Laney just stares and I stare at her as she processes.
"Holy crap."
"Yeah babe."
"I mean–" She blinks at the screen.
"I know."
"And, like…" Laney pulls her lip into her teeth.
"Yep." I smile as she looks up at me. "Are you happy about this?"
"I think so, I can’t really believe it." Her fingers lift to cover the giggles trickling out of her mouth.
"Believe it. This is huge. I mean, the TP world has been chatting about your time last weekend but this is bigger than our sport."
"Yeah." She says sort of absently as she scrolls down through the comments. I can’t read what she’s seeing from here but I watch her eyes dance along the lines of text. Suddenly her brows pull together, her chin tucks in, and her thumb stops swiping as she clearly focuses on something.
"You okay?"
"No."
The hairs on my neck stand up.
"What is it?"
"Well some guy named Stan tagged me in a comment."
Red fills the edges of my vision.
"What does it say?" I ask, my words barely above a whisper.
"Laney M is hot and her race last weekend was almost too good. Should we be asking her coach about doping? And is anyone wondering where the money for new shoes went?"
I lean back and close my eyes, cursing the world for putting me in Laney's way.
"I'll see if I can get the comment taken down." I say, as I pull the phone from her hands and stand. I don’t have the faintest idea how to do it but I’ll do anything to protect her.
"No, wait!" Laney yelps as she reaches for my arm. "What the hell is he talking about?" Her words are barely audible but they crash into me with the force of a semi truck.
"Laney, listen, you've come so far, you're killing it, but maybe I’m hurting your reputation." Her gaze feels heavy and dark as she settles it on me and I slowly open my eyes to meet hers.
I start to turn while her hand still rests along my forearm.
"How?" She demands clearly and people start to glance our way.
"Because I have a past, I have a history, and it's ugly. It's painful. And it's going to taint you."
"Why would I care? Who is this guy and why does he care?"
"Because," Fuck. I can't even say it. She's going to hate me.
"Because why, Miguel?"
"He works for EPIC Sports. He’s in charge of their endurance sports partnerships. And…I told him you weren't interested in a sponsorship deal from him." I mutter out as quietly but clearly as I can. I don't have the courage to confess this more than once.
"What?" Laney's whispered question is fraught with pain. She takes a deep breath and looks out over the lake as her hand falls from my arm. "He wanted to sponsor me?"
