Page 31 of Fake Dates and Home Plates (Way Off Base #1)

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Henley

I’m sitting at the diner, thanking Tracey for my hot chocolate, waiting for the rest of my teammates. Well, former teammates.

My head is still pounding, though not as badly as this morning. I feel like a lightweight. My eyes watch the door then wander to my phone, then back to the door again.

I sent out a text earlier, being vague, asking anyone who could to meet me here to talk.

Lily’s the first to arrive, the bell over the door announcing her arrival. She slides in next to me at the table. Thankfully, the place is empty tonight, save for Tracey and the cook.

When I mentioned to Tracey I was hosting a team meeting and we’d be discussing something sensitive, she offered to lock the door and hang out in the back. She warned me there are cameras, but she didn’t think the owners would mind.

Slowly, familiar faces filter in. Although not everyone could attend, it appears the majority are here. Many of them are ordering dinner or something to drink.

“So,” I start carefully, glancing around at all of them, “thank you all for coming on short notice.”

I nod at Tracey, who locks the door and excuses herself to the back. Curious eyes are on me as silence falls over the group.

“This conversation requires privacy,” I explain. “I need to ask something, and I know it’s not…easy.”

Lily looks over at me, brows lifting in silent question.Two freshman stop picking at their fries.

I force myself to continue. “It’s about the Delta Alpha guys. I know some of you have had uncomfortable experiences with the fraternity.”

A chorus of agreement rings through the room, and my stomach dips. I really hope things haven’t gotten worse since we talked in the locker room.

Keeping my voice steady but kind, I say, “I need to know this conversation is going to stay between us for now. If you can’t do that, you can go. No one is going to be mad at you. You don’t have to say or do anything you don’t want to.”

I mean it. It’s no one’s job to put themselves in a vulnerable position, no matter what they know or have seen firsthand. It doesn’t make them any less in my eyes.

When no one leaves, pride swells in my chest at their bravery.

My throat tightens, but I push past it. “If you have proof—texts, screenshots, pictures, videos—I need to know if you’d be comfortable sharing them.”

The room is so quiet, I can hear my heart beating wildly in my chest. Everyone stares at me with wide eyes.

This could backfire on us easily, and who knows the trouble they could face as a result.

I might be out of here in a couple of months, but they have to stick around and deal with the repercussions.

Despite that, I know this is our only chance.

“Henley…” Willow starts, hesitating.

“I wouldn’t ask if it wasn’t important,” I say quickly, leaning forward to make eye contact with each of them. “But the more we have, the harder it’ll be for them to keep hiding. I don’t want it to just be rumors anymore. I want them exposed.”

Lily leans back, crossing her arms. “You’re planning something.”It’s not a question; she knows me that well.

I meet her eyes. “Yeah. At the HVU versus Shoreline game. Everyone will be watching.”Students, staff, the press, scouts—it’s the biggest stage I could think of. “It’s the only way I could think of that would get people to pay attention.”

Lauren fidgets with her straw wrapper, her voice small. “And if we do? If we put it all out there?”

“Then they don’t get to pretend anymore,” I answer.

My chest feels tight as I continue. “No more whispers, no more excusing it as boys being boys. People will see the truth, and we can make sure they won’t have a choice.”

I drink the last of my hot chocolate as I wait. For a few minutes, the place is filled with hushed whispers until one voice breaks through.

Maddie’s the first to volunteer. “I took screenshots of some of the comments they left on my posts. I also have some messages from Dakota where he admits he used me to get back at you.”

Wow.I mean, we both knew that’s why he hooked up with her, but that he was cruel enough to say it to her like that?

Lauren’s hand tightens around her phone. “I saved some too, just…in case.”

One by one, they agree, voices joining in with things that could help. They remain worried and hesitant, but it’s enough.

“If you’ll send whatever you can to this email…” I send the contact information to them in our team chat. “We’re working on finding out who the anonymous accounts belong to.”

“Then what?” Lily asks.

I smile. “I need everyone who wants to, to show up to the game next week. It’s time to end this.”

A round of agreements comes through the room, and I let out a slow breath. “Okay. Good. Thank you.”

The table relaxes again, and the conversation shifts back to safer topics. We talk about classes and finals. The seniors talk about graduation right around the corner. The underclassmen talk about next season.

But under it all, the promise hangs in the air.

Those boys might have fucked around, but it’s their turn to find out.

Leaving the diner, I have Lily drive me over to the meeting spot I arranged earlier. Chase is there, already waiting for me.

“I’ll wait here,” Lily says as I get out of the car.

Nodding, I shut the door.

“Hey, Harkin.” He greets me with an easy smile. “To what do I owe the pleasure?”

I sit next to him, cautiously. “I want to ask you a few questions, and I would prefer it if you’d be honest about it.”

Chase looks nervous now. “Alright.”

He owes me no loyalty, but I think he’ll be truthful. He was kind enough to let me know my boyfriend was cheating on me. He’s always been kind to me.

“Did you know about the game?” I ask, but I already know the answer.

His head tilts back as he exhales a breath. “Yeah, I knew.”

I nod, confirming what I suspected. “Why did you tell me about Dakota?

Chase shrugs. “I was sick of it. No one deserves to be treated that way. Right after you left, I quit the fraternity. I was only in it because my dad wanted me to carry on as a legacy.”

I relax slightly. It makes me happy that he was able to get out. For a while, I’ve been worried I’d read him all wrong, that he was just as slimy as the rest of them.

It doesn’t change that he was part of it, though. I’m not sure what he was complicit in, but I’m certain his hands aren’t completely clean.

“If you want to start making things right, it’d help if you were willing to talk. Not right now; just if something were to come out, maybe you could help confirm the details.”

While I’m alluding to exposing the fraternity, I’m not trying to give away the plan.

Chase thinks it over before nodding, “I can do that, Harkin.”

Putting a hand on his shoulder, I squeeze. “I’ll see you around.”

As I’m walking away, he shouts my name, and I turn back to face him.

“You still with Barlowe?” Chase asks with his signature cocky smile.

I nod.

“Damn.”

I climb back into Lily’s car, ready for all the hell I’m about to let loose.