Shade Tracks by Liz McCraine

Author:Liz McCraine
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: romantic suspense, romantic thriller, thriller, suspense, love, ghost stories, sports, young adult, coming of age, clean romance
Publisher: Liz McCraine
Published: 2022-04-15T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eighteen

Monday morning, Principal Woodruff pulled Bailey into his office.

“Ms. Bates filed a report on an incident that occurred Friday evening. I’d like to hear it from you,” Principal Woodruff stated.

She told him only the facts.

“Do you know who might have done such a thing? Someone jealous that you won the player-of-the-year award?”

“No, sir.”

He peered at her over his glasses. “You don’t suspect anyone?”

“Not that I have proof of, sir.”

“Hmm.” He let her go.

Bailey expected her friends to barrage her with questions when she returned to class. But no one said anything. No sideways looks, no prying questions, nothing.

Ms. Bates and Principal Woodruff must be keeping what happened between themselves. For a town as close-knit as Fairmont, that was something.

Good. That meant gossip wouldn’t be tailing her. All the better to enjoy her two weeks of freedom from Nikki.

* * * *

The two weeks passed too quickly. Sarah’s dreams stopped, and Mom reconsidered making an appointment with a child psychologist. Also, track started, and Bailey adjusted her hours at the library to accommodate the new schedule. The team wasn’t segregated by gender like basketball, so she spent more time than ever with Josh.

The misshapen oval of red dirt behind the school was more like half a track. Beyond it sat the baseball diamond, where the few boys who didn’t want to run practiced their hits. Bailey was warned to watch out for the occasional fly ball.

At least if she got hit in the head, Josh would be there to pick her up.

“Stretch those legs, team,” Mr. Brown yelled. Bailey hadn’t expected him to coach track, but he seemed to know what he was doing.

She reached down to her toes, enjoying the pull of her muscles as she stretched. Josh stretched beside her, and she tried not to stare too long at his legs. As predicted, a second warm front had arrived the day before, and shorts did great things for Josh.

“Are you sure you don’t want to try the triple jump?” he said. “The 4 by 4 relay will be too easy for you.”

“I’m also doing hurdles.” She stood on one leg to stretch her quad.

“The hurdles are challenging, I’ll give you that. But the triple jump is the best sport there is besides basketball.”

“I’ve seen you jump.” She switched to the other side. “There’s no way I could get the coordination and timing together in time to be a serious contender. Sprinting, on the other hand, is something I can handle.”

He sighed. “You’re missing out.”

“Hey, I joined track, didn’t I?”

“And you like it.”

“I like you.” She grinned.

Coach Brown walked up, a whistle swinging from his neck. “Quit flirting, you two. This is track, not some boring history class.” Everyone laughed. “We’re separating into groups today. Track runners to the weight room first, field players—including long, triple and high jumpers—to the center of the field for sprints.” A collective groan rose from the team, particularly from the throwers.

Bailey stuck out her tongue at Josh. “You get to suffer first.”

He noogied her, and she swatted him away.

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