Love Tap(26)

“Alright, I’m going to take a piss while you do some stretches.” Debs smacks my ass and heads to the one stall not filled with jock straps.

She’s an odd one, there’s something about her I can’t place.

Flexing my fingers wrapped tightly in the wrap I head out of the bathroom. Looking at my hands, not paying attention, I run into someone.

“Shit, I’m so sorry.” Looking up I find Camden, staring down at me with a vengeance. My body tenses, and I shift on my feet nervously.

“You’re here.” His voice is dark, and unfriendly.

“Why wouldn’t I be?” Everyone is welcoming me so nicely around here.

“Because I don’t want you here.” He tilts his head to the side and glares. That hurts, and I probably deserve it. That doesn’t mean I’m going to take it though.

“Well, we don’t always get what we want, do we?” I shove past him.

“Stay out of my way, Tate,” he hollers at me.

Anger blooms in my chest with his arrogant tone. Turning, I walk backwards and throw my arms out at my sides.

“Since when did you become a whiny little bitch?” I fire back before turning my back on him.

My heart beats a mile a minute against my chest as this cat and mouse game continues.

Back where Debs is, I begin stretching, but keep my eye on Camden from the corner of my eye.

“Alright. Do twenty pushups, jumping jacks, sit ups, and then we’ll hit the jump rope.” I gulp. I’m going to die.

Taking a deep breath, I drop to the ground and attempt twenty pushups.

My arms shake from my weight and my lungs scream for air.

It takes me entirely too long to finish the set. I’m sure I look pathetic. I never knew how out of shape I was.

Sometime between the jumping jacks and sit ups, Debs got tired of waiting on me and ventured over to Thomas. She’s fluttering her lashes at him and flirting pathetically. I can’t tell if they’re a couple or just f*ck buddies. Either way there is some serious attraction going on there.

I take the opportunity to sit back and catch my breath.

“You should just give up,” Camden insults, striking the punching bag like a coiled snake.

“Maybe you should…” I’m so out of breath I can’t even finish that insult. I fall on my back, heaving for air. I want to say something witty and smart, but my chest is on fire from lack of oxygen, I can’t think clearly.

“Tate! Get up and give me twenty more jumping jacks!” Debs orders. Quickly I get to my feet, nervous I got caught slacking.

Jumping in place, I catch Camden smirking at my expense.

“Yeah Tate, get up and stop being a *,” Camden laughs.

“Screw you,” I pant between jumps.

He’s such an *. I bet he’s loving this.

After Debs is satisfied with my pre-workout, she has me shadow box my reflection. Nothing is faster than your own shadow. If you can beat that, you can beat anyone.

Jumping on my back foot wrong, I fall to the cool ground and grab at my ankle.

“Shit,” I seethe, rubbing the sensitive muscle. Man, I hope I didn’t sprain it.

“Haven’t you heard, girls don’t belong in a man’s gym,” Camden says walking toward the water fountain.

Standing from the floor I roll my eyes at his assumption.

“We’ll see about that when I’m whooping your ass in sparring.”

“Good luck. You better call your friends… you’ll need the help,” he whispers into my ear from behind before walking off. His words tickle the sensitive skin of my ear, running a shiver down my back.

I can’t handle how my body responds to him like old times, meanwhile my heart and mind hate him.

***

Three days of intense training and hostile tension between Camden and I go flying by.

It’s hard to concentrate on what Debs is saying half the time because I can feel Camden’s eyes staring at me each day. They’re cold but spark a blazing trail along my skin. My heart thunders in my chest like a teenager with a crush when our eyes lock, it’s annoying. I should be more focused… but I’m not. When he’s not looking at me, I’m looking at him.

He’s become such a good fighter, it’s hard not to watch him.

He’s quick on his feet, and he’s f*cking gorgeous with his shirt off.

Jump roping in place, Debs clocks me.

“Alright you’re still slow, let’s see you hit today.” She consults the stopwatch and drops it to the floor.

“I’m trying my best,” I pant, tossing the rope to the side. I haven’t seemed to have pleased her once in all of our training. I can’t tell if she’s just pushing me to my best, or just a bitch.

“Trying is for quitters, doing is for legends. Remember that.” She points at me and winks.

I blink rapidly, I think that’s the most inspirational thing that has come out of Debs’ mouth.

“Stop looking at me like that and get your hands taped up and meet me at the punch bag,” she orders.

Heading toward the locker room Camden steps out of the men’s. Noticing where I’m headed he steps in my way.

“Move,” I instruct, but he doesn’t budge.

“What’s the magic word?” he crosses his arms with a smug look. I can’t help but notice the veins criss cross along his biceps.