Page 16 of Colliding with Ten

Standing in the doorway was Lennox Monroe.

6

POST-GAME ASSESSMENT

LENNOX

AJ Callahan stood in front of me, shoulders squared. I recognized him as the protector, the older brother who’d throw himself in front of his sister if you even looked wrong at her. Didn’t blame him for that.

Behind him, Stokes folded his arms and smirked, his body coiled tight. Both looked at me like I’d gotten lost, but I wasn’t here to talk to them. I watched her instead. One of the trainers told me her name was Ayla. She lay on the treatment table, skin pale under the bright lights.

“Hey. I just wanted to check on her. Make sure she’s okay.”

Micah leaned against a counter and crossed his arms. “Pretty sure the medical staff already handled that.”

I kept my tone calm and my eyes on her. “Still, I need to see for myself.”

AJ stepped closer, blocking my view of her, sizing me up. “You’ve seen her. She’s fine. You can go now.”

My jaw tensed, but I kept my voice even. “Would it be all right if I spoke to her for a minute? Alone.”

AJ’s stare became a warning. “Not happening.”

But before I could answer, Ayla spoke. Her voice was soft, a stark contrast to the rough sounds in this room for the last few minutes. “It’s okay, AJ.”

“Ayla,” AJ said, dismayed.

“It’s fine. I’m okay. Just let me talk to him.”

The trust in her voice caught me off guard. She didn’t sound annoyed or angry with me. Rivalries in this league were serious business. Even fans outside the team weren’t immune. Ayla wasn't only part of the team; her brother was one of its leaders. Despite her wish, AJ and Micah didn’t move. Both looked like they’d rather chew nails than leave me alone with her. Ayla saved me from having to take it further.

“AJ?” Ayla said, looking at him as if she thought he was being ridiculous, which he was.

AJ stepped into my space and dropped his voice. “You’ve already done enough tonight. Don’t make me regret letting you walk in here.”

I crossed my arms. We were the same height. If he were any closer, we’d be bumping foreheads. “Wouldn’t dream of it, Callahan.”

Our gazes held before he backed off. “Do I need to say the thing about her being off limits yaddi-yaddi-yadda?”

I folded my lips behind my teeth, restraining a smile as I shook my head. What did he think I was going to do, try to mount his sister while he was on the other side of the door? “Nope. You don’t have to do that. You’ve got nothing to worry about.”

AJ gave me a skeptical look. “Mmm-hmm, I’ve heard that before.”

My eyebrows shot up. Without a word, he eased his posture and nodded Micah toward the hall.

“I’m watching you, Monroe,” Micah said.

I nodded. “Understood.”

AJ left, and Micah followed, throwing me a warning look before closing the door. The room got quiet. I chuckled, shaking my head at them. They reminded me a lot of myself and Jace.

When I looked up, Ayla gave me a strange look. I cleared my throat, searching for words that wouldn’t get me kicked out. I moved around a treatment table and stepped over a discarded ice pack nearby. The room smelled like menthol. The rubber flooring slowed my steps, giving her time to stop me if she wanted.

“Didn’t mean to laugh. It’s just that your brother reminds me of my old coach. Same tone, and the same look when he said, ‘Don’t screw this up, kid.’”

Her mouth twitched. “I was just telling him he looks like our dad. Sorry for him. He means well.”

“I know. If I had a sister, I’d probably react the same way.”