Page 84 of Trade It All

Every instinct in me screams. I force my voice flat. Emotionless.

“I’m in my office.” Tyler takes another step.He is tooclose my brain screams at me.

“Coach…” I say, making sure the word is clear enough that Dean hears me. Please hear me. Please listen. “Did Jake get the Red Hots I put in his locker? I know they are lucky.”

Tyler’s face twists. “What the fuck are you—”

He lunges. His hand snatches the phone from mine and before I can react he hurls it across the room. It slams into the wall and shatters. I gasp and stumble back.

Tyler advances. One step. Two.

I keep retreating, my pulse pounding so hard I can hear it.

I don’t realize where I am until my shoulders hit drywall.

Corner. I trapped myself in the corner.

Tyler's smile tips up on one side and I realize…there is nowhere left to go.

I keep mychin up.

It is the only thing I can think to control.

My heart is trying to claw its way out of my chest, my palms are damp, every muscle in my body is screaming at me to curl inward and protect myself—but I refuse.

I will not let Tyler see me break. I will not give him that.

He leans in closer, that twisted half smile still on his face, like he likes this. Likes having me boxed in. Likes seeing how little room I have left.

I can smell his cologne. Can hear his breathing. Can feel the wall digging into my shoulder blades.

And then—the door explodes open.

Not swings. Not opens.Explodes.

The lock gives with a violent crack, the wood slamming hard enough into the wall that Tyler jerks sideways.

Dean is standing in the doorway. Chest heaving. Eyes wild. I have never seen him look like that.

Not angry. Not exactly. This is something bigger. Something feral. Something that has every single protective instinct in his body clawing to the surface at once.

Tyler shifts away from me automatically, turning toward the intrusion.

It gives Dean exactly enough room. He is across the office in two strides.

Straight to me. Not to Tyler. To me.

His body plants in front of mine, pinning me back into the corner with his chest, his shoulders broad enough that Tyler disappears completely from my sightline. All I can see is Dean. All I can smell is Dean. Soap and cologne and sweat and safety.

His arm comes back instinctively, bracing against the wall beside my head like he is physically building himself into a shield.

And just like that—I can breathe again.

“Take him to their locker room.” Dean’s voice is a growl. Low. Deadly.

I can’t see Luka, but I know that’s who he’s talking to.

“Coach—” Tyler starts.