Page 199 of Wrong Pucking Player

“Here,” she declares with a wide grin.

“Dimitri,” I begin as I look over to the team nurse in question. “Add another set of pounds on the bar to make it 350.”

“Are you trying to pull a hamstring?” Dimitri asks but begins to gather the weights with Felix in tow to help.

“No fucking way in hell is Mikayla going to deadlift 350 lbs.,” Diesel says loud and clear while the other Pincers laugh and bob their heads in agreement.

“That’s impossible,” Cole declares.

“Her legs would snap,” Xander suggests.

“Sorry, Nurse Johnson, but we can’t fathom that reality,” Mitchel notes.

Felix and Dimitri finish setting things up for her, and she’s clapping her hands after applying a new layer of chalk.

“Are you going to make bets now or am I just doing this for show?” she specifically asks the Pincers, seeing as they were being loudmouths with their negative comments.

The Vipers, on the other hand, are completely quiet and look intrigued whether or not Mikayla can pull this off.

When the Pincers are just as quiet, Mikayla stares at them with an arched eyebrow as she widens her stance, so she can have her hip to one side.

“Oh? You guys got real quiet all of a sudden. Why is that?” she coaxes. “You guys have done nothing but brag about how you all got your signed contracts and bonuses, yes? Doesn’t that mean you have money to bet?”

“W-We haven’t gotten our advance yet or anything,” Mitchel seems to be the only brave one to point it out. “And your confidence is what’s intimidating.”

“Thanks,” she sweetly states. “Since I’m in a good mood, I’ll do this only once. Next time you question how much I can lift, I’m emptying all your pockets and buying your rivals first-class tickets to Disneyland.”

“Oh shit, Disney,” Clayton states, which I can only assume he was trying to whisper to his fellow Vipers before Ethan hushes him up.

All eyes are once again on Mikayla as she prepares to lift. She takes her time this round, using a few added seconds to tame her breath as she sets her hands on the bar.

I can’t help but follow her gaze, noticing how she’s staring at Winchester and the intensity his eyes carry in return. I wait to see that flicker of doubt I’m sure he’ll show when he thinks she’s going to lose.

Mikayla begins the single set, and the movement in her body pulls Jayce right in. His expression is clear as day as he begins to smirk, as though my bestie has actually lost.

What a cocky fool.

Peering back at Mikayla rewards me with her smirk that’s full of spite as she grits her teeth and executes the single set in another fluid movement.

The weight doesn’t even hit the ground before the guys are cheering, bouncing in place, and darting toward their team nurse as she puffs out of breath and officially lets go of the bar to hit the floor.

“YES!!” The cheers are wild as they echo against the walls of the gym, even as Mikayla is tackled and laughing hysterically at her team’s reaction.

“MIKAYLA PUCKING JOHNSON!”

“OUR VIPER POWER LIFTER!”

“MIKAYLA, SIGN MY JERSEY!”

“GET A PICTURE! GET A PICTURE!”

You can tell they’re genuinely happy to witness such greatness, especially from someone on their team.

The thrilling high from it all is delightful to watch, even if it means we’re members of the losing team. In my eyes, this is just a perfect lesson not to judge a book by its cover.

Looking at my team, I can see the mixed expressions of disappointment and genuine shock. Poor guys actually thought Mikayla couldn’t possibly lift so much weight.

“I power lifted for five years,” Mikayla announces, and that revelation has the Vipers gasping with “OHH” and “AHH.”

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