Page 32 of Off the Rim
"You using big words to try to impress me, now?" I don't think Marcus meant to make the joke, considering how quickly he schools his face to hide his amusement.
"Well, I've tried everything else. Chivalry, humor, letting you beat the shit out of my tonsils." Seriously, my throat still hurts. I didn't talk on the flight home because I fucking couldn't. "Not much left to try," I say with less playfulness.
"Look, Ashton, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have?—”
I shut him up by pressing my mouth to his.
CHAPTER 19
MARCUS
For the briefest moment, I freeze. My mind flies in a million different directions, settling on the familiarity of Ashton's lips on mine.
A sharp spasm of panic shoots through me, and I react on instinct. I don't know what he expected from me, but it's clearly not my fist flying through the air and smashing into his angular jaw. My knuckles collide with his face with a sickening thud, and his head snaps to the side.
His hand comes up to cup his cheek, looking at me with wide, disbelieving eyes.
"What was that for?" He sounds hurt more than pissed, and it enrages me.
"You can't just do that!"
"I'm sorry. I thought?—”
"You thought fucking wrong. Okay? I took some frustration out on you after the interview, and I shouldn't have done that. But you and me? This isn't happening."
Ashton takes a step towards me, and I brace myself, fists instinctively balling at my sides.
"Don't," I warn him. But he takes another step, then another.
"It seems like you have more frustration to get out, Marcus. So go ahead, take it out on me. Fuck my throat or use me as a punching bag. I don't care. I know I deserve?—”
Coach Burke's loud, booming voice startles us apart, almost like he'd physically pulled us in opposite directions.
"What the hell is going on out here!?"
Red faced, with anger burning in his eyes, Coach stomps across the lobby and puts himself between us.
"You have got to be kidding me!" Coach shouts, looking between us incredulously. "Did I or did I not just warn you about the consequences of your behavior!?"
"Yes sir, you did," I say, looking down. My face flushes with shame. I can't believe I put myself at risk of losing everything because of Ashton fucking James.Again.Why can't he leave me alone? Why can't I stop reacting to him this way?
"We were just getting a little tension out of our system, Coach. It's technically our fall break, and you said to come back with a new attitude. We're starting that process now."
The way Coach is staring daggers at Ashton, you'd think his gaze alone would be painful, but Ashton doesn't shrink under his gaze. He holds his shoulders straight and looks down at Coach, since he's so much taller, and dares him to contradict his ridiculous excuse.
Coach tears his eyes from Ashton and focuses on me. I tilt my head down, truly ashamed of my behavior. I didn't mean to, I just reacted. Coach didn't see what happened to know it wasn't one sided, but I'm not about to out Ashton by defending myself. I should have held my temper, anyway. It wasn't an appropriate response. Violence isn't going to make any of the feelings churning inside me feel better.
"I'll have you know I just spent the last forty-five minutes defending your place on this team. There are parents, led by one in particular," he cuts his eyes at Ashton pointedly, "That are campaigning to have you kicked off this team. So far, I've managed to save your ass and our donation funding by pointing out that I have no legal grounds to remove or bench you without risking legal action against the school. Your academics are perfect, you have an excellent work ethic, and until now you've never broken any rules or engaged in any misconduct that could warrant your removal from this team. I'm going to pretend I didn't see this, but I'm putting you both on an unofficial probation. I expect you both to stay on campus for the break. I want eight hours of on-court practice and eight hours of community service from each of you, to be carried outtogether. Assistant coach Weston will be on site to sign off on your hours for the court, and I want signed documentation of the community service. Do you understand me?"
"Yes, sir," we say simultaneously. Ashton sounds more enthusiastic about his agreement than I'd expect. I thought he'd be protesting having to stay on campus. Other than maybe visiting my mom for a day, I planned to stay here and enjoy the quiet.
"I don't expect you to braid each other's hair or be best friends, but you will learn to cooperate, or there will be consequences for all of us."
Nodding my understanding, I pull the hood of my sweater up and head out into the rain.
Me: 8AM
Princess D-Bag: Who is this?
