Chapter 4

Chapter 4

Minerva

Kendrick stood up fast. His chair made a loud sound against the floor. “Coach, I don’t need a physical therapist shadowing me the whole trip. I can handle myself.”

Everyone in the hall went quiet. I felt my heart beat hard in my chest. Coach Reynolds looked at him with a small smirk. “This isn’t optional, Dola. The league requires medical support on-site for all selected athletes, especially after your shoulder tweak last month. Minerva’s your assigned PT. Deal with it.”

My stomach dropped like a stone. I wanted to disappear. Every eye in the room turned to me. I saw Liam across the hall. He did not look happy at all. His face was tight and angry. Next to him, Vivian smiled wide, like she had won something big. Of course she looked pleased. She had been assigned to Liam for the trip. Perfect for her.

Titi caught my eye from her seat and gave me a quick wink. It was small but it helped a little. At least one person was on my side.

Coach kept talking about flight times and what to pack, but I could not focus. Three days in Chicago with Kendrick. After last night, after he pinned me against the wall and called me a drama-bringer. This was going to be hell.

The meeting ended. People started to leave, talking loud and excited. I stayed in my seat for a minute, trying to breathe. My hands were shaking. I stood up and walked out fast, hoping to get to my room without talking to anyone.

But Kendrick was waiting in the hall. He looked tall and angry, arms crossed over his chest. “We need to talk about logistics,” he said in a cold voice.

I nodded, trying to sound professional. “Okay. What time is the flight?”

“Early. Dawn tomorrow. We meet at the front door at five. I’ll send you the details.” He turned like he was done with me already.

That was it? No real talk? I felt heat rise in my face. “Wait. We should coordinate my PT stuff too. Your shoulder exercises, the ice schedule…”

He cut me off. “I know my own body. Just do your job and stay out of my way.”

I followed him a few steps. “I am trying to be professional here, Kendrick. This is my internship. I didn’t ask for this either.”

He stopped and looked back at me. His eyes were sharp. “Try not to cry in my hotel room this time.”

That hit me hard. The words felt like a slap. All the hurt from last night, from seeing Liam kiss Vivian, from Kendrick pushing me against the wall it all came rushing back. My eyes burned with tears but I pushed them down.

I stepped closer, my voice shaking with anger. “You know what? You are such a jerk. I made one mistake last night. I was running from the worst moment of my life and I opened the wrong door. I am sorry I saw you half-naked, okay? But you don’t get to keep throwing it in my face. I am here to work. Not to chase you or cause drama.”

He stared at me. For a second something changed in his face, but then his jaw tightened again. “You bring drama everywhere you go. First your ex, now this trip. I don’t need it.”

“I am not bringing anything!” My voice got louder. A few people in the hall turned to look but I did not care. “You judged me from the first second. You called me a stalker. You pinned me to the wall like I was dangerous. And now you act like I am the problem? I am trying to move on from Liam. I am trying to do my job. Why do you have to make everything so hard?”

Kendrick ran a hand through his hair. Water from his shower last night flashed in my mind and I hated myself for remembering. “Because I have been through this before. Girls who cry and bring their mess into my life. I don’t have time for it.”

“That’s not fair,” I said. My chest felt tight. “You don’t know me. You don’t know what I have been through. Liam cheated on me with my stepsister. I saw them kissing yesterday. It broke me all over again. But I am still here, doing my work. And you? You hide behind your anger because some ex hurt you. Titi told me. But that doesn’t give you the right to treat me like this.”

He stepped closer. His voice was low but full of feeling. “Don’t talk about my past. You have no idea.”

“I don’t,” I said softly. “But I am not her. I am not trying to use you. I just want to survive this trip without you hating me every second.”

For a moment we just looked at each other. The air felt heavy. His eyes moved over my face like he was seeing me for the first time. Then he stepped back.

“Five o’clock tomorrow,” he said. “Don’t be late.” He walked away without another word.

I stood there, breathing fast. My hands were in fists. I wanted to scream. Instead I went to my room and closed the door hard. I threw my bag on the bed and started packing. Shirts, pants, my PT kit, notebooks. Every time I thought of his words, fresh anger burned in my stomach.

Why did he have to be so mean? Why did my heart race every time he got close, even when I was mad? I hated it.

A knock came on my door. I opened it, hoping it was Titi. But it was Liam.

He looked sorry, but I knew that look. It was the same one he used when he messed up before. “Minerva, can we talk?”

“No,” I said. I tried to close the door but he put his hand on it.

“Please. I saw the announcement. You and Kendrick. That guy is bad news. He is cold. He will make your life hell on this trip.”

I laughed but it sounded bitter. “Like you didn’t make my life hell already? Kissing Vivian right in front of me?”

Liam stepped inside a little. His voice went soft, the way he knew I used to like. “I made a mistake. Vivian pushed herself on me. I was confused. I still love you, Minerva. We had years together. Don’t throw that away because of one kiss.”

My eyes filled with tears. “One kiss? You were holding her like you used to hold me. I gave you everything. I cheered for you at every game. And you chose her.”

He reached for my arm. “Come on, baby. Let me make it right. Skip this trip. Or at least don’t get close to Dola. He doesn’t care about anyone.”

I pulled my arm away. “Don’t touch me. I am trying to move on. I am trying to work with Kendrick even if he hates me. And you are not helping. You never help. You only think about yourself.”

At that moment, I saw movement in the hallway. Kendrick was standing there, watching. His face was hard. He had clearly heard everything. Our eyes met for a second. I saw something in his look anger, but also something else. Maybe surprise.

I knew it, this was Liam’s plan. I shoved him away.

“I knew you’d never apologize this easily, this was your plan. How selfish could you be!!” I screamed tears running down my eye.