Page 103 of Best Year Ever
“Apparently, she was bragging about it to someone on her team in Toronto when the story broke and another player or coach overheard,” Taylor explains. “We’re not sure who exactly, but anyway, a complaint was filed.”
“How do we even know that?” I ask.
“A press release just came from the association outlining everything,” Taylor responds. “Or at least what they decided to make public. Including repercussions for Tessa after she admitted what she did.”
Julie immediately starts giving more details, knowing the questions I’m about to ask. “Disparaging other players in the press can be a violation of code of conduct, though it’s rarely enforced.However, they couldn’t ignore her planting the story about me and your dad to the media. It’s exactly the kind of behavior that can give women’s sports a bad name. Ignoring it would be more embarrassing to the tour than punishing Tessa. At least now they can square the blame and anger solely on her.”
“What does that mean?”
“She was found guilty of unsportsmanlike conduct, in violation of our rulebook,” Julie explains.
“Tessa got banned for the rest of the season and has to pay a hefty fine. She’s out for the U.S. Open,” Taylor adds.
“And humiliated,” Julie says, with a satisfied tone. Not that I blame her for that feeling.
We talk a little more, and I tell Julie I’ll meet her at the courts soon, before starting my car again to get on the way.
This is crazy. I honestly can’t believe Tessa would go this far. The anger that’s rising up in me towards her is drowned out by shock—and satisfaction that justice has been served.
The rest of the way to Pinnacle, I blast Taylor Swift’s Karma.
And ignore the nagging urge to call Landon to tell him what had just happened.
CHAPTER 38
Landon
I’m numb during the last few days of training camp, able to keep up my playing level only because my brain welcomes mindless physical activity. My leadership, however, suffers.
“You okay, Battle?” I hear a few too many times in meetings during the last couple of days, when I’m unusually quiet. The final time from a veteran center, one of the captains this year.
I’m grateful for Johnson because he knows my struggles and doesn’t hesitate to cover for me. “Yeah, the dude has a bug or something and is tired. I mean, we’re all a little fried. The D’s looking strong though,” he says, slapping me on the back.
After muddling through the last day, I hop in my car and drive home. My duffle bags in the back of my car are unzipped, overflowing messes, because I couldn’t even muster the energy to pack them properly.
I won’t miss this year’s camp.
When I pull into my house, I see that Grace’s car is here. She knows just enough about what happened to be worried about me, I suspect. The day after Rori broke up with me from Canada, she had checked in to see how I was doing at camp, not knowing that Rori and I had split.
GRACE: Here’s your picture of the day with Grover. I tried to take him on my run, but he wasn’t having it. How’re you doing?
Her text included a picture of a scowling Grover on his leash, seemingly pulling her back to my yard.
LANDON: Camp’s fine. Otherwise not good. It’s over with Rori.
Twenty seconds of three dots appearing and disappearing passed, indicating Grace was trying to figure out how to respond. Finally, a message came through.
GRACE: You want to talk about it?
LANDON: Not yet.
Grace put a heart emoji on my message and let it go.
So when I walk in the house, I’ve got a feeling she’s there to make sure I’m okay.
“Hey,” she says as she sees me, looking up from the dining table.
“Hey,” I say back as I throw my duffle bags by the laundry room.
