Behind me, I hear Lachlan say, “Yes, ma’am,” under his breath as he runs off. My heart skips again. We finish the rest of the drills, do them once all the way through, and finally get to the net. I let them do whatever they want there and go through the things I haven’t filled out on the checklist.
CHAPTER34
LYLA
“That shit’s hard,”Barlow says, standing beside me as he catches his breath.
“Life’s hard.”
“Yeah, but you’re making it harder.”
I raise an eyebrow. “Your coaches don't make you do these drills?”
“Of course, but not like that, and normally we end with sit-ups, not doing the entire thing again.”
“You can do sit-ups on your own time.” I lower the clipboard.
“Hey, Coach D,” one of the guys calls out from the pitch. “Can you do the drills?”
“Of course, I can do the drills,” I say. “I wouldn’t make you do something without testing it out first.”
They all laugh, including Barlow, but he gets closer and says, “I’d let you test me out.”
“You’re something else,” I say, but can’t help the way my lips twitch.
“How old are you?” he asks seriously, as he turns his body to face me.
“None of your business.”
“Come on. Don’t be like that.” He cocks his head, his wild curls falling over his eyes before he swipes them back. It’s insane how much he reminds me of Lach.
“Twenty-five.”
His brows hike up. “That’s it?”
I blink. “What, do I look old or something?”
“No. I just figured since you’re not. . .” He shrugs. “I figured you were older and didn’t like younger men, but you’re only two years older than me.”
“Oh, my God.” That actually makes me laugh. I turn to face him. “You thought that because I didn’t jump on your advance, it must mean that I’m older?”
“Pretty much.” He shrugs.
“No offense, Barlow,” I start.
“Asher,” he says.
“No offense, Asher, but one.” I put up my finger. “That doesn’t work on me. And two,” I put up another finger. “I have too much baggage that I would never dump on you.”
“And three, she’s taken,” Lach says behind me.
My stomach does a flip but I don’t move, don’t look at him, don’t say anything. I keep my eyes on the guy in front of me, whose brows furrow momentarily as he looks over my head.
“Oh shit, I guess I should have asked if you have a boyfriend,” Barlow says with a chuckle.
“But you didn’t because you don’t really care. You’d fuck her anyway,” Lach says. Christ on a cracker. I’m going tomurderhimin his sleep. I glare at him.
“Well, I mean. Can you blame me?” Barlow says. He puts his hands up and his eyes widen suddenly and I can only imagine what Lach looks like behind me. “I meant that respectfully. I should have asked anyway.”
