“What? She doesn’t mind, do you?” he asked.
Indy shook her head. “Not as long as I can steal some of your potatoes. They were out when I went up.”
Teddy immediately pushed his plate toward her and she grinned, popping one into her mouth. “Thanks.”
Her joy was short-lived.
Across the room, Lara and Addison were holding court at another table filled with most of the top young players at OBX, including Jasmine Randazzo.
If looks could kill, Indy would’ve expired as soon as Jasmine’s eyes locked onto her. Indy couldn’t help herself. She tilted her head, half question, half challenge, until Jasmine broke eye contact and her table dissolved into fierce conversation.
Her ears burned, imagining the shit they were talking, sinking any chance at all of her recovering from the disaster that was her first encounter with Jasmine. Apparently simply making a new friend was another unforgivable crime when that friend was Penny Harrison.
All three Harrisons seemed oblivious to the attention, so Indy decided to ignore it. Having them with her was like having a solid wall that could keep out any crap anyone wanted to throw at her, but it was a temporary fix at best. She couldn’t use them as human shields once she headed to training.
“Got confirmation last night that Harold Hodges’ll be here covering the Classic, Pen. He wants to do a feature with you and Alex if that’s okay?” Jack asked, dumping an unhinged amount of sugar into his coffee.
Penny’s mouth twisted into a pout, but she nodded.
Teddy laughed and then, using his fork for a microphone, said, “You’re like so famous, Pen. What’s it like to be so awesome?” He nudged his sister with his elbow, making her drop the knife she was using to butter her toast, but Penny laughed with him.
It was weird. Indy hadn’t really expected them to be so… normal.
“Indy!” Roy called out from the edge of the dining hall, approaching the table quickly. The entire place, buzzing with activity seconds before, fell into total silence. “Coach wants to see you. Come on with me back to his office.”
“Oooh,” Teddy said, chuckling, as panic hit her hard.
“Shut up, Ted,” Jack said, glaring at his younger brother.
“What crawled up your ass today?” Teddy muttered, but Indy couldn’t worry about whatever was going on with either Harrison brother right now.
Why the hell did Dom want to see her? It felt like being called to the principal’s office, only a million times worse. Had she done anything wrong? He hadn’t even coached one of her training sessions yet. Did he think she’d run into Penny this morning accidently-on-purpose after he’d warned them to stay away? How would he have even known about it?
She nodded to Penny, who smiled encouragingly, and left with Roy. Her joints were stiff, her feet dragging like lead and her throat tightening against the panic that tore through her.
When they reached the atrium, Roy nodded at the staircase leading up to Dom’s office and she scaled the steps slowly, only to find the office empty. Indy took a seat in front of his desk and waited. Eyes on the clock, she watched the seconds tick by slowly. If he didn’t show up soon, she might throw up. Her stomach grumbled, protesting that last thought. There was barely anything to throw up. She wished she’d grabbed a slice of her toast before leaving Deuce with Roy. At least then she wouldn’t be starving.
Then two sets of footsteps echoed on the stairs. Indystood, wiping her sweaty palms against her shorts, then smoothed back her hair.
Dom stepped into the room, followed closely by a tall blond woman in her mid-thirties.
“Indiana, good, you’re here.” Dom quickly strode away from the woman, frowning over his shoulder at her. His eyes darted around the room and he wiped his hand over his entire face. Indy’s stomach sank. That couldn’t be a good sign. “I’d like to introduce you to Ms. Morneau.”
The blond smiled, showing off two rows of perfect white teeth. She wore a white pencil skirt and a blush-colored silk sleeveless blouse, cut high at the neck. “Caroline, please.” She said her name in a soft French accent, like “Cah-row-lean.” Approaching Indy, she ignored her extended hand and pressed a faux kiss lightly on each cheek.
Indy pulled away sharply and looked back and forth between Dom and this odd woman who thought it was okay to kiss her.
“I take it your father didn’t call you,” Dom said, reading the confusion on her face.
Indy shook her head. “Dad doesn’t have the time to call me. He’s far too busy with work. Hedge funds don’t manage themselves.”
Dom cleared his throat. “Well, Caroline will explain, then. I’ll just go.”
Before Indy could ask him what the hell was going on, he was already out the door and down the stairs, leaving her alone with Caroline.
“Why don’t we sit down?” Caroline motioned to the chairs in front of Dom’s desk.
“I’m sorry,” Indy said, ignoring the suggestion. “I don’t mean to be rude, but who are you exactly?”
