Page 98 of Rookie Move
“You’re thinking pretty hard over there. Trying to pick a track?”
It was her turn to laugh. “No, I like the song to be a game time decision. Although, if I’m choosing one to sing for you...” She couldn’t resist making the dig. “I should pick ‘Bitch’ by Meredith Brooks.” That’s what he’d called her at the press conference last month.
O’Doul flinched. “God, I regret ever saying that. I’m truly sorry.”
“It’s okay,” she said quickly. Even though it really wasn’t.
“Naw. See, you shot me down a couple of times, and I’m not used to that. Turns me into a toddler, apparently. Lesson learned.”
Georgia’s face heated. “Um...”
“Don’t apologize.”
She let out a nervous laugh. “Okay. But I’m pretty clueless sometimes.”
“No big. But, listen—I saw you at the dojang on Spring Street a couple weeks ago—right before the road trip. What is that—a third-degree black belt you’re sporting? You outrank me.”
“Do I?” she squeaked. “I didn’t know you did tae kwon do. Isn’t it a little too much like your day job?”
He snorted. “Maybe. But I’m a little touchy about the way people think of me as a heavy. I took up tae kwon do because it makes fighting orderly. It’s an art form and askill, you know what I mean?”
This was easily the most personal conversation she’d ever had with O’Doul. “Itisa skill. And beautiful when it’s done well.”
He grinned. “People don’t usually say the word ‘beautiful’ in the same sentence with me. But I know what you mean. Is that why you took it up?”
“Nope. I did it because I needed to defend myself. When I was eighteen, something terrible happened to me. After I was raped, this was how I learned to feel confident again.”
His eyebrows flew upward. “Jesus. I’m sorry.”
“Thanks. It was a while ago. I started with aikido first, but it felt too staged.”
“Yeah, I get that,” he said. “Hey—you can help me study for my next belt test. I need some one-step sparring practice.”
Georgia grinned. Sparring with O’Doul could be a hoot. “Okay! Let’s go. I see a mat in there.” They’d reached the stretching room where yoga would be held. He waited politely for her to enter the room first, and she slid past him. “There’s nobody else in here yet. Quick—drop me, Doulie.”
“I knew you were fun.” He chuckled. He gave her a quick bow then relaxed into a preparation stance, while she waited with a grin on her face.
THIRTY
Leo followed Silas and Castro out of the dressing room and into the dank basement hallway. “Classy place,” he muttered.
“It reminds me of a horror movie set,” Silas quipped. “Didn’tPsychohave some basement scenes?”
“Dude,TheSilence of the Lambs,” Castro suggested. “It puts the lotion in the basket.”
Silas snickered as they turned a corner, finding nothing but an old mop bucket and a dead end. “Shit, are we lost?” he asked.
“Wait, this isn’t a horror movie,” Castro said as they all spun around. “This is Spinal Tap.” He stopped beside a door marked Steam Chute 17 and pounded on it. “HELLO, CLEVELAND! I always wanted to say that.”
“Cross that off the bucket list,” Silas agreed.
“Wait, I heard voices,” Leo said as they approached another turn.
“I see dead people,” Silas countered.
“Aren’t you both just hysterical,” Leo grumbled. “Hustle, though. I’m not getting left off the game card tonight just to hear more of your movie trivia.”
“We all know I won’t be playing,” Silas muttered. “Might as well take the scenic route.”
