She goes still. “What?”
“I saw him earlier. Outside the training room. He was…” I search for a word that isn’t going to make me sound as angry as I feel. “Persistent.”
“He’s harmless.” She says it too quickly, the way you do when you’ve been telling yourself something long enough that you almost believe it.
“Is he?”
“Zayden—”
“Because if he’s making you uncomfortable, you should tell Dana. Or Coach. Or—”
“I can handle Grayson Reed.” Her voice is firm now, a little sharp. “I’ve been handling guys like him my entire career. I don’t need you to fight my battles.”
“I know you don’t.” I catch her hand, stopping her from prodding at my shoulder. “But you shouldn’t have to.”
She looks at me, and something in her expression cracks. Just for a second. Just enough for me to see the exhaustion underneath.
“It’s fine,” she says quietly. “Really. He’s annoying, but he’s not… he’s not a threat.”
Ten bucks says I get her number by the end of the road trip.
I don’t tell her what I heard. It would only make her feel worse—like she’s being talked about, evaluated, reduced to a bet between bored athletes. She already knows how this industry works. She doesn’t need the specifics.
“If that changes,” I say instead, “you tell me. Yeah?”
Her lips twitch. Almost a smile. “Are you going to beat him up?”
With pleasure.“Do you want me to?”
“No.” But she doesn’t pull her hand away from mine. “Violence isn’t the answer.”
“What if it’s a really satisfying answer?”
Now she does smile, small and reluctant. “Still no.”
“Fine.” I squeeze her fingers gently before letting go. “But the offer stands.”
She shakes her head, but the tension in her shoulders has eased slightly. That’s something.
“Ice your shoulder,” she says, stepping back into professional mode. “And try not to start any fights on the road trip.”
“No promises.”
“Zayden.”
“Fine. I promise totry.”
She rolls her eyes, but she’s still smiling when I leave.
I meant what I said. I won’t throw a punch—not unless Grayson gives me a reason that even Banks can’t argue with.
But I’ll be watching.
And if he so much as looks at her wrong, all bets are off.
17
DOWNWARD DOG
