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She thinks I’m charming. It’s a stretch, but I’ll take it and run. “A new workout will do that to you, but soon it won’t hurt so much. I promise. Don’t quit on me yet.”
Her eyes turn from laughter to fire in a heartbeat. “I’m not a quitter, Bobby. I didn’t say I was quitting.”
Ouch.
Her mood changes are crazy fast and lethal. I know she’s not talking about training, but I can’t ask for details in the parking lot as she’s heading out to work. I need to get her alone. I need her to not lock me out when I ask questions. “Come to dinner with me, Kit.”
Her head whips up in surprise.Yeah, I can have swinging moods, too.“Is that a question? Or a demand?”
I step closer and roll the fabric of her silk top between my fingertips. “I’m asking you. Come out with me. We can grab dinner, go for a walk. I’m dying to have you to myself for ten minutes.” I bend lower to catch her eyes. “I’m begging you, one date. One time.”
She bites her lower lip hesitantly. “I don’t know, Bobby. I’m not the best dating material right now. My life is complicated, and I don’t trust Jack to stay home alone.”
“Your complications don’t bother me, babe. I’m looking for a date, dinner, drinks, nothing more.” That’s a lie. I want more, so much more. “And Jack can stay at the gym with one of my brothers, or one of them can go to your house.”
“Like a babysitter?” She balks. “No way. He’s not a child, he’s just an asshole. He’d never agree, and I could never ask your brothers to do that.”
“Not a babysitter. Just a friend. A responsible friend who’ll keep him out of trouble.” I smile when an opportunity for payback just slides in under my nose. “Jimmy would be happy to do it. He’s always playing the Play Station, so why not do it at your place?”
“I don’t know, Bobby…”
I take her fidgeting hand in mine and squeeze. “It’s just dinner. One time. We can eat bad food, hang out at the skate park and laugh at the kids who fall down. It’s not a big deal, and Jack will be fine. Jimmy’s an idiot, but I trust him with my life. I promise.”
Her eyes scream yes. Her escaping hand screams no. Her mouth screams nothing at all. I bend lower to bring our noses almost together. “Please.”
Her flat lips turn up into a small grin. “Fine,” she huffs. “One dinner. One time. As long as Jimmy doesn’t mind.”
“Deal! Clear your schedule for tomorrow night. I’m not waiting any longer than that.”
She snickers quietly. “Fine. Tomorrow night. I’ll cancel my date with Fabio and go out with you instead.”
My smile turns to a scowl. “Who the hell is Fabio?”
She smirks. “You wouldn’t know him. Don’t worry about it,” she adds when I don’t smirk with her. “Tomorrow night. Date night. Awesome…” she trails off nervously.
Instead of releasing her hand, I turn and walk her the final few feet to her car. She’s acting like I can break her heart or hurt her, but she has no clue that she holds all the power. I didn’t even have a date two minutes ago, but now that I do, dread swirls in my belly when I worry she’ll cancel.
I’ll never hurt her, but she could tear me apart without even trying. The power she holds over me is terrifying.
We stop at the driver’s side door, and her eyes meet mine when she turns back. “Alright, well, I have to go to work. I’m running late, so I’ll catch you later. Thanks again… for everything.”
Boldly, I reach forward before she can do it, finger the loose strands of hair by the side of her face, and brush them behind her ear. “Have a nice day. I’ll see you this afternoon.”
I watch her slide into the car and buckle up, and with a last smile, she turns away and drives out of the lot.
She said yes.
I turn back to the gym and skip like a girl in elementary school. She said yes to me! I’m so fucking ecstatic, my face hurts from smiling. I skip-walk toward the gym entrance and pass a few guys who look at me like I lost my marbles. Whatever. Nothing can dim my smile today.
I walk back through the doors – and my smile dims.
Fuck. I forgot about Jack. I walk forward and stop in front of him with a dangerous scowl. “Right. You need to come with me.” There are consequences around here for breaking rules. Those consequences dig deeper when he fucks his sister over.
He follows me down the hall to the cleaning supplies closet, and when I turn back, all hisstanding up to Timmsbravado slips when he takes a step back. I intend to talk to him soon about what went down at school, but not for a few hours. I’d rather make him sweat for a while.
Taking out a roll of paper towel and a spray bottle of sanitizer, I press them to his chest. “Take these to the weight room. I want you to wipe over all the equipment. Everything we touch with our hands, I want you to clean. Everything we touch period, you clean it. Then head to the treadmills, rowers, everything, clean that shit, too. When you’re done, come back and find me or one of the other guys. We’ll have more for you to do.”
With his head bowed low and his hands white knuckling the spray bottle, he turns away and mumbles, “Yes, coach.”
