Page 19 of Hard Count
“This is the athletes’ gym,” Nash says. He’s still angry that I’m here I see. Tilting my head up to glance in the mirror, I smirk when I see him standing directly behind me. We look hot together. All it would take is me leaning back an inch or two and my ass would be in the perfect position to rub against his dick. When his eyes meet mine in the reflective glass, he curses and moves to the side. I have to bite down on my bottom lip to hold in my laugh.
I straighten from my bent position and turn toward him. “Is that what your problem is?” I return the weights back to therack. “I’m not an athlete?” I lift my towel off the ground and wipe at the sweat forming on my forehead and chest.
“Yes,” he grunts out his response. I could be insulted by his answer or relish in the fact he’s lying through his teeth.
“Hate to break your heart but I am an athlete.”
Moving closer he says, “But not at Newhouse.”
“I’ve been working out in this gym every day since I transferred. The one and only privilege I’m taking advantage of for being my dad’s favorite daughter.” I try to deliver that last bit with as little spite as possible but I’m afraid enough slipped through to make Nash ease off his campaign to get me to leave.
“I’ve never seen you in here before.”
I laugh which causes his jaw muscle to tick. “That must mean I’m lying then.”
“I didn’t say that.”
“I usually come in earlier but I was running late this morning.”
“Are you almost done?” His eyes dart around the room at the handful of guys apparently allowed to be in the same vicinity as me.
“I’m not going to let you push me out of here because I make you uncomfortable. The pass in my locker says I have the same right to be here as any of you do.” I gesture toward his friends.
“You’re right. You should come workout with us.” He nods and starts walking toward the squat rack they’re currently using.
“Iwouldn’t want to embarrass anyone,” I joke, following him. Nash tosses a boyish grin over his shoulder that makes my heart skip a beat.
“Do you think you can?” he challenges.
“I think you have no idea what I’m capable of.”
He spins around and suddenly we’re standing toe to toe. “I know exactly what you can do. You’re the one who’s letting someone hold you back.”
Moving closer until we’re chest to chest. “I could say the same to you. There are people who have recognized your raw talent from the first time you stepped onto a football field. Yet you're choosing to not play at your full potential. Get out of your head, and play how you were made to.” His eyes hold mine for a moment too long. Even though the words are true, I shouldn’t have said them out loud. Shaking my head, I retreat and turn to retrieve my belongings. I think maybe I’m done working out after all.
“You can’t say something like that and leave. This is why we need you.” He wraps his hand around my bicep to halt my flurry of movement. “This is why I need you. Don’t walk away. Help us. Help me.”
“I already told you I wasn’t interested. You won your game. You should be thrilled. You proved you didn’t need me after all.”
He sighs and removes his hand from my arm. “You call that winning?” he asks with wide eyes and raised eyebrows.
The win wasn’t pretty. They made a last second field goal to tip the score in their favor. “You’re still undefeated.” I shrug.
“Outsquat one of the guys and I won’t ask for your help again. I won’t bother you.” He throws out the challenge with a promise. One that I don’t like very much. We seem to be balancing precariously on the edge of a love hate relationship.
He can say something one moment that makes me want to rage and in the next breath he says something that, if dissected correctly, is so sweet you wonder how it came from the same person you wanted knee in the balls mere moments ago.
Nash telling me he won’t bother me again almost makes me want to lose on purpose. Unfortunately, my pride and ego aren’t going to let me give this one away so easily.
“Fine.” My eyes drift over to the squat rack. I can lift at least a hundred pounds.I think. “You can go first.”
“Oh, you won’t be going against me.” He smiles.
“Why not?”
“Now why would I do that when I can spend my time trying to ignore you some more?” He winks then places a hand on my back to finish our route toward his friends. My cheeks flush at what he’s insinuating. High school Drew would be doing back flips right now knowing Nash Pierce was having a hard time keeping his eyes off of her. Shit, even college Drew would probably give them a try if it didn’t mean losing the way his hand feels on my back.
“You’ve already met Eli.” He nods toward his roommate. I wave hello and try not to think about my run-ins with him. Especially the fact that he’s likely seen my boobs. “This isGage.” He points to a guy with shaggy black hair, tattoos, and a nose ring standing by a second squat rack. He has a smirk plastered on his face that would make any girl want to do bad things.
