Page 30 of Keeping the Single Dad
She didn’t wait around to reply. I raced after her down the corridor. Music poured out of the gym, grating my nerves. Claire stormed ahead, past the gym.
I jogged to catch up. “What’s the problem?”
She retrieved her phone from the pocket of her jacket, tapped the screen, and presented it to me. I watched the brief video clip while my brain scrambled to put it into context. It was a video of me in the stands at the stadium, ranting and raving yesterday before the fight had broken out. Shame ground in my gut, but a small sense of relief washed through me. It could have been worse. At least it was me in the clip and not Dad.
“Is that it?”
Claire appraised me with a critical squint. “You don’t think that’s bad enough? Look at your conduct. You’re a representative of this team.”
“That guy was swearing in front of kids. I had to put him in his place.”
“It’s gone viral. People are saying you’re out of control.”
Shit.
She stopped at Gabe’s office and knocked on the door. Gabe swung the door open and gestured to a chair the other side of the desk next to Claire.
“How are you?” Gabe’s curious gaze flew to my bruised eye.?
Great. Never better. I love it when Claire marches me around like a naughty schoolgirl sent to the Headmaster. I resisted the urge to prod my swollen eye. The bruise looked ugly. I’d given up trying to cover it with makeup.
“I’m fine. Some idiot was trying to start something at the match yesterday. It wasn’t my fault. You know that, don’t you?”
Claire and Gabe shared a look.
Gabe laced his elegant fingers in front of his lips. “I’ve got PR on my balls about this. You’ll have to talk to them and find a way to smooth this over. The guy isn't going to press charges, but it's cost us. Regardless of where the blame lies, this doesn’t look good for the club.”
I gritted my teeth. “It was the guy that started it. He was swearing and carrying on. There were kids in the crowd.”
Claire’s level gaze settled on me, even though her brittle words were meant for Gabe. “Lana is already on a warning for her poor timekeeping.”
Claire’s cold, aloof manner irked me. Why had she dragged me here like this to scold me over something so trivial? “This wasn’t my fault.”
Claire inclined her sleek head. “It never is your fault, Lana. You’re late, but that’s not your fault. Your attitude is poor, but that’s not your fault. You were responsible for that disgraceful…prankon the psychologist, but I suppose that wasn’t your fault either. You’re always the instigator. I’m tired of it. You’re on the bench for the next match.”
Benched? No way. I couldn’t afford to miss another game. I threw my hands in the air. “You can’t do that.”
Claire raised her chin with a cool stare in my direction. “I suggest you get your act together or you’ll be on the bench permanently.”
Panic swished in my stomach like a bucket of ice water. She wouldn’t do that, would she? I threw Gabe an imploring look. “Come on, Gabe. You had shit on you in the news all the time. You know what the press is like. This will blow over. It always does.”
Gabe rubbed a hand over his jaw. “Claire makes decisions about the team. Not me.”
Then I’m screwed.
Claire turned her face to the window and peered out onto the training pitches. “You’re a talented player, but you’re a liability. I have to think about the team.”
Irritation pulsed hot and angry in my chest. “When Skylar left, I stepped up and kept the team going. This isn’t fair. We wouldn’t even be in this league without me.”
Gabe smoothed his tie. His eyes slipped away. “Nobody is disputing your talent.”
A snap of anger made my nostrils flare. “This is bullshit and you know it. Spit it out, Claire. You’ve always had a problem with me.”
My body shook, and I sucked in a breath. Shame ground in my gut at my outburst. So much for keeping calm.
Gabe gave an uncomfortable cough. He didn’t want to deal with this. He knew I’d moan to Miri and Miri would give him shit about it when he got home. Good. Somebody needed to listen to me. I was struggling outside of work; I didn’t need Claire riding me.
Claire gave me a dismissive nod. “Go home now, Lana.”
