Page 74 of Whistle

I shouldn’t have stayed away.

The RA rephrased the question. “So he’s been bullying you?”

Bodhi shrugged again.

“Answer the question, Lawson,” I intoned, wanting the answer. I should have hit that miscreant more than once.

Bodhi glanced at me, his blue eyes burning. “Sure, Coach.” He turned back to the RA. “He’s been a jerk. I decided I’d had enough.”

“So you didn’t show interest in him romantically? He didn’t turn you down?”

“What the hell kind of question is that?” I barked, stepping forward to glare at the RA. “Be careful, Jeremy. You’re starting to sound discriminatory.”

Jeremy flushed. “It’s what Ronnie alleged. I have to ask,” he insisted. He glanced at Bodhi. “I mean no offense.”

“Yeah?” I groused. “Well, I’m offended.”

“Most millennials are,” he muttered.

He did not. Planting my hands on the desk, I leaned across. “What did you just say to me?”

“I, ah…” he stuttered. “Coach Resch, I’m sorry.”

“Right,” I deadpanned, feeling a headache forming behind my eyes. Straightening, I gestured to the tablet lying on the desk. “Just put in your report that they got into a minor altercation that was resolved in house,” I told him. “And that they’re being assigned new rooms upon request.”

He made a face like he had to shit. “About that…”

I glanced toward the ceiling, praying for patience. “What now?”

“The rooms are all full. It was hard finding a spot for your new swimmer as it was.”

“Well, you managed. Do it again.”

He shook his head. “There are literally no other rooms available in Peregrine Hall.”

“Then move him to another dorm.”

Jeremy flushed. “I’m having trouble finding a room in those too.”

“You mean to tell me there isn’t one open spot in any of the dorms at Westbrook that you can move that boy to?”

Jeremy averted his eyes and lowered his voice. “There’s also that Ronnie is claiming he’s the victim and asking him to move is victim shaming.”

“Victim shaming?” My voice was strained. And he thought millennials were the problem?

“He was assigned the room first. He was attacked first.”

“It’s fine,” Bodhi said, drawing our attention. “I’ll go. I don’t want to live there anyway.”

“It’s the Elite dorm,” I refuted.

“He has more stuff than me anyway. It won’t take me long to throw it all in some bags and go.”

“You’re sure?” Jeremy asked.

Bodhi nodded. “Can I go?”

I reared back and looked at him as though he’d just been body snatched. He’s asking? Since when did he ever ask permission to do anything?

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