Coach’s expression hardens. “That’s not what I said,” he says with a huff.
“But it’s what you think, isn’t it?” she challenges, taking a step forward. “Is it so hard to believe that I love them? That they love me?” She gestures to us, her body trembling with emotion. “You always put your team ahead of me. Always. Sending me away to live with trainers, pushing Antony into my life, never once listening when I told you I didn’t want this!” Her voice wavers but only grows stronger. “And now, the second I make a choice for myself, you judge me? You believe a liar, a manipulating abuser, over your own daughter?”
Her father’s nostrils flare. “But there are three of them, Geneva.” His voice is firm, his eyes almost pleading, like he’s trying to make her see reason. “Think about how it looks. How it will look to the world.” He turns to us, his eyes blazing with anger. “And you three. How could you use my daughter like this? You are like sons to me.”
Blake moves first, stepping in front of Ginny. His voice is calm, but there’s an unmistakable steel beneath it. “We’re not using her.”
Chase and I step up beside her, ready to be her support if she needs us.
“This isn’t some game,” Chase adds, his jaw tight. “This isn’t about sex or something temporary. We love her. She loves us.”
I nod. “We’d do anything for her. Protect her, fight for her, stand by her side no matter what. Just like we’re doing right now.”
Ginny lifts her chin, fire burning in her gaze. “This isn’t about them, Dad. It’s about you.” She exhales sharply, her eyes wet with unshed tears. “Either you accept that I’m with them, that I love them, or you can excuse yourself from my life.”
Her father’s face twists in conflict. I can see the war raging inside him, the hesitation, the pain flickering in his eyes.
“Geneva…” He sighs, rubbing a hand down his face. “I only ever wanted the best for you. I knew Antony liked you, that he wanted something with you, and he had the drive to go to the Olympics. I thought… I thought he was the right partner, the right person for you.” His voice drops lower. “Iswearto you, until I walked into the rink yesterday and saw the way he was touching you, the things he was saying—I never knew what was happening.” His jaw clenches. “He’s gone. For good. If I ever hear of him badmouthing you, I swear I’ll—” He stops himself, his fists tightening at his sides. “I’ll kill him and make sure no one ever finds his mangled body.”
Ginny lets out a shaky breath. “It’s about time you saw him for what he really is.”
Her father nods, but then his expression shifts. He straightens his posture, his coach’s mask slipping back into place. “What’s your plan for skating?” he asks.
She doesn’t hesitate. “I already have a new partner.”
His jaw tightens. “And I assume you want me to coach you?”
“That depends.” Ginny lifts her chin, her voice unwavering. “Are you going to accept my love life for what it is, or am I walking away from you right here, right now?”
The silence that follows is unbearable. He stares at her, his fingers tapping against his leg, his expression tight with conflict. But then—
“I can’t accept it,” he says finally, his voice low but firm. “I won’t.”
Ginny sucks in a sharp breath. A single tear slips down her cheek, but she doesn’t let it break her. “Then this is goodbye until you can,” she whispers. She takes a step back, her hands trembling. “I’ll be back later to get my things once I find a place to live.”
“You don’t need to find a place,” I say, stepping forward, my voice filled with certainty. “You move in with us. Anything you need, we got you.”
Chase nods. “You’re not alone in this, Ginny. You never were. We have a spare room that’s just storage… it’s yours.” Then he turns back to Coach Lein, his jaw set with finality. “Also—I quit.”
I glance at Blake, and without hesitation, he echoes the words. “I quit.”
My stomach tightens as I look at the man who was once our coach, the man we respected. But I won’t stand for this. I won’t stand for him hurtingher.
“I quit, too,” I say, my voice resolute.
Then, as a unit, the four of us turn, walking out of her father’s house with Ginny between us. She doesn’t look back.
And neither do we.
Chapter 36
Blake
Three days.
It’s been three days and nothing from her father. The team has been blowing up our phones, but we’ve muted the conversation. Telling them the truth. We fell in love with Coach Lein’s daughter in the Poconos, and we won't keep our relationship a secret any longer. Since Coach can’t accept it, we’ve quit.
It caused an uproar, many wanting to quit the team in a show of support for us, but we were adamant they didn’t. Unlike us, many of them are on scholarships and they need to remain on the team to keep them.
