that Tori’s dealing with a lot. She’s been through so much domestically—these two semesters alone—and someone has to protect her.”
“You mean the fucker who assaulted her?” Trisha’s eyes blew the hell up. I moved toward the door, over this shit. “You think she’s just a fetish-worthy, impoverished tomboy toy for me. You ever think we actually have a connection?”
Her head shook, eyes blank. “You’re not the same as her, Spencer.”
I nodded, lips twisted around. “Thanks for revealing how you really think I’m a piece of rich shit, Gaskin.” I slammed the door, leaving her alone in the office.
Marching toward the locking room, I ran into A.D. Jones.
He stopped just a few feet in front of me. “The hell’s wrong with you, son?”
I maintained my stride, hardly looking his way. “Keep your fuckin’ subordinate away from me.”
I didn’t stop until I made it back to my assigned training room.
As I shadowboxed the chilled air in the bleachers, I took in the beautiful picture in front of me. The track was so peaceful at night, no matter how cold it was. It was empty, and the lights brought out the small design details of the rubber. The BSU colors were a small notice, but detectable. It was dope.
Movement from the aluminum bench beneath my feet had my attention go left and right until I saw Ashton walking my way. His big body was led by his head hanging low. Wide shoulders weighed from book bag straps, and his hands were tucked into the pouch of his sweatshirt. I watched him from the corner of my eye until he sat down facing the track.
“Hey,” he grumbled.
I sat, too. “Hey.” I finally turned to face him. “I thought you’d changed your mind.”
He messaged me, asking to meet him at the old track and field tonight. It was unexpected, but stealing away a moment with him couldn’t be denied.
“Why?”
“I’ve been out here waiting.” I shrugged.
He pulled out his Blackberry for the time. Ashton faced the field again when he muttered, “I’m only a few minutes late.”
I was joking about him being late. Yes, he was, but not that much. I wished he hadn’t taken it that seriously. That’s when I realized, he hadn’t smiled when our eyes met—if they met at all. Was something wrong?
“How was your run?”
I licked my lips. “Good.” My eyes swiped across the field remembering. “Did four miles.”
“How long?” I could feel him looking my way, but my eyes stayed focused on the field.
“Forty-one minutes.”
“That ain’t it.” His words were a punch in the stomach. “You need to be at, at least, thirty minutes, but your goal should be thirty-six.”
I didn’t respond. He was right, but it still hurt my feelings. I was used to my trainer, Tyrone, going hard, but Ashton’s words hit different.
“How many pages are you into that English Lit paper?”
I shrugged. “Three.”
“It’s a six-page essay.”
“It ain’t due ‘till next week.”
“But you ain’t leaving time to edit it or to proof.” He was mad.
Definitely mad…
That hurt, too. Taking a deep breath, I shrugged again, not knowing what to say.
“Do I scare you?”
My head whipped his way. “What?”
Ashton’s eyes were tight, concentrating. “Me. What we do with each other. Does any of that scare you?”
“No.” Him asking made me scared. “Why you ask me that?”
“Because you talk to Trisha about what we do together.”
Suddenly, I couldn’t look at him. My eyes fell away.
What the fuck did she tell him?
“I—I’m sorry. What did she say?”
Ashton’s head shook. “It’s not important—”
“Then why you bring it up?”
Why are you so tight?
“Because I don’t want you scared of me.”
My body twisted to him. “I’m not!”
“You sure?”
“I ain’t scared of nobody on this campus! Can’t nobody do shit to me but send me home!”
And away from you…
“All I’m saying is, you can talk to me about anything I do with and for you. We’re friends, Tori. I’m not here to clown or pity you. I’m here for an even exchange. I thought you knew that.”
Even exchange. What’s that?
“I know!” I snapped. “Look, I’m sorry for talking to Trisha—”
“I’m not mad at you for talking to her.”
Then why you bring her up?
I didn’t know how to ask. Instead, I faced the track again.
“I called you out here to make sure you know, there are no gimmicks, pranks, or fetishes happening between us. I know my situation’s fucked up with me training and all, but that don’t mean I’m the bad guy.
Noooo…
I turned to him. “I never…” I couldn’t finish it. “We’re good, Ashton!”