Tap Out by Michele Mannon Read Free Book Online Page A

didn’t matter. What mattered was getting away from this drunken crew.
    Sophie tried to reason with them. “Listen, Boys. You have company...better company than me, over there in the hot tub. We’ll talk tomorrow about how I am going to make you superstars.” Both men paused, listening.
    Suddenly hopeful, Sophie continued, “Men who’ll be admired by every athlete out there, including Jeter and both Mannings. You’ll see I’m not the ‘washed up clumsy bitch’ Jaysin here accused me of being on the bus ride over. I’m the woman who’s going to rock your worlds.”
    She eyed them both as they processed her words. She took a few measured steps backward, just in case.
    Jaysin grunted. “Think you can make me a bigger star than him?” He angled his head toward the pool.
    She frowned, her eyes following his gesture, but a loud shout made her jump and turn in alarm.
    Two more Boys sprinted up to them, both grinning like devils. Jaysin tried to run interference, only to be jostled to the side.
    “Where’s your bathing suit, sweetheart?” An arm snaked around her waist and she was lifted off her feet. His grip wasn’t too tight and if she arched her body just so...
    “Hey, Anthony, I think she wants you to let go.”
    Sophie stopped squirming, realizing the brute holding her had stepped to the ledge of the pool.
    “One.”
    “No. I—”
    “Two.”
    “—can’t—”
    “Three!” They yelled in unison, drowning out Sophie’s own scream.
    “—swim!”
    Sophie hit the water face first, landing hard and flat into a body-jarring belly flop. A childhood spent in a coal town didn’t exactly lend itself to swim lessons. Oh, she owned several bathing suits, for hanging out in hot tubs, sipping piña coladas and networking with celebrities, whomever her feature guest was going to be, back in the day. Not for swimming. Ever. She’d likely drown.
    Fire spread across her midriff and her cheeks stung. The undignified belly flop hurt like dang-diggity. She literally had the wind knocked out of her, like she’d slammed up against a brick wall. Stunned, she felt the water wash over her.
    As she sank, regret is what surfaced. The kind that came with the realization that her life had taken the wrong path, when in one huge gulp of chlorinated water, she regretted not sticking to her dreams, the goals she’d set for the future. Goals that didn’t include talking trash on late-night television. Sure, she had something to prove to her former network. But more importantly, she had something to prove to herself. And now, she might not get the chance.
    All I wanted was to be like Christiane Amanpour. A genuine journalist , one making a difference in the world. Really do it right this time.
    A knee connected with the bottom—oddly malleable, but hard enough she thought she heard her teeth rattle. She pitched sideways.
    I need this documentary! Is this really how I want to go out?
    The pool floor gyrated .
    Did she really want to go out wearing a silk blouse and skirt, and one yellow-flowered flip flop, with her biggest story being not one she covered—but caused? Be remembered for all time as the woman who’d knocked out cold the most celebrated of celebrities and winningest of fighters, Caden Kelly? Nearly ruined his multiple careers. Completely ruined her own.
    No siree.
    Sophie flailed her arms overhead and kicked her feet hard. The sole of her foot connected with the pool’s bottom, which felt more like a carnival moonwalk ride, but she didn’t dwell on it. The lightbulb in her head had switched on to survival mode. With every ounce of strength left in her, she pushed off and shot upward toward the light.
    Pumping her arms and legs wildly, she cleared the surface.
    The welcoming rays of sunlight greeted her. With one long, jagged inhale, she realized her head was above water. She opened her mouth and let life’s breath fill her lungs. Her future was hers for the taking. It wasn’t all over.
    The next instant, she was