Out of Bounds (The Summer Games #2)(17)

Lexi shook her head. “I agree. We’re all about to be in the Olympics. We all feel the pressure. It doesn’t mean you’re allowed to shit all over your teammates.”

“Let’s just go easy on her, guys,” Rosie said, holding the gym door open for us. “I’m sure she’ll warm up to us soon.”

We walked in and dropped our gear next to a wall of cubbies near the entrance of the gym. Come 4:00 PM, the place would be packed with gymnasts arriving to work out after school. Until then, the place was ours.

“It looks really nice,” Rosie said, stepping up beside me.

I nodded. “It’s nicer than where I trained in Austin.”

The space was divided into two areas, one for men’s gymnastics and one for women’s. The women’s side of the place looked like it could fill up multiple football fields. There were two regulation size floors, a dozen beams lined up in two rows of six, three vaults, and too many uneven bars to count. Everything was organized and clean. The equipment was all relatively new and bright. The walls were painted a crisp white and dozens of championship banners hung from the ceiling. Clearly, Erik had made a name for himself in the gymnastics world.

“…and I tried to stop them, but they went out last night anyway.”

June’s voice jerked me out of my scan of the gym. I turned and walked around a corner of the foyer to find her talking to Erik near the gym’s office.

“Obviously I knew it was against the rules, which is why I didn’t go,” she continued. “So I don’t think I should be included in any punishment they receive.”

He was trying to exit through the office door, but she’d caged him in so she could snitch on us.

“Oh hell no,” Lexi said, breezing past me. “That little rat.”

I reached out my arm to stop her. “It’s not worth it.”

Besides, Erik wasn’t paying attention to June, he was watching us—specifically, me.

His stubble was back, covering his chiseled jaw and framing his high cheekbones. His hair was tousled and his strong frame stretched his gray t-shirt in a way that made my knees weak. I’d never had a gymnastics coach as intimidating as Erik and the longer his eyes stayed pinned on me, the more I wanted to cut and run.

“So, you all had a little fun last night,” he said.

When we didn’t try to deny his claim, he continued. “Whose idea was it?”

My stomach clenched.

Rosie and Molly glanced to me. I could feel their gazes boring into the side of my face, but I kept my attention on Erik.

Lexi crossed her arms and stepped closer to me. “We’re a team, coach. It was everyone’s idea.”

June shook her head. “She’s lying!”

Erik pushed past June and walked closer to where the four of us stood. “Someone speak up.”

Rosie fidgeted on her feet. If anyone was going to break, it was her.

His dark brow arched. “No one?”

I swallowed.

He let out a long sigh.

“I hope everyone packed their running shoes.”





Chapter Seven


Erik





I’d seen them sneak out the night before—the Uber had picked them up on the gravel drive for Christ’s sake—but I hadn’t stopped them. That method would never stick. They knew the rules and they knew they were breaking them. If I’d walked out and forced them back into the house, they would have resented me. If I’d locked the doors, they’d have found another way out. The only punishment I could give them was a hard workout; they’d eventually learn that going out and partying the night before practice wasn’t worth the consequences.

Unfortunately, I hadn’t anticipated that June would be so quick to rat out her teammates. Sneaking out and breaking rules was one problem, but a dividing line in the group was much worse. June wasn’t doing herself any favors by isolating herself. The next few weeks would be a challenge for everyone and they needed to stick together.

“Wait, why am I being punished?” June cried, crossing her arms.

I ignored her question and glanced back to the other girls, standing with their shoulders aligned. Most of them had their eyes narrowed on June, but Brie was watching me with hatred burning in her gaze. I’d only been around her for two days and I’d already gathered that her eyes were the source of her power. Large, chocolate brown, and currently narrowed in my direction—she had a way of looking so f*cking disinterested, bored even, and it was all in her eyes. I couldn’t decide if they were beautiful or terrifying.

“There’s a three-mile loop around the gym. We’ll start out front and run as a team,” I said, emphasizing the last part for June.

Before I could direct the five of them back toward the front of the gym, Brie stepped forward and shook her head. “It was my idea.”

I paused and turned back to her, hating the way my gaze sought her out every time. There were five of them and yet I wanted to give Brie my full attention. It wasn’t like she was trying to shy away from it. Since the moment she’d arrived, she’d been outspoken and abrasive. Even then, she was wearing some kind of silly costume instead of a leotard. I nearly called her out for it, but she spoke up first.

“Don’t make everyone run,” she continued. “It was my idea to go out.”