Page 50 of Golden Rule

“Okay, squat circuits are up first. Give me two sets. We’ll rest for one minute after that, then I want you to give me two more. And you’re not here to impress anyone, so keep the weight manageable. I’ll be looking out for bad form and correcting it.”

The next second, they’re on it, pushing themselves but taking my advice on weight and form into account. We push through the first and second sets together, then break. I take a sip from my water bottle and catch Reed’s eyes on me as I set it down. It seems rude to just look away, but when I give a casual nod just to be polite, he pretends not to notice.

Coach’s words ring inside my head. The ones about some of the guys being icy because they don’t know me, but with Reed, it feels deeper than that, and I’m not sure I believe things will ever change.

“Alright, let’s go. Two more sets. Starting with goblet squats this time.”

The guys follow my lead again while Coach Wells and Assistant Coach Powell watch from the sidelines. I can’t read their minds, but based on the looks on their faces as we finish up the squat circuit and move on to work our upper bodies, I think they’re pleased with how things are going. In the very least, they’re feeling whatI’mfeeling.

That there’s potential here.

“Okay, give me three sets of pull-ups, then we can move on.”

In my peripheral vision, I catch a glare from Sterling, and as I grip the bar above my head, I know what he’s thinking. That I’m pushing myself too hard. That I’m already in pain, and the last thing I need to be doing is three sets of pull-ups.

My gaze shifts to Coach Wells next, though, and when he points this way, smiling as he speaks, I can feel his energy all the way across the room. It’s hope, it’s expectation, it’s faith.

And it’s enough to quiet the doubts that look from Sterling had just put in my head.

I have to keep going.

I count through the first set in silence, pausing for sixty seconds when I’m done. And contrary to what Sterling seems to think, I’m okay. Even through the second and third sets, confirming my belief that I just have to focus on getting stronger.

We break for water, but only thirty seconds this time, then we’re back at it—planks, burpees, push-ups. It all feels like a blur as we near the end of the session. The guys are all red-faced and drenched, which means I did my job.

“Alright, we’ll close out with sled pushes,” I call out, smiling when most of them drop their heads. “Come on, guys. You know how it works. We putourselvesthrough hell in here to givethemhell out there.”

To my right, the sound of Reed’s voice draws my attention. It shouldn’t surprise me that he’s the one talking, but I guess I got caught up in the moment, thinking we were all getting somewhere, working as a team.

“Something wrong, Lawson?”

I’m not trying to start shit by calling him out, but I’m getting kind of sick of the guy’s passive-aggressive BS. We’re both men, so he should fucking talk to me like a man.

A cocky smirk curves his mouth, and I don’t mean to square my shoulders, but I do out of habit. Just not usually with my own teammates. As the room falls silent, I’m certain Coach’s eyes are on me just like everyone else’s, observing the exchange between me and his former QB1. A second later, I see my brother’s flank me. Again, not because they’re looking for a fight, but wedon’t know how tonotstep up for one another when shit goes sideways.

“I was just thinking,” Reed says. “We’ve done everything you’ve asked us to this morning.Mostlywithout mumbling and complaining.”

He’s not lying. Theydidstep up.

“Your point?”

He glances around at the other guys, then back at me. “I’m thinking that, instead ofeveryoneclosing out on sled pushes, we make a little friendly competition out of it. Just you and me.”

“Not gonna lie, I like that idea a whole hell of a lot better,” Jett teases, perching both hands on his hips, looking completely wiped.

I hate that my gaze naturally drifts toward Dane, but it does. And without saying a word, I know what he’s thinking.

Don’t even fucking think about it, West.

“What’s the matter, King Midas?” Reed says with a smirk. “Don’t think you can hang? I know that California sunshine softened you up a bit, but you’ve still got some CP blood coursing through those veins, don’t you?”

My brow tenses, and I’m trying to stay calm. The last thing Coach needs to see is me letting this asshole get under my skin.

Being discreet, I wind both my shoulders, pretending to stretch them, but I’m really just testing theone. It’s already strained after such an intense workout, but I refuse to let Reed-Fucking-Lawson think I’m scared to face-off with him. Maybe, after this, he’ll finally learn to keep his fucking mouth shut, and the others will start seeing me in the light I’ve been waiting for.

As an equal.

“Fine. Let’s go.”

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