jules and I move into the waiting area. My phone vibrates, and I pull it out. “It’s Reid,” I say. I scan the text and look at Jules. “He wants to know where we are.”

“Tell him I needed a day and that we’ll be there for the game.”

I nod, type all that out, and send it. Adding a few kiss emojis for good measure and telling him I can’t wait to see him after he kicks ass tonight and makes the Warner’s scouts cream their pants over his football skills.

I mean, that’s my man. I have to say things like that.

Jules blows out a breath. “What do you think’s going to happen next?”

“Who knows?” I sigh, hoping we did the right thing.

At SHH, though, it seems like pretty much anything is possible. Right now, the only thing I’m hopeful for is that Reid will be able to play in tonight’s game.

28

When it comes time for the game, Jules and I exit the school and walk to the bleachers. People are already streaming in wearing our school colors and waving little flags. It seems like everyone is hyped tonight, and I doubt even half know there are scouts here to look at some players.

---