Page 196 of Wrong Pucking Player

“Because I don’t feel like it,” Mikayla replies with a smirk that obviously pushes his buttons. “Now, step up to the plate or get the fuck out and let Oscar try.”

“Wow. Since when is Mikayla so damn bold?” Kane wonders. I realize he’s sitting on the sidelines with Diesel, Mitchel, who’s Damien’s younger brother, and Royce Dickenson, who I like to think of as a laid-back surfer dude with gothic green hair.

“Don’t know, man. She’s being too cocky,” Diesel grumbles. They’re acting like sour men who can’t fathom losing to a woman.

It’s hilarious when I know they’re probably just as excited that Winchester, in particular, is suffering.

“It’s the pre-workout,” Mikayla replies and gives them a wink. “Now, next time, say it to my face, not talking on the defeated sidelines.

“Woot,” Marcus from the Vipers cheers. “Sassy Nurse Johnson unlocked.”

“I really like when she’s bold like that,” Liam admits.

“It proves she’s totally related to Coach Johnson. They got the same attitude when they’re into the competition,” Ethan notes.

“Nurse Johnson, you should coach us some time,” Clayton suggests. “Give Coach Cyrus a run for his money.”

“I’ll think about it,” Mikayla teases. Her attention is back on Jayce, like the rest of us now that he’s approaching the barbell. “Let’s see it, Winchester.”

I’m surprised he didn’t have some sort of snarky comment, but he goes right into it, preparing to lift the set weights of 260 lbs with gritted teeth.

With a grunt, he begins to lift, his face getting redder by the second while his whole body shakes. He doesn’t even make it halfway before the weight drops.

“Winchester is out!” Mikayla calls out, and the Vipers are losing it.

“Fucking yes!”

“One more to go!”

“Sassy Nurse ready to destroy the Pincers.”

“Beat Oscar, Johnson, and the team owes you lunch for the whole season.”

It’s kind of cute to see their team so riled up while the Pincers are sulking at the possibility they may lose.

Not all of them, though.

Royce, Mitchel, Silas Easton, and Axel Rogers seem to be amused by the whole competition with how big the smiles are on their faces.

Xander Phoenix, Ryker Fort, Cole Lennox, Diesel, and Kane look like they just want this to be done so they can ditch.

My eyes unconsciously look for Armani, noticing how he’s stomping toward the bar after a grunt.

“Up the weight to 300 lbs.,” he instructs.

The guys on both teams gasp in shock.

“Wait, what?” Dimitri questions. “300? Are you mad?”

“If she can beat my PR weight, she wins,” Oscar counters, and Heavenly Father, he’s using that rough, deep voice as though he’s actually frustrated.

I’d lose if this man was facing me.

Maybe.

My pride would get the better of me.

Diesel and Kane start stacking the weights. We look over at Mikayla, curious about her reaction to the added weight, but she just shrugs.

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