Page 34 of Lowering His Guard

We stroll into the locker room. My brow wrinkles when I notice Tanner is already here. He’s never on time.

“What are you up to?”

He bats his eyelashes and clutches his chest. “Me?”

“As long as you leave me alone.” I push past him to my locker.

I open it and the theme of Golden Girls begins to play. My locker has been transformed into a retirement home. There are reading glasses, knitting needles, crossword puzzles, bags of Werther’s Originals, and compression socks.

“Appropriate for an old man,” Tanner says.

“Nolan,” I growl. “Get him out of my face before I stick these knitting needles up his ass.”

“Ah,” Tanner coos. “Is someone grumpy?”

I snatch the knitting needles and prowl toward him. He gulps before running to hide behind Corbin.

“Told you it was a bad idea,” Corbin says as he pushes Tanner away from him.

Coach Knox whistles. “Time for fun and games is over.”

“Wasn’t fun,” I grumble as I throw the knitting needles in the trash.

I cross my arms over my chest and imagine the ways I can get my revenge on Tanner while Coach gives his pre-weigh-in speech. It’s the same every year. After thirteen years, I have it memorized.

“Nolan,” Coach hollers when he finishes his speech. “You’re up.”

Nolan springs to his feet and executes a crisp salute. “Yes, Coach Cha-Cha.”

Coach Knox grunts at the ridiculous nickname. “The rest of you line up.”

Tanner rushes to the front. I trail after him with Corbin and Gage behind me.

“How was your date last night?” Tanner asks.

“Didn’t have a date.” Although eating ice cream with May did feel like a date.

He raises an eyebrow. “You didn’t go to Wok the Plank with May and Jace?”

I growl. “How the hell do you know where I was last night? Are you stalking me?”

“It’s not stalking if I happen to pass by the restaurant and catch you flirting with May.”

My nostrils flare. “You happened to pass by Wok the Plank?”

“Wok the Plank?” Corbin asks.

“It’s a Chinese restaurant. May’s parents own it,” I explain.

“You met the parents already? Brock is a fast mover.”

I growl at Tanner. “Knock it off, or I’ll tell the whole room who you’ve been dating.”

“Go ahead. I’m not dating anyone.”

“Not even a cute bartender?”

“Alaia and I are friends. Nothing more.”