Page 70 of Tangled Rose

Chapter 35

The next afternoon, I’m up on the high bar, working giants to a dismount. I’d been beyond disappointed to realize Coach Hall wouldn’t allow us to be in the same groups as yesterday. This time, I’m stuck with two girls I don’t know, Mika and Elena, and Mandy.

And, just like the viper she is, she waits until it’s my turn on the equipment to strike.

From somewhere behind me and to my left, she says, “Must be nice to get to stay with the Danbrooks.”

I ignore her and work my way through the back half of my routine.

“So, have you fucked Beau yet? Or maybe Griffin? Better make sure they wrap it before they tap it, or you won’t be doing gymnastics for long.” The other girls gasp audibly.

I’d been about two seconds from going for my dismount when she said that, so I stop, wanting to make sure she’s done spewing from that lovely mouth of hers.

“You can shut up any time now.”

“Fine, fine.” I can hear the overexaggerated annoyance in her voice.

I draw in a deep breath, cast into a handstand, then circle the bar twice and just as I’m in my downward swing about to release from the bar to throw my dismount, Mandy opens her mouth again.

“Just worried you might take after your mama.”

I peel off the bars and fly several feet, crashing to the mat on my shoulder. Fuck. Ow. For a terrifying moment, I can’t breathe.

Coach Hall is there within just a few seconds. “What the hell happened? Don’t move.”

I grunt a little. I think I’m okay. And I’m not going to be the bitch who rats Mandy out. That’s not how I function. And I sure as hell don’t want to discuss my mother in front of everyone. They got enough of an earful at the meeting last week. “I got distracted, I guess. I’ve had worse falls. I think I tweaked my shoulder a bit.”

The other two girls who have been working on the bars with us both exchange a look. Their brows furrow. Mika opens her mouth to say something, and I give a slight jerk of my head. I get to my feet, moving my shoulder in different directions. “Yeah, I think I’m good. Maybe a little sore.”

“Good. Sore, we can handle. I’ve got you ranked first on all four events for the practice meet.”

A smile blooms across my face. Internally, I scream, Yes! Then more calmly, I say, “I’m sure I’ll be okay.”

The look on Mandy’s face is priceless. That’s what you get when you’re a hateful bitch. “I thought we were going to discuss things later this week?”

Coach Hall shakes her head, looking Mandy right in her disgruntled face. “Not where Lyla is concerned. You can help me with the remainder of the lineup.” She takes a few seconds to probe my shoulder, then pats it gently. “Why don’t you call it quits for the day? Go get some ice on that shoulder.”

“Got it.”

On my way across the gym, Kit stops me. “That was really shitty. Why didn’t you tell Coach what she said?”

“She’s pathetic and jealous, and I have everything she wants. Maybe it would be better if everyone knows I’m a poor kid from a bad family. So, I’m kinda waiting for her to do something huge and awful and get caught in the act. I don’t want a she said, she said going on. I want it to be blatant. And I want her to go down for it.”

* * *

Beau finds me ten minutes later in the athletic trainer’s office sitting on one of the exam tables with an ice pack strapped to my shoulder.

He’s quiet as he walks in.

I frown. I have no idea how he knew something was up. “Hey. Why aren’t you in practice?”

“Your friend Kit poked her head in and asked Coach Chance if she could steal me for a second. I wasn’t going to go until she blurted out that you’d had another run-in with Mandy.”

I grit my teeth. “She’s just being a bitch again. I’m almost getting used to it. I shouldn’t have let her distract me.”

“What exactly did she do this time?” Beau’s entire body is rigid, but he steps close to me, resting his hands on my thighs.

“She made a bunch of stupid comments and suggested that I’m going to end up pregnant. I was a little thrown by it and—” I blow out a breath and leave my mother out of it. “I couldn’t even tell you what happened. I landed hard on my shoulder. So my banged-up cheek is feeling better but now this.” I let out an exasperated sigh. “She gets under my skin like no one else. Ever since I saw her with you…”

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