Page 5 of Chasing Wild Heart

“You should be anyway,” I challenge. “You’re here to coach the entire team, not just one runner.”

Dumbass,my tongue wants to throw out, but knows I haven’t been pushed hard enough to venture into name calling.

“Except you’re the nucleus of the team. Everyone looks up to you.”

“Really?” Daphne calls out from one of the back rows. “Since when?”

“I don’t think nucleus is the word you want,” Tabby adds uncertainly. “It doesn’t sound right.”

“Yeah, just say center,” Eden chimes in brightly. “That’s more understandable, and no one will question that.”

“I will!” Daphne hollers out with a giggle.

I slap a hand over my mouth, unsuccessfully hiding my smile and amusing chuckle. My love and gratitude for my teammates having my back swells inside me.

“This isn’t funny,” Dash barks out. “You’re setting them up for failure, Juniper. You’re showing them that hard work and dedication means shit. That it’s okay to be lazy and expect the world to fall at your feet.”

Is this guy for fuckin’ real?

My body moves defensively without real thought since my mind is too busy processing the shots fired. I kick my legs out into the aisle and mimic his position so that our noses are seriously an inch apart.

“Listen here, you little fuckwit,” I snarl, curling my hands into tight fists. “This team knows everything about me, and I’m notfailing them. You are. Stop focusing your stupid attention on me because I don’t even want- no, I don’t need it. I want to run. I want to compete, but I don’t need to win. Had you bothered to ask anyone, then you would know no one has a problem with it. They would’ve said something by now, considering none of them are shy about voicing their opinions.”

“No, we are not!” Tabby shouts triumphantly, with the rest murmuring in agreement.

“You have a fucking gift,” Dash shoots back with words I’ve heard one too many times. “And you’re wasting it.”

I shake my head, ignoring the few dark strands sticking to my forehead. “It’s not a gift. It was countless hours of training, dedication, and drive that pushed me to be great in high school.”

Six years. I dedicated six years of my life to running. Training in the gym. Exercising and stretching every part of my body. Following a detailed food plan. Studying how others ran and trained. I might not have loved every moment, but I wanted it. Needed it.

Before realizing my five older brothers weren’t the smartest or even the nicest of people, I unconditionally adored them. So when one of them suggested I join the cross country team as I entered seventh grade, I hit the ground running – no questions asked.

I foolishly believed I’d get the chance to hang out more with my brother, Ren, a sophomore member of the boys' team. Apparently, members of the lowly junior varsity didn’t train with the elite athletes of the varsity team. But I eventually became an exception.

Placing first in five consecutive JV races about a full minute ahead of the second runner caught all the coaches’ attention and landed me on the varsity squad in the next meet. Even though I didn’t win or even place in the top fifty, the head coach left me on the roster ever since. But I proved my worth, makingsignificant progress at each invitational before finally winning my first varsity race at the end of the season and finishing in the top fifteen at the state meet.

And that was where I first met Dash. Already a state legend for winning two state titles and competing for his third and final one, all eyes were on the sexy graduating senior most likely to be seen in the next Olympics or some other big running event.

I was one of the thousands to cheer for him and watch him win.

Even though we both hail from Nebraska, we live on opposite ends of the state. My home city is a heartbeat away from the borders of Iowa, Kansas, and Missouri; his closer to Colorado. Because of many conflicting logistics, our schools never competed in the same meets, but I admittedly followed his growing fandom after he won his first state title.

Was I inspired to try a few fun races after he nabbed his second state title? Maybe.

Did a nerdy 13-year-old of Asian descent have a massive crush on the golden boy with blue eyes and a charming smile? I will take that secret with me to the grave, but I know my family would happily share all the embarrassing details of an infatuation I tried to hide.

“Do you know how many runners would kill to even half your drive?” Dash asks another rhetorical question on my“I’ve heard all this before”list.

“I don’t care,” I grit out, emphasizing each word. “I’m happy with where I am, so kindly fuck off.”

“Yeah, leave her alone,” Daphne echoes. “She’s fine. We’re fine. Everyone’s fine.”

Except one person isn’t fine, judging from the unrelenting scowl on his dumb face with the perfect amount of stubble.

“You of all people shouldn’t be happy with being mediocre,” he tries again, ignoring the murmurs of the audience behind us.

“Are you fucking serious?” I exclaim, throwing my hands in the air before shoving my index finger in his face. “You chased greatness, Dashwood. And where exactly did that land you? I’m pretty sure being an assistant coach at a liberal arts university was never part of your ultimate dream.”

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