Walker looked at her like, Are you serious right now?
“So, to protect you and the staff, he has rules. You broke them. On top of that, you’re insanely disrespectful. I mean, come on. Cassian flew you out here, gave you room and board and access to people at the top of their profession, and instead of being grateful, you tell him to stop talking?”
The boy kept his mouth shut. Good.
“Worse, you said some pretty offensive things about the director and the yoga instructor.”
“Amie put her tits in my face. She was asking for it.”
A chill shot through her. Now she understood why Cassian had jumped so quickly to his decision to send the boy home. “Asking for what, exactly?”
Was he just recycling words he heard at home? Or had they become part of his fabric?
“She put her tits in my face.” The kid sounded far less sure of himself.
“Unfortunately, I heard you the first time. Did she look you in the eyes and say, I’m the director of this camp, here to serve all your personal needs? Please feel free to objectify me?” She didn’t even wait for a response. “Because I don’t care if she stripped naked and pranced around the dining hall. You keep your hands and your comments to yourself unless a woman invites you into her space.”
She was shaking, her whole body in fight mode. She had to calm down so she could better understand the boy. “Let me ask you something. If you’d brought a pitcher of water to a table and reached between two guys to set it down, and one of them said they’d like to bend you over the table and have his way with you—right there, in front of everyone—how would you feel?”
“I’d knock him on his ass.”
Now that she was paying attention, she noticed a lack of conviction in his tone. Almost like he was spitting out lines he’d memorized from a movie. “I didn’t ask what you’d do. I asked how you’d feel.”
He didn’t answer, but she gave him a moment, because he had that focused but unseeing look in his eyes, like he was imagining the scenario.
And it clearly made him uneasy. She could be wrong, but she thought he was getting it.
“Are you kicking me out or not? If you want me—”
She cut him off. “This conversation isn’t moving forward until you answer my question. How would you feel?”
He scratched his neck. Sat up a little straighter.
If there was any chance for him to stay, he needed to break. To show that he was more than a product of his home environment. He had to show that he was receptive to being a better human being. Otherwise—
“I wouldn’t like it.”
Oh, thank God. “Amie didn’t either. She didn’t deliver pitchers of water because she was looking for tips. She did it to check in on the campers, make sure they’re doing all right. You know, keeping hydrated, eating good food, stuff like that. And then you talked about her like that, and it degraded her. Don’t ever do it again. Not to her, not to anyone.”
“You want to stay at camp or not?” Cassian asked.
She wanted to tell him to slow down, but then again, she’d said all she needed to say. This isn’t a therapy session and hammering him too hard will only make shut him down.
“Who cares what I want?” the kid said.
Everything flipped for her in that moment. Her anger melted into heartache. Because that was it right there. He felt powerless. Sure, most kids did, but Cassian’s security team had done a deep-dive into Walker’s family and discovered mug shots for both his parents. They’d been in and out of jail for most of his life for using and selling drugs, which explained why his aunt had shown up for the interview.
“You already bought my ticket home.” The challenge burned in his eyes. Mostly, it said, Didn’t you?
“I know you’re smart. Andre can’t believe how quickly you size up the field and put the ball in the receiver’s hands.” She’d never talked to Andre, but she had no doubt he would say that. The running back had called Walker a phenom, after all. “So, when Cassian Ellis offers you one last chance to train with the Mavericks, you say, Thank you, sir. You say, I’m sorry for being so difficult, and it won’t happen again because I want to be here. You say, I’ll do whatever it takes to earn your respect.”
When the kid didn’t say anything, she threw out one last line. “I’ll tell you something. I could be wrong, but I think all this attitude and rebellion is just a front. I think you’re playing a part. If I’m wrong about that, then go home, because we have zero tolerance for disrespect, but if I’m right…then drop the attitude right now and show us who you really are.”
He looked at the blanket, totally out of his element. But he remained silent, and she didn’t know if he had it in him to break free of the mold he’d been set in.
And that would be such a shame. Because not only did he have skills on the turf, but he had leadership potential. If he used his power for good.
When it looked like he couldn’t do it, Gigi got up and gave him a sad smile. “Okay, well. Safe travels, Walker.” She reached for Cassian’s hand, ready to head toward the door.
“I want to stay.”
Cassian lowered his head and let out a huff of breath. He faced the boy. “Look me in the eyes and tell me you understand that women are not objects, and that you’re not going to touch them or speak about them as if they are.”
The boy looked painfully uncomfortable, scared even. But he found the strength to say, “I understand.” His voice sounded soft and almost pleading.
“Good.” Cassian’s shoulders pushed back as if a weight had been lifted. “And, if you want to lead so badly, you’ll do it on the field. Only.”
Walker nodded, his eyebrows hitching in surprise.
Cassian held out his hand, and the boy looked at it for a few moments like, You want to shake my hand? And then he grasped it and they shook.
“You can come back now, or you can show up at breakfast,” Cassian said. “Bill will drop your luggage in your room while everyone’s eating.”
“I’m not going back to that dump until I have to.” The kid cracked a grin and nestled down into his stack of pillows. “I’m staying here. Might even order room service.”
With her hand grasped firmly in his, Cassian towed her out the door of the hotel. The cool air settled on his skin.
“Would you slow down?” She tried to wrench her hand free from his grip. “What is your rush?”
“My rush?” He gripped her wrist and yanked her right up against his chest. “Did you see yourself in there? I was crazy for you as a kid, but now? I’m out of my mind for you. You’re fucking amazing, Gigi, and I want you. I want you right the fuck now.” He hadn’t even realized he was choking around the kid. It was only when Gigi took over that he could see how uncomfortable Walker made him. The way Gigi had handled it…Damn. She just blew him away.
“Okay.” She sighed, reaching up and pressing her palms to his chest. “That’s a valid reason.”
He laughed. “Gigi, I’m telling you, if you don’t get your ass in my truck, you’re going to be naked in the parking lot of the Roadside Inn.”