Page 21 of Trusting the Team

“So that was a ‘Stay away from my daughter’ speech?”

“Something like that.”

13

TREY

Trey came from a big family. It was blended, but he loved spending time at home. The oldest of three sisters and two brothers, many of those now had kids. His youngest sister, still in high school, was a handful and his favorite. He always expected to have a loud, crazy home.

He was finishing a run with Cowboy when his phone rang. “He—,” Trey was cut off immediately. “You need what?” Cowboy’s eyebrow raised at Trey. “Okay, okay, I’ll be there.” Trey looked Cowboy up and down, “I’ll bring some back up.”

As Trey hung up, he could hear his sister’s loud “No.”

Cowboy and Trey walked into the school, two opposites, both imposing even in their workout clothes. Trey had a classic Californian look, 5’10”, blonde, and blue-eyed; Cowboy at 6’6”, black hair, and green eyes made them a unique pair walking toward the office. Heads turned as they passed. Trey stepped up to the front desk, “I’m here?—”

“Tara,” the assistant jumped in.

Tara came out of the vice principal’s office, as if on cue. Trey looked around her to see the vice principal step out. Tara made an exasperated face at Trey, then turned to Cowboy with a smile, “Hey.”

Cowboy’s eyebrow went up, “Tara, what was it this time?”

Vice Principal picked up the link. “Tara was dismissed from class. Because this isn’t the first time, she’ll need to complete a three day out of school suspension.” Trey turned to look at his sister, who shrugged.

“It wasn’t my fault,” Tara started immediately, her phone out in her hand already.

“We’ll talk about it,” Trey said for the benefit of the vice principal as they headed toward the door.

Tara walked between the two men toward the main entrance. She waved at her classmates as they stopped to watch. Halfway down the hall, Trey caught a small stutter step as he looked at Tara. “Tara, what the hell?” Tara pulled her eyes from a young man in a corner.

She looked up at her brother, “Um.”

“Tara. Clearly there are a couple of things we should be talking about.” Cowboy caught the young man’s look as well, his eyebrows knitting. Cowboy instinctively spun toward him as they reached the door. Trey pushed the door open and slammed into a woman coming in.

Trey reached out, grabbing her as bags and papers flew up. “Oh, sh--. I’m sorry!” His attention refocused. Tara followed behind, holding the door open. Tara smiled to herself as she watched her brother stumble. Cowboy started to pick up dropped papers. The woman looked up and froze. Trey dropped his hands, feeling her balance settle, and looked around. Cowboy was finishing collecting the mess. He started from the ground and looked at the woman he had run over. White stilettos, shapely dark-skinned legs, white pencil skirt, black and white blouse, showing off her cleavage subtly, long dark hair, and green eyes.

“Dr. Jule,” Tara broke the silence. Cowboy shoved everything he had gathered at Trey.

“Tara,” she responded out of habit.

“This is my brother, John.” Cowboy ushered Tara toward the car.

“It’s nice to meet you, John.”

Trey held the door open, “Ma’am.”

“My name is Arianna.”

“Arianna,” Trey repeated.

“Tara’s your sister?”

“Yes, she’s the youngest,” he quickly explained.

“I see. She can be a great student when she doesn’t get distracted.”

Trey nodded, “I’d like to see you.”

“I’m sorry?”

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