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All of a sudden, I’m standing between a bunch of very pissed-off basketball players.
Richmond’s side parts, and that’s how I know Holden has arrived.
“Cassia? What’s going on?”
“Nothing,” I say. “Let’s just go.”
“Dennis was harassing her,” Robby supplies unhelpfully.
I shoot daggers in his direction, but he’s too busy glaring at Travis to notice. The same tense atmosphere as the game swirls around me, except now there are no referees. No witnesses.
Richmond just won the game. They should all be off celebrating.
“He didn’t do anything,” I say.
Travis grins at me. “Aw, baby. You don’t have to defend me.”
“Don’t talk to her,” Holden snarls.
“Worried she’ll wise up and go for a real man?”
“Take another look at the scoreboard before you leave, Dennis. Youlost.”
Travis’s smile is more of a leer. “I’m not talking about on the court. I mean keeping her satisfied in—”
I don’t see it coming. I don’t think Travis does either.
Holden swings, and there’s a sickening smack as his fist connects with Travis’s face.
Travis bends over, clutching his nose. I don’t have a lot of sympathy for him—he had plenty of chances to walk away—but I’m not totally supportive of Holden’s decision to punch him.
“Get the fuck out of here, Dennis.” Holden takes his own advice, grabbing my hand and pulling me toward the exit. A few of his teammates slap him on the back as we pass them. One of Travis’s goes over to check on him.
Cold air smacks me in the face as we step outside, chilling my lungs as I take a deep breath.
Holden says nothing as we walk toward his truck.
“That was dumb,” I tell him. “And unnecessary.”
“I enjoyed it.”
“What if he tells his coach? Presses charges?”
“He won’t.”
“You sure? Because it seems like he has a vindictive streak to me.”
“He also has an ego the size of Connecticut. You think he wants to spread around what just happened? He won’t do anything.”
“Well, congrats,” I say as we reach his truck.
“Thanks.”
Holden tosses his bag into the bed of his truck, then unzips it. He pulls out a blue cold pack, then climbs into the driver’s side.
My breath is visible as I sigh, then get in next to him.
“Did you get hurt?”
