“It’ll be a great bonding experience!” he says with a laugh and opening the door before motioning to the dark, empty hallway before them. “After you all.”
They all step out into the hallway, Coach Rice still clutching the papers in his hand, as Tristan moves to the front of the group and leads them down towards the medical offices.
“Where are we going?” Brett asks.
“We’re going to pay Dr. Hines a little visit for ourselves,” Tristan answers casually.
“Trist, he’s not here,” Brett says back. “It’s a Saturday night. He’s probably at home with his wife.”
Tessa’s gut sinks and she has to shake off the knowledge that someone’s marriage is involved in this.
“You would think,” Tristan says with a heavy sigh before stopping in front of Dr. Hines’ door and placing his large hand on the doorknob.
“You all remember Kiana, right?” Tristan asks, watching as Rice and Brett look at him through squinted eyes.
“Uh…yeah?”
“And you remember how many times I tried to break it off with her, only to back out because she threatened some kind of crazy shit? Usually it was her own life but, occasionally she would threaten my family or…my career.”
“Uh huh…” Rice grunts, still staring at Tristan.
“Well, may I present to you that motivation you were just asking about.”
Tristan quickly opens the door and flicks on the light, revealing a very startled Dr. Hines sitting behind his desk and the very top of what is clearly a woman’s head.
“What the fuck!” Hines spits out, quickly jerking away from the figure and pulling his pants clumsily back up his legs.
Kiana’s head suddenly spins around and she peaks over the top of the desk, her eyes widening with fury when her and Tristan make eye contact.
“What in the fuck is going on here, Hines,” Rice spits out angrily, stepping into the room.
“None of your goddamn business!” he yells, and Kiana pulls herself from the floor, dusting off her knees and trying her best to appear dignified.
“It is my business,” Tristan says, grabbing the papers from Rice’s hands. “You wanna explain this shit? Why my test was originally clean but then you called it back for some reason, and then it magically popping hot for Test?”
Hines’ clearly begins to panic when he sees Tristan angrily waving around the evidence of his malpractice and his eyes quickly dart over to Kiana.
“It was her idea!” he points directly at Kiana, who hangs her mouth open in mock offense.
Tristan scoffs at Hines, put-off by his instant cowardice.
“Damn, you folded quick,” he says. “You’re a real bitch, aren’t you?”
“Fuck off, Kelly. If your crazy ex here didn’t force me into this-”
“Forceyou?” Kiana speaks up, cocking an arrogant eyebrow his way. “Honey you didn’t seem like you were being forced when I was-”
“You realize this is a jailable offense?” Steven pipes up, effectively rendering Kiana speechless. “This is a crime, tampering with a test like this, falsifying records. You could very well lose your license over this.”
Dr. Hines immediately starts sputtering out apologies and excuses, holding his hands up in a prayer.
“Shut up,” Tristan says, “You look pathetic right now. Grow a fucking pair and own up to your shit like a man.”
“I told you, it wasn’t my idea!”
Tristan takes a deep breath and turns towards Kiana who is standing in the middle of the room with her arms crossed and stiletto tapping against the tile floor impatiently.
“I can’t even begin to tell you how badly I never wanted to see you again,” he breathes out, reluctantly bringing his eyes to Kiana.
