Page 64 of Back Outside Edge

The room is way too crowded now. Dad gets up from his perch at the desk and approaches the coaches. They give him a nod, but they’re looking at me. I stand as well. Sitting in a room full of standing adults feels like giving all of them the high ground.

So now we’re all standing, awkwardly grouped somewhere between the door and the bed, circling the chair I was in a moment ago.

The woman—fuck, I really do need to learn their names. Why do I always forget them?—clears her throat, looks at her companion. For support? He doesn’t take over, just gives her a little nod, and she sighs, looking back over at me.

“Stefan…” Her voice trails off for a moment, then she clears her throat again and her expression tightens. “You’ve put all of us in a difficult situation.”

“Yeah, kinda got that.” I don’t mean for the words to come out sarcastic, but they do. Fuck. Sounding like I’m talking back to the two people who are in charge of my future is not a good idea.

I can feel Dad’s glare from somewhere off to my right. But too late to take it back now.

“We’d like to avoid this morning turning into a full-fledged ICS investigation, if we can.”

That makes me breathe a bit more easily. Because it sounds like they’ve got my back. I guess there’s something to be said for being your country’s biggest hope for gold medals. “Yeah, that would be good.” Hopefully I sound a little more conciliatory this time.

She nods. “We’ve spoken with Alexandre and his coaches, and they’ve agreed to allow us to handle it internally, given the circumstances.”

The circumstances? I’d have thought Alexandre would be taking this straight up every chain of command he can find, doing his best to ruin me for good. What would convince him not to? Mom asks the question for me. “Why would he agree?”

The coach nods again, this time toward Mom. “He admitted that he posted those pictures to the Skate Canada coaches. We’re using it to our advantage.”

“Posting pictures isn’t illegal,” Dad says, his voice harsh. Is he fighting against me here? Is he that pissed off at me?

“No,” the woman answers, “but outing someone against their will is against the ICS Code of Conduct. Alexandre clearly knew it was, at the very least, unethical, since he used a fake account to do so. Since both of you have committed violations of the code, it’s in everyone’s best interest to keep it quiet.”

My breath comes rushing in, a weight lifting off my shoulders. Is this going to be ok?

The coach apparently recognizes that I’m starting to feel relief, because she holds up a hand. “That said, we cannot let you just punch other contestants with impunity, no matter the offense, Stefan.”

Shit.

“He was—” I start to explain, but she holds up her hand again, stalling me.

“It doesn’t matter. You’re off Team America.”

Chapter 26

Evan

Stefan

Go to practice. I’m fine. It’ll all work out

Me

Will I see you down there?

Can I do anything to help?

Ok, starting practice, but I’ll keep my phone on me. Call if you need me.

Baby? You ok?

Stefan, I’m getting worried. Are you all right?

Oh, baby, I’m so sorry. I can’t believe you’re off the team. How are you doing? I can’t even imagine. How long?

Stefan?