“Or maybe you’re just not worth the effort.”
Her face twists for a second with pain but she quickly recovers with the same defiance as usual. “Good. Now get your hand off of me.”
We stay frozen together for a minute before I hear Principal Guidry behind me. “Mr. Montclair, take a seat.”
I wait a few seconds before I unhurriedly untangle my fingers from Ivy’s hair, then sit down. Coach drops in his chair as Guidry moves beside the desk. “Ms. Walker, we don’t tolerate violence on this campus.”
“Are you fucking kidding me?” Ivy gasps.
“Or vulgar language,” Guidry adds.
But Ivy ramps up as she says, “Of course. Little Rich Bitch won’t get in trouble. This place is a fucking joke.”
“She’s right. It was me.” Ivy watches me in shock as I add, “I pushed her and might’ve deserved her decking me in the mouth.”
She cocks her head to the side as she asks, “Might’ve?”
Coach tells us, “Either way, we can’t have the two of you getting aggressive with each other. You are responsible for controlling your own actions.”
Her head shakes as she utters, “Unbelievable.”
“Just don’t let it happen again,” Guidry states.
Ivy grumbles, “Fine. But in the meantime, can you stop filling people in on the details of my life?”
Guidry looks a little embarrassed, but she agrees before she hurries out.
Coach says casually, “It is a shame to waste all your talent, Ivy. But I won’t mention it to you again if you don’t want to give swimming here at Belgrave a shot. I’m not going to chase anyone to be on the team. You have to want it.”
“I don’t.” Ivy shoves off the chair, not giving me another look before she leaves the room.
“Luca, she’s had a rough summer. Give her some slack.”
He doesn’t need to tell me how to handle her. “Sure thing, Coach.”
As I head out of Coach’s office, I don’t spot her. But I have a guess where she is, so I make my way to the parking lot.
“Luca,” Cain shouts down the corridor as he jogs up behind me. “We’re training today, man, and already behind schedule.”
When I step outside, I see her reaching her car. The Corolla doesn’t look like it’s going make it out of the parking lot.
“Dude, what the hell? Did you hear me? The fight is tomorrow night.”
“I know.”
“So why are you ignoring me?” he whines.
“Just a little project.”
“Project.” He shakes his head. “I knew you were distracted. Fuck her and get her out of your system so we can get back in the ring. I have a lot riding on this and so do you.”
“Yeah, I realize that since I’m the one fighting.”
Cain glances around before he tells me, “You’re the last fight, then Mercy really begins. If you’re already having second thoughts, you can bail now. I wouldn’t blame you at all.”
“You know that’s not an option.” I accepted the invitation. I’m playing until I fail. Or die. Whichever comes first. But backing down isn’t on the table. “I’ll meet you at the gym. I have to make a few phone calls first.”
“Alrighty.” Cain leaves but doesn’t look happy with me. And I don’t blame him. I’m fighting the biggest matchup of my life tomorrow night. And I can’t think about anything but the vixen who just left me in her wake.
