Dirty Curve

With a sigh, I set the pouring cup in the sink, and slide over to where my phone is plugged into the charger. There are dozens of missed calls and texts, several from Tobias, one from Bianca, and another from Garret Jones.

I read Bianca’s first and pull in a breath as I go through Tobias’s.

It’s easy to see where he went from semi-normal human to egomaniac—four minutes and three texts in.

I definitely can’t handle the heavy that comes along with him right now, not when I’m running on no sleep and a few spoonfuls of peanut butter.

I respond to B first, letting her know she can come over like she asked, and I’ll love her forever if she grabs something along the way.

Next, I pull up Garret’s message, but right as I start typing, the phone rings and I accidentally answer, freezing when a deep voice begins to speak.

Crapola!

Squeezing my eyes shut, I lift it to my ear.

“Are you trying to lose this job, Meyer? Because as you know, I can make that happen.”

I hate when he threatens my position like this, as if I didn’t get this tutoring job on my own merit, but being he pulled me into his department, he does now have complete control over my main source of income.

Keep your claws sharp but hidden.

“I only had two appointments today and both were rescheduled last night.”

“Cut the shit, Meyer, all right? You know exactly what I’m talking about. You listen good, when Tobias Cruz calls, answer. If he texts, respond. Wants an impromptu session, make it happen.”

“You act like I’m the one who canceled our first session, and I didn’t even know he tried to call until five minutes ago.” I won’t even mention the giant misstep of him being given my number. “I turned my phone off last night because Bailey’s—” I swallow. “I just had a long night.”

“This is your job. Do it or I’ll find someone else who can.”

I do my best to fight the overwhelming sensations threatening to take over, but moisture pools in my eyes anyway, and I blame it on my state of exhaustion. What I don’t allow is for my sniffles to be heard through the line. I won’t give him that.

“Do we hear each other?”

I flick my gaze to the ceiling. “Yes, Coach.”

He’s silent a moment before speaking again. “Good.”

“I’ll call him and tell him you’re ill, just this once, and you will get a hold of him tomorrow.”

I don’t know if he was waiting for a thank you, but he doesn’t get one.

“Understood, but be sure to let your protégé know that I won’t be doing anyone’s work. Ever.”

He doesn’t respond but I know he heard me.

He hangs up and I hang my head in defeat, not bothering to lift it as I read the text that comes through seconds later, a threatening warning from the man to never force him to have to call me again.

Because he wouldn’t call if he didn’t have to.

The tears I held off fall onto my bare feet, soaking back into my skin as if to remind me it’s no one else’s job to catch them.

Bailey wheezes from the living room, a cry from the pain her barky little cough causes her inflamed airway following.

My sick baby girl.

I push off the counter, quickly splash my face with some cold water and dry it on my shirt as I walk into the living room.

I ease myself onto the bed beside where she lies and lift her into my arms, rocking her as she cries into my ear. She’s barely able to keep her eyes open, she’s so restless. Poor thing can’t stop coughing long enough to truly sleep.

I hug her to me and take a deep breath.

School and work can wait.

She’s all that matters.

Exhaustion be damned.

CHAPTER 4

Tobias

“Aw, shit. What are you doing here, Cruz?” Neo shouts the second I walk into the gym.

Dropping my bag, I lift a brow and start peeling off clothes so I can slip into my workout gear. “Just put your sister on a bus back home. She said I need to work on my breathing, so here I am.”

Xavier shakes his head, but Neo hops off the cable so fast I’m surprised his ass doesn’t trip over his own feet.

“Don’t be an ass.”

“Then get off mine.”

We look to each other at the same exact time, both of us grinning.

Echo sits up on the leg press, trailing my every step, while the others go back to their midmorning workout routines. I opt to hop on a treadmill to get my heart pumping strongly. Echo does exactly what I knew he would and makes his way to the one beside me.

He cuts a quick look around before flicking his eyes my way. “What’s goin’ on, you get out early or somethin’?”