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“Yeah, but do they have to be so mean about it?” I find myself growling.
Avery chuckles and gives my shoulder an affectionate squeeze. “If they’re nice and ask politely, he probably wouldn’t push himself past his own limits. If they don’t push him past his limits, he won’t win.”
“I get that,” I admit begrudgingly, “but it still seems like they’re being unnecessarily hard on him. Chase, especially.”
Earlier, it looked like Chase was going to kill Emmett when Emmett was trying to do his pushups. The way he shoved Emmett down… I didn’t think Chase would let him back up.
Now he’s taunting Emmett, smirking as he says something I can’t quite hear but have no doubt is insulting.
Avery is quiet for so long I start to think that she didn’t hear me. Glancing up, though, I see that her mouth is pulled down in a frown and her brow is furrowed with thought.
“Chase is harder on the ones he cares the most about,” she finally says and gives my shoulder another squeeze before pulling away.
I scoff. “So they’re both being dicks because they care about him?”
Her grin returning, she nods her head. “Yep.”
I shake my head in part disgust, part confusion.
Avery laughs at my reaction. “You’ll get used to it.”
“I doubt that,” I grumble before her words really hit home.
Get used to it? What exactly does she mean by that? Get used to the guys abusing Emmett? Or the way they train people in general?
Before I can ask, Avery goes on. “Anyway, I came over here to let you know that you’re free to go to lunch. I’ll watch the desk.”
I’m still tempted to ask her what she meant, to clarify that statement, but as she stares down at me expectantly, I decide I really don’t want to know the answer.
I don’t want to know if everyone else can see what is going on between us. Because if they can, then I’d have to face it.
And if I have to face it, I’ll have to own it. I’ll have to make a more permanent decision.
Grabbing my purse off the floor, I roll my chair back and stand.
Emmett lets out a grunt so loud I can hear it clear across the gym.
Jerking my head in his direction, I watch him shove the heavy bag away from his chest as Dale yells at him.
“Eyes on the bag, lover boy!”
Heat returns to my cheeks as Emmett’s eyes meet mine, tired now but still full of intensity.
Still full of promise.
Just as Dale gives the bag another shove, sending it for Emmett again, I rip my attention away from him.
Emmett let’s out another loud grunt behind me, and knowing I was the cause of that grunt, I can’t run out of the building fast enough.
* * *
I’m so stuck in my head, so mentally messed up, I end up driving ten minutes down the street, heading for my stepfather’s house, before I realize I can’t go home yet.
It’s only lunch and I still have half of my shift left.
And fuck me, I don’t know how I’m going to survive it.
How am I going to survive being in the same place as Emmett? Breathing the same air as him?
