Chapter Twenty-Seven
Dani
Gunner leans against the backrest of the weight machine as his friends gather around him. It’s been three days since I’ve seen him, and it’s harder than I expected.
Unlike his usual early morning lifting program, he doesn’t come in until the place is packed. When he finally showed up today, I tried to talk to him, and he pretended his music was too loud to hear me.
Devin swings the door open and gives me a curt nod. Shit. Nothing like being snubbed by all the cool kids at once. This sucks total ass.
I pivot on my heel and stomp to my office. The hairs of my ponytail swoosh around my shoulders. I’ll give you a hair toss and punch in the nads. Forget the, check my nails shit.
I jerk up my water bottle and guzzle down half the contents as I imagine tarring his gorgeous abs in honey and blindfolding him. Then, I’d gently hand him a beehive and kick it to stir up the little devils. Yep, I’m totally rational.
When Dillon steps up to my door, I give him a brief smile.
“Hey, Dani.”
“Hi.” Dillon’s a big teddy bear. He’s sweet and kind, but if you saw him on the street, you’d think he was going to squish you.
“Would you be able to go over my form?”
“Sure.” I nod and follow him to the Smith Cage. We’re about twenty feet from Gunner and his crew, and I turn my back to them and cross my arms. If we’re back in junior high, I can play that game, too.
I study Dillon as he moves through his lifting positions and correct him when his form dips below recommended guidelines.
“Lift your elbows up a little.” I touch the spot an inch above his elbow. His skin is covered in an elaborate cross tattoo.
“Like this?” His eyes meet mine.
Is he flirting with me? I don’t have time for this. I groan inwardly. Since when did I become the most popular girl in the room? “Yes.”
“Thanks.” He closes his eyes, and rhythmically goes through the motions.
The skin on my neck breaks out in goosebumps, leaving my hair standing on end. Shit. They’re staring at us. I fight the urge to twirl around and flip them the bird.
“I thought you were dating Gunner.”
My breath catches. How do I answer this? Everyone saw us together, so there’s no use denying it. “We went out, but it was nothing.”
“I see.” The weights crash against the back of the machine. “I was hoping it wasn’t anything serious.”
My mouth dries. Please, don’t ask me out. I don’t have the heart to tell him, no, but I also can’t date anyone else. My heart is broken, and my nerves are wound tight. “It wasn’t serious. We went out on a date. That’s it.”
“Good.” He smiles. “I was worried when I heard him and Devin talking about going out this weekend while we’re out of town.”
“Oh, yeah.” Don’t appear concerned. Fuck that. I cross my arms and rotate shoulders. “When was this, and what did they say?”
“Sunday, before the game. They made plans to pick up some ladies, and…” He wrinkles his nose. “Get laid.”
“They did?” My jaw is so tight I’m afraid my teeth are going to snap.
“Yeah.” He leans forward. “Gunner mentioned picking up more than one woman.”
Motherfucker. “I see.” He’s such a fucking liar. The whole thing was a total play to get in my pants. What a fucking cocksucker. My eyes sting, and I bite down hard on my tongue. The bitter taste of copper fills my mouth.
My entire body is weak as I try to figure out how to get through the gym without breaking down in a heap. I can’t show vulnerability in a man’s world. If I do, I’m done.
I try and catch my breath, but it comes out in a low whimper. I can’t stay here in Kansas City. I’m going to have to move. If any inkling of weakness is put out in the open, I’ll never get another job with a pro team.