Page 41 of Steeling Her
“Yeah, I mean, he’s good. I prefer Bulldog, though. I don’t really take to Coach’s technique. Bulldog’s, on the other hand, I much prefer his advice . . .”
“Yeah, your coach’s technique is not great. But then again, he’s not me. I can’t believe Bulldog is still around, that old bag is a wise man that I idolized growing up around here. Listen to what he has to say, he’ll come in handy for your pro career but he’s got nothing on me,” my dad advises.
“With all due respect sir, I haven’t had you as a coach, so I like Bulldog’s methods. I think he’s the best I’ve had,” Nick says.
“So far . . .” I see Nick tense a little at what my dad is saying.Where is he going with this?“How about this, the next time I’m down here visiting Carter, I’ll do a one on one with you one day? Maybe two if I like you enough.” I see Nick completely freeze beside me, and I watch him just stare wide-eyed at my dad. I poke him in the arm to help him say something back.
“Nick! Are you okay?” I whisper, still poking him. His eyes snap down to meet mine, and once they do, my breath hitches at the sudden change. I see a flash run across his eyes and he faces my father once more to shake his hand. What he says next completely shakes me from the inside.
“As much as I’d like that sir, I understand that other guys have used your daughter in the past. I’m not about to be put in that same category. I appreciate the gesture, but I can’t accept.” My dad’s shocked expression is quickly replaced by a smile. He was testing him, and he passed. I bite the inside of my cheek, trying not to smile, and I see my mom staring up at Nick.
“You have no idea how many guys have taken me up on that offer. I don’t have the time to actually come down here, especially during the season. I appreciate that you didn’t put yourself in that category. We all would’ve if you said yes.” My dad shakes his hand, and I stand there in shock that he did that. I thought he was going to take the offer but he didn’t. He turned it down. My parents decide to leave us alone together again after that quick conversation. He’s a busy man that has to socialize.
Before walking back in, he says to Nick over his shoulder, “By the way, I have actually watched your tapes. You’re good! Really good! Teams will be fighting for you once you’re finished, good! Me included. Nice meeting you.” He waves off my dad and I watch them leave. I’m standing behind Nick, whose back is turned to me. I think my dad broke him.
“Um . . . Nick?” I run my hands along the skin of my arm. I shake my legs from the slight breeze that blows through me. “Nick?” I whisper at his back. Turning around finally to face me, I see the light in his eyes. He looks incredible right now. So incredible. I’m at a loss for words.
“Sorry, I was totally having a fan girl moment over your dad . . .” he says as he smiles down at me. I laugh, looking out to the darkness at nothing in particular.
“You and everyone else in this building . . . Well, except for me and my brothers.” I point my toe and trace the pattern of the tiles with it.
“Well, yeah, you see him pretty much all the time. I can’t believe I just met Roger Steel . . . and Austin Steel . . . and Chris Steel”—his head turns back to meet my eyes once more, and I feel the butterflies flying around my stomach—“and Carter Steel.” Hearing my full name leave his mouth was like music to my ears. Soft, soothing music too.
I don’t ask why he mentioned me. I’m nothing special. Not compared to my family, I’m not.
He runs his fingers through his hair as he watches me. I send him a tight smile and, after a few more minutes out here, we decide to go back inside and join the commotion around my father.
“Shit . . . what the fuck is she doing here . . .” I look in the same direction as him and notice Maya making her way up the stairs with her group of friends. She looks really good in a tight and glittery black dress that shows off her long legs. She spots Nick from a mile away and then looks at me. She starts to walk over to us and then spots both of my brothers. She stops herself and her friends, all of them giving both of my brothers their best flirtatious stare, like they’re meat on a stick.
“Come on.” Nick grabs hold of my hand and tugs me in their direction. Seeing Maya turn on her heel toward Nick, she spots that he’s holding my hand and glares hard at me.
“You’re so buff, Austin. It’s good to finally feel what a real man feels like!” Maya flirts with my older brother, her hands trailing Austin’s chest. The sight makes me queasy. The look in her eyes tells me she wants all the attention on her, and well, she’s getting it, which is boosting her ego. There’s something about her that I just don’t quite like. She’s actually rude and mean. I don’t like people like that.
“Jealous, Nick?” She smiles, running her finger along her neck. “I see you brought your pet with you, who’s still following you around like a lost puppy. How pathetic.” She turns back around to my brothers who are fuming with anger. Her eyes widen at the sight of them both breathing fire. Their quick change in mood caught her off guard.
“That pathetic, lost puppy is my sister . . .” Austin says while gritting at her. Her head snaps to meet my blank stare and her eyes widen then laughs, thinking it’s all a joke. But it’s not.
“Bullshit . . .” She’s now staring at Nick who has the most beaming smile on his face at her embarrassing mistake. She’s been caught. You can smell the alcohol off her, influencing her bravery.
I look down to see I’m still holding his hand. I don’t want to let go either. “Don’t ever insult my sister ever again. Got that?” My brothers have defended me from the day I was born, beating up guys who were mean to me and sticking up for me when it was girls.
I watch Maya’s nod up and down quickly in fear. But Austin continues his lecture, “That goes for the rest of you three. Don’t insult her. So keep your fucking opinions to yourself!” Austin stands behind me, locking me up in a tight hug. His big brother instincts always kicks in at the right time. Chris stands next to us, staring at the girls who were all over them a second ago. Nick is still holding on to me. I wonder if he realizes he’s holding my hand still.
We allow Maya and her friends to walk back out the door and leave the building, but not without an over the shoulder glare from her.
“Jesus, college girls are still the same old bitches—” I slap Austins arm and tilt my head back to look up at him. “What? Why’d you hit me?” His voice was higher than normal.
“I’m a college girl, dipshit!” The realization flashes across his face, forgetting that I am, indeed, a college girl. He’s smart, but only book smart with a side of zero common sense.
“Oh shit, yeah . . . I forgot you were, C-dog!” He chuckles.
“C-dog?” Nick whips his head around to the both of us with a grin so wide he might strain his muscles.
“You can’t call her that! That’s my name for her, come up with something else, buddy!” Austin points at Nick, who is still smiling at him.
“What’s your name for her?” Nick nods to Chris, who is currently stuffing chocolate cake into his mouth.Why is he always eating something?
“Cooks or Cookie.” That makes Nick laugh loudly. I feel the tug of my hand as he throws his head back.
