Page 34 of Coach Me
Tripp and I walk into the gym and I shake my head. “So that’s what instant rejection feels like?”
“Oh, come on, Little Anderson, you’ll get used to it. Hell, sometimes it’s refreshing.”
I snort a laugh. “Ah, now the seeking out rejections from Reagan make sense.”
Miles jumps in front of me with a proud grin on his face. I expect Tripp to consider our conversation over and goworkout, but I don’t think he notices Miles so close. Or he’s just so used to saying whatever comes to his mind.
“It’s so humbling. She manages to do it in the most brutal fucking?—”
I cut him off, unfortunately a little too late. “Geez, can none of you guys watch your language?”
Miles answers before Tripp can even open his mouth. “No, Daddy says it’s really annoying. He told me not to repeat words, ’specially from Tripp or Beck.”
“What!” Tripp leans back with his hand over his heart for a full dramatic effect.
I snort a small laugh before I can stop it. Miles looks from Tripp to me, and I can see the mischief already there in his eyes.
“Yeah, Dad and Callie sometimes say you don’t use your brains to think. I’m not sure what you do use, but clearly it’s not smart.”
And with that, I full on laugh.
“And that you guys are children sometimes!” Miles adds.
Crap, I gotta pull it together. Bad teacher reaction on this one.
“Excuse me!” Tripp’s voice goes up a couple octaves as he grabs Miles to flip him upside down. “Tell me more of what they said.”
Miles giggles as Tripp playfully shakes him. “I won’t.” Giggle. “Tell.” Giggle. “You anything.”
“Okay, okay. Give him back,” I say, reaching out my hands to take Miles back, but Tripp spins him around.
“Sorry, Nanny, gotta fight for him.”
“Tripp,” I huff out, but don’t get to do anything else before a sharper, aggravated voice cuts in.
“Tripp, put him down,” Dex snaps, every bit of what I imagine any angry dad sounds like.
One hot…muscular…sweaty…tattoos peeking out from his sleeves dad. I wonder if I can count the abs through his athletic shirt…eek, snap out of it.
Tripp flips Miles back around and sets him on the ground next to me. “Relax, Dex, we were just goofing around. Nanny, here?—”
“My nanny is none of your concern,” Dex barks.
Oof. Why do I feel like this thick foggy tension in here now? Did I do something wrong? I thought Dex and Tripp got along…
“She’s got a name, guys.” Beck comes up beside Dex and claps his shoulder. “And I’m sure this was just a stop on their tour, isn’t that right, Miles?”
“Yep! Our first stop after seeing Shannon.” Miles’s face sours as he says her name but then hooks his head over his shoulder to me. “Lucie, don’t forget about the schedule problem.”
“What problem?” Dex snaps, finally looking my way.
With the tenseness in his gaze, I’m a little torn between wanting to hide and being slightly more attracted to him.
“It’s not really a problem. Shannon gave me Callie’s schedule instead of yours. When I asked her about it, she said to talk to you, so?—”
“I’ll talk to her,” Dex clips.
Geez, and here I thought our conversation this morning had some hints of normalcy to them. I guess we’re back to being sour to Lucie.
