“Quit,” he commanded.
“Yeah…no. I don’t answer to anyone, especially not entitled jocks.” I set my hands down on the table and narrowed my eyes at him. “I have to say—well done on your part. I almost fell for it.”
“What are you talking about?” His eyebrows came together, making his hazel eyes a little darker, and it would’ve been charming if he wasn’t such a fuck-stick.
“The act.” I waved my hand in the air. “Thelook at me, I’m a douchebagact. Insulting me, scaring me. Valiant attempt.”
He shook his head, the loose strands of his hair moving in the process. “Wasn’t an act.”
“No one is that much of an asshole. You wouldn’t get this far in life if you were.” I went into my fanny pack and found lip balm. I applied it, his gaze not leaving my waist. “Jealous of the fanny pack?”
“No,” he scoffed and curled one of his lips up. “What’s your endgame?”
“In life? For the season? For graduation? Pick one.”Where is our waitress? I need more coffee to deal with this guy. Maybe I should’ve asked the caffeinated hostess for some of what she’s having.
“Coaching. You’re a girl. Too young at that. It’s baseball, a guy’s sport. How did you get involved?” His tone left no room for argument. He wanted me gone, gone, gone. But my little feminist heart geared up for war. Now, there was no chance in hell I would walk away. Not after that chauvinistic taunt. I’d rather cut off my own arm than admit defeat to him.
“Wow. I’ll just add those comments to your list of shitty things about you.” I gripped the menu tighter. “Get this through your pretty shallow brain. I’m sticking this out. I’m not here foryoudespite your obnoxiously large opinion of yourself. I’m here for the kids.”
“What’s in it for you?”
“The experience. The kids. Volunteering. Do I need another reason?” Anger bubbled in my chest. This was supposed to be agratifyingexperience. No chance that would happen.No. Chance.
“How did you get it?”
“Let’s turn this around.”Still no waitress.“Why is it that you, a famous athlete, are stuck coaching with some chick?Hmm?”
He gripped the silverware and clenched his jaw. “My coach asked me to. I do what he says. End of.”
“I’m sensing more of a story here—but whatever, man.” I raised my hand, hoping a goddamn waitress would venture over.No luck.He stewed at the growing silence. I enjoyed his pain. I really did. I rode it out, twirling the fork in my hands like I had all the time in the world. I ignored the rock in the bottom of my stomach. It weighed my attitude down, but I wasn’t about to let this guy ruin my mood.
“Frankie, right?” he said some time later. I winced.
“Fiona,” I replied through gritted teeth. The bastard knew my name. “My name is Fiona. You know, like the famous Cincinnati Hippo that the Reds just wished Happy Birthday to?”
“Fiona,” he mocked, but his eyes widened for a brief second. “What will it take for you to leave?”
“Nothing.” Ah, the waiter had finally arrived. It was a burly man with a long beard grunted at us for drinks. I ordered my precious coffee and waited until he brought it before glancing at Gideon Titan. “Now, we were discussing a truce?”
“There’s no truce. You’ll quit eventually.” He sat there, all smug and shit, and I wanted to toss my coffee on his skin-tight white shirt. He leaned on his elbows and narrowed his eyes. Then, he spoke in a tone so low I felt it to my toes. But it wasn’t desire. No, it was aggression. “I’m going to tell you how this will go. I’m going to run the parent meeting. I’m going to coach third and make the line-ups. I’m going to do everything. You don’t know the sport like I do and my guess is you sincerely lack the experience. And I will find out who you slept with or blew to get this. You won’t get me, if that’s what you’re after.”
Holy shit.Every thought and comeback blurred together in my mind. I sat there, mouth agape, and couldn’t form the adequate response.Fuck you. Fuck your face. Maybe there’s a reason you’re here.But I said nothing. In fact, I blinked back tears of anger when he got up and left the diner.
That left me with the bill. Sure, it was five dollars, but the entire situation enraged me. I chugged the rest of my coffee and thought of everything I wished I could say. Why couldn’t I be that person? The one who said the right thing at the right time?Ugh.
“Asshole, asshole, fucking asshole.” I hit the steering wheel three times on the way to the school where the meeting would take place. At least the fucker had told me the name of it. I thought about calling Jade, but chose not to. She’d had a hand in this and didn’t deserve to hear me bitch. She’d told me about him. I’d ignored her. Admitting she was right was not an option. She would keep score on the bulletin board and I couldn’t live with seeing her beat me.Nope.
The bastard leaned against the hood of his sleek, just-rode-off-the-lot black Mustang, aviator glasses perched on his nose, and if a guy could exude an asshole vibe, he did. In bundles. I parked my beat-up car next to his and watched him take in the appearance of my clunker.Let him judge.I gave zero fucks.
My door let out a long, agonizing squeak and I barely avoided hitting him. It was a cryin’ shame I didn’t ding his car. I bet he’d have hated that. I slammed the door, crossed my arms and glared at him with all my fury. “You are an entitled fuck. Don’t assume you knowanythingabout me.”
“Calm down.” He removed the glasses and bore his gaze into me.
“Calm down? Me? I’m having a hard timecalming downwhen someone I respected, admired and rooted for turns out to be the biggest prick I’ve ever met. I’m disappointed, offended and sad for this team. These boys look up to you. And you’re…you’re a goddamn entitled jock. And you left me with the bill—they aren’t just going to comp you for playing a sport. So, thanks for that, asshole.” I took a breath and pointed my shaking finger at him. “I’mgoingto help. And I’mgoingto have a say.” I didn’t wait for a response. He didn’t deserve one. I plastered on a smile and marched my ass into the school cafeteria with the goal to not break a sweat. I wanted a challenge—well, Gideon Titan would be the biggest challenge of my life.
Chapter Four
Gideon
