“I can’t help it that you’re short.”
“You know what else is little? Your dick. So, if you don’t want me to nail you right in the junk, you’ll cut that shit out.”
“Oh yeah?”
“Fucking try me.”
Marshall must have a death wish because he aims the ball right at my face.
At the last second, I duck, whirl around, and fire.
Out of the corner of my eye, I see Beau and Micah charging forward, but they stop short as my launched ball hits Marshall square in the groin.
He howls as he goes down. And cheers go up from the guys on both teams. Because, honestly, no one likes an asshole who tries to hit a girl in the face. And he tried. Twice.
I can tell my eyes are blazing. He pissed me off so bad. He deserved that.
Micah and Beau join me at the center of the gym, along with a couple of other guys, who are grinning and wanting to bump fists with the new girl. I happily oblige them. Take that, fucking Marshall Vincent III.
Beau boosts me into a sitting position on his shoulder and parades me around, much to my embarrassment. He raises his voice, “Everyone got it? Nobody fucks with Lyla. Especially not you, Marshall.” Okay, maybe it’s not quite embarrassing. Maybe it’s actually pretty cool.
At least it seems that way until my eyes follow Marshall and his rage-filled face all the way to the locker room.
* * *
A few minutes later, Coach Roland ambles out of the office. I assume he lets the guys have the run of the gym during his class because he knows the majority of them. We’re just standing around talking after the game when he walks over to our group.
“Lyla. Could I speak to you for a second?”
“Coach?” Beau steps forward, a frown on his face, Micah right behind him.
Coach Roland gives them a tight-lipped smile. “This doesn’t have anything to do with you, boys. Stand down.” He waves me over to a spot away from the group I’d been talking to.
“Could I get your take on what happened?”
My brows raise. “Did that jerk tattle?”
Coach Roland crosses his arms over his chest and lets out a big sigh. “He did.”
“You know he aimed at my face, right? Twice. Everyone here will back me up.”
“He did not mention that. Good to know.” He presses his lips together. “You’re the new gymnast here on scholarship, right?”
I nod, not sure where he’s going with this. Fuck. Am I going to be in trouble with my own coach over this? I don’t know how things work at this school.
“I take it if you were the last one standing on your dodgeball team that you were holding your own.”
My shoulders hunch up under my ears before I let them drop. “I mean, I was doing my best.”
He chuckles. “Sounds like it. And you must have some fantastic aim.” He glances at my arms. “Strong, too. Good job.” He winks at me, turns around, and walks away.
“Sir? I’m not in trouble?”
He doesn’t even turn around, just shakes his head, looking up at the ceiling.