Page 6 of Tangled Rose

“Well, we’ll show you around after dinner, how’s that?” Beau’s on the verge of laughter. Jerk.

I’m glad he’s so damn amused. With a small shrug, I say, “Sure, whatever.” Glancing around the pool area, I note a water volleyball net set up on one end, a hot tub across the yard that seats at least twelve, a fire pit off in the distance, and it’s obvious someone pays to make the backyard look gorgeous because there is no denying that the landscaping here is a step above. I return my gaze to the three of them to find they’re all staring at me. “So, you guys play football?”

Griffin nods. “Yeah. We’ve got districts this Friday.”

“Nice.”

“And you’re here on a gymnastics scholarship?”

I can’t help but notice that while Griffin and I are talking, Micah and Beau seem to be having some weird nonverbal conversation. I rake my teeth over my lip, nodding. “Yep. I’ve got a week before practice starts. Do you know if I’m allowed to use the weight room at school if gymnastics isn’t technically in season yet?”

“No need. There’s a gym in the basement. Come on. I’ll show you.” He gets up from his lounge chair and Beau and Micah do the same.

As we go inside and down a flight of stairs I hadn’t come across yet, the guys point out one room with a Ping-Pong table, a pool table, and a dart board. Directly across from it is a huge theater room. I stick my head in, my eyes bulging a bit. “Damn. That’s crazy. You watch a lot of movies?”

“When it’s just the guys here, sure.”

“And when it’s not?”

Micah snorts. “I guess the polite way of putting it is that couples get preoccupied.”

“Right.” I nod, straightening. I brush that thought aside in favor of finding out where I can keep up with my training. “So this gym, it’s got a lot of equipment and stuff? Like the real deal, not just weights and a bench.”

Griffin nods and beckons me further down the hallway to the last room, gesturing that I should go inside and have a look.

Before I can, Beau slides me an amused smile that I can tell is meant to taunt me. “It’s got anything you could ask for … assuming you know how to use it.”

And I don’t know what it is about this guy, but he riles me up. I whirl around, my eyes flashing. “Don’t be an asshole.”

He snickers. “I’m not trying to be, I swear.”

“Whoa, whoa, whoa.” Griffin holds up his hands. “What the fuck, you two? No need to get pissy with each other.”

Ignoring Griffin, I go for the jugular, pinning my gaze on Beau. “I’ve probably spent more time in the gym in my life than you ever will.”

Beau’s eyes widen at my claim. “Well, I guess you’ll have to show us your stuff then.”

“I’ll show you mine if you show me yours.”

“Already did, Seven.”

“Seriously. What the fuck?” Micah growls. “You two are acting like you already know each other. Do you?” He eyes me first, then Beau.

Beau sends me a grin, cocking his head to the side. “Do we know each other?”

“No. No, we don’t. I know his type, though,” I seethe.

“And what’s that?”

“You think you’re better than everyone else. Dad’s a big star, so that makes you important by extension.”

He works his jaw back and forth. “I don’t think that. You only see what you want to. Seems like you did some research before you showed up here. Maybe I should have done the same with you.”

I swallow hard, not wanting to continue this conversation because I really, really don’t want him to go poking around and finding out where I come from.

I’m rescued by Darla calling to us from the top of the stairs. “Dinner is on the table.”

---