“And don’t get excited that she decided you were the least awful of the two,” Noah added. “That’s not saying much.”
Malcolm pinched the bridge of his nose. “Just when I think one of you dipshits has reached the pinnacle of douchebaggery, someone still manages to eclipse it.”
Vlad’s coach and the other dude inched closer then. “So, uh, thanks for letting us in the class,” the other dude said.
“I didn’t invite you,” Colton griped.
“I did,” Vlad said.
“Did you ask Mrs. Porth?”
“Yes, I emailed her last night to ask.”
“You emailed her? Since when do you have her email address?” This was his class. He was the one who discovered it. His friends were going rogue.
“Stop changing the subject,” Mack barked. “You have about three seconds to explain your intentions with Gretchen before I call Mrs. Porth over here to make you do push-ups.”
Colton gulped and darted his eyes to the front, where Mrs. Porth was thankfully distracted.
“Just tell me this isn’t about soothing your ego,” Mack said.
Mack might as well have punched him. “You know, I wish I’d known you guys had such a shitty opinion of me.”
“It’s not about you, brother. It’s about her. You two live in vastly different worlds. Gretchen is a private person, and although she grew up with a famous family, she has chosen not to live that life. So even if your intentions are pure—”
“They are.”
“—they can have real, unintended consequences for her.”
Colton thought about her reaction to the photos this morning. “I know,” he admitted, squeezing the back of his neck. “But I’m serious about this. She’s amazing, okay? Smart and funny and successful and dedicated and, I mean, what kind of person walks away from a fortune like her family’s to help people? I’m not even sure I’m good enough for her.”
The guys blinked in silence for a moment.
“Damn,” Malcolm finally said.
Colton kicked the toe of his sneakers against the floor. “What?”
“You really do like her, don’t you?” That was Mack again.
Colton pinned him with a glare. “Yes, I really like her.”
“Then you’ve gotten off on the wrong foot,” Noah said. “You don’t blackmail a woman—”
“It’s not blackmail.”
Noah held up his hands. “Whatever you want to call it, it’s a bad way to start. And I don’t know if we can help you.”
“I didn’t say I want your help.”
A round of skeptical snorts greeted his words. Mrs. Porth chose that moment to announce that class would begin in two minutes. Colton made the mistake of meeting her gaze and damn near pissed himself.
“Hey,” Mack said, laying out his mat next to Colton’s.
Colton glowered. “What?”
“I’m sorry I upset you.”
Colton started stretching his triceps. “You hurt my feelings.”
Mack patted his back. “I’m sorry. Hug?”
“No.” Colton kicked the floor again.
“Come on, brother. Give me a hug.”
Colton gave in and let Mack wrap his arms around him. A second after that, Colton embraced him back. They did a couple of back-pounding reassurances before stepping away from each other.
“Okay, good,” Noah said, approaching them again. “Everyone make up over here?”
Colton nodded, strangely emotional. He didn’t like fighting with his friends.
“So when is your next date?” That was Vlad.
“Friday. I’m going to bring her to my house to decorate my Christmas tree.”
“Is that a euphemism?” Mack asked.
“What? No.”
Mack snorted. “Well, then, it’s a shitty idea.”
Noah swatted him. “Hey, come on, Mack. You guys just made up.”
“It’s still a terrible idea,” Mack said.
“I didn’t ask your opinion.” Colton pouted.
“Well, you’re getting it.”
Malcolm cleared his throat to ward off another spat. “So, just so we’re clear here, not only are you basically forcing her to go out with you, you’re also making her do Christmas stuff even though she told you she hates the holiday?”
“I want to change her mind about it.”
Malcolm breathed in a lungful of steadying oxygen and let it out with a sigh. “Colton, I feel like I speak for the group when I say that when she hands you your ass, don’t come running to us. You’re on your own with this one.”