Annie continued. “So after Pepperdine I went to Boalt Hall up at Cal. I don’t practice anymore, because I’m so busy now, but before I had Mackie I did a lot of corporate stuff for my dad. Anyway,” she blew a big breath, “he’s fired. But why don’t you know that? Aren’t you reading the team Weekly Emails? There’s so much important info in them!”
I was still dumbfounded. “Coach Sean is fired. Coach Charlotte is taking over. The Board fired him because of me?” And Annie was an attorney? What? My head was spinning.
“Well,” she hedged, “not just because of you. Actually there were a few other things. I guess he had been having an affair with a parent.” She glanced around, then whispered, “Kyra! Can you believe it?” I could totally believe it, the skank. “Also, there had been some accusations of favoritism. Some parents were complaining—” she lowered her voice again “—that Board members’ kids were getting special treatment.” I thought of Macdara, DQ-ing the relay. “Charlotte is the head coach until we can complete a more thorough search. But she might end up with the job. I really like her!”
“Annie, hang on. Why did Sean do that to us? Why would he single Charlie and me out like that?”
Annie shook her head. “I don’t know. We had him come in on Saturday, and talked to him and let him go at the end. He wouldn’t explain, just got really angry! But he didn’t deny anything, either. Are you happy?”
Was I happy that someone lost his job, partially because of me? Not really. “I didn’t mean for him to get fired,” I said.
“Emily, please! If he was going to lie to you, and kick Charlie off the team, and mess around with parents, we can’t have a coach like that!
I just kept running. Annie started talking about Milos, and her latest strategy to reel him back in. I was in a state of disbelief. What the heck was going on? I guessed I should have kept up with the Weekly Emails.
When we got back to the pool deck, Charlotte was motioning all the swimmers and parents over. “I just want to say, I’m really happy to have the opportunity to coach these guys,” she said to the crowd. “We’ll be keeping basically the same workouts for a while, and then I’ll gradually make some changes. I hope you’ll come to me with any questions, or problems, and I’m definitely open to suggestions.” Ysabel with a Y raised her hand. “I mean reasonable suggestions,” Charlotte continued. ‘We will still be swimming ten 100s on the 1:30.” Ysabel with a Y’s hand came down.
“Pal, guess what I got?” I asked, as Charlie dried off to put on some clothes. I showed him my new phone.
“Emmy, that’s sweet!” He took it from me and typed wildly. “There’s a ton of memory on this one for games!”
“Great,” I said. He had a tendency to become catatonic in front of video games of any variety. “How was practice with Charlotte?”
“I like her,” Charlie said. “She’s a good coach.” Easy enough.
We walked out to the parking lot. I had been texting Mike from my new phone, asking him how Cassie was, and if hecould come to get us. There had been no answer, and there was no green Jeep with a major dent in the door waiting for us.
I sighed, and looked around. Well, we had the bike. “Charlie, put on this helmet. You sit on the seat, and I’m going to pedal.”
My phone vibrated in my pocket.
LukeI’m finally in London. Flight delayed on the runway in NYC.
MeMore fun in NY?
LukeExactly
MeWe’re heading home from practice. Thanks again for this awesome phone. Charlie loves it too.
LukeI’ll call you tomorrow. I miss you.
MeI miss you too. xo
I looked up to see Charlie eyeing me impatiently. “I’m coming! Hop on.”
We took a few turns around the parking lot to get our balance, then headed out to the highway. We had made it about half a mile down the road when I heard honking. Then, out of nowhere, a car ran onto the shoulder right behind us. I swerved into the gravel and Charlie and I went flying, with him landing on top of my back when I hit the grass and weeds by the side of the road. I heard an ominous crunch as the car continued forward over my bike. Oh no. Charlie and I lay there, stunned for a moment.
“Oh no! I’m so sorry, oh my gosh, are you hurt?”
I shook my head, which I was fortunate not to have slammed into the pavement. “Charlie, are you ok?” I demanded.
He was sniffling. “I’m ok. I hurt my hands a little when I skidded. I just got scared.”
“Did you hit your head? Does your neck hurt?” I checked his helmet for damage and helped him to his feet.
“I’m ok, Emmy!”
I turned in fury at the driver of the BMW SUV. “Annie! What were you doing? You could have killed us!”
