Mrs. Kuft eyed Natti’s arm and leg. “No, Mr. O’Keefe is correct. You should head to the nurse’s office to have those wounds cleaned.”
“Honestly, I’m fine.” Natti insisted, wanting nothing more than to stay on the court. “It doesn’t even hurt.” She was shocked when she realized it was true. The wounds didn’t hurt nor did any of her muscles, and she found herself staring at Seth in disbelief. “Just let me play through this last game.”
“You really should see the nurse,” Seth told her.
Natti’s temper began to flare. “This is not your decision to make, Seth. It’s mine. I said I can play.”
“And you, Ms. Winfall?” Mrs. Kuft asked. “How are you holding up?”
“I’ll be fine.” Wanda rubbed her abdomen while Kevin massaged her shoulders.
“Very well. Everyone, return to your courts.”
Mrs. Kuft resumed her casual walk around the courts, her pencil drumming against the clipboard. Kevin and Jen headed back to their court after a double check to assure that Natti and Wanda were truly all right. Seth hesitated. He kept looking Natti over, his eyes reflecting his worry. He finally rolled his eyes with a huff, shook his head, and started back to his court.
“Come on, Ky,” he said. “We have our own game to win.”
“I’ll be right there, man.” Ky headed toward the fence. “Just going to grab what’s left of our ball.”
Ky picked up the tennis ball, half of it completely crushed in on itself. How the hell—? Her thought was quickly cut off by Ky’s broad grin. He raised the ball to show it off.
“Makes you think twice about messing with us, doesn’t it?”
Natti rolled her eyes. “So you have a powerful arm. Congratulations.” She said calmly, but silently calculated how strong he actually had to be to crush a tennis ball against the clay. It seemed practically impossible. “Don’t bore us with your idle threats.”
He moved closer to her, making the heaviness pressing against her chest feel like a ball and chain. “Not a threat, babe. Just something you should remember when our match comes.”
Staring into Ky’s ruby-bronze eyes, shivers snaked through her while the weight on her heart grew heavier under his gaze. Maybe Jen was right, in some small part. Something did seem unnerving about the three boys. Something seemed . . . inhuman.
Natti straightened her spine, trying to make herself look taller next to the giant. “When you get on our court, I’ll be sure to show you and your partner a thing or two before the game is through.”
“Oh, I truly hope you do.” Ky winked at her and walked away.
“Arse.”
***
Natti sat in the growing quiet of the girls’ locker room. Her wounds were cleaned and bandaged, though they were hardly as bad as they first appeared. Logic told her it was the blood and dirt that made them seem worse than they truly were, and the chip might have been a weak spot in the clay. Yet she wasn’t entirely convinced.
Wanda tapped her on the shoulder. “Hey, we won today. Three to one. That should cheer you up.”
“Yeah.” Natti gave a half-smile. “We sure showed Q, didn’t we?”
Wanda laughed. “Did you see his face? It was almost maroon with anger.”
“Especially when he lost the deuce.” Natti shook her head. “He wouldn’t even shake my hand when I offered him a good game.”
“That’s Q for you. All ego.” Wanda shifted in her spot. “Well, I have to catch my bus.”
“See you tomorrow.”
Wanda waved before she wandered out of the locker room. Natti forced herself up and placed her gear into her gym locker. She heard the clicking of stiletto heels behind her. Turning around, she found herself gazing up at the tall blonde she saw at lunch. Natti exhaled, Could today get any worse?
“If you’re looking for Seth, he’s not here.”
“To my surprise.” The girl— Mandy, Natti recalled— leaned on the wall and pulled at the hem of her glimmering short skirt. “I was sure I would catch him banging you in here, especially after I’ve seen how he’s been chasing you.”
Natti rolled her eyes. “He’s not my type.”
“But you’re his!”
“Breathing?” Natti shot.
“No. You’re . . .” She stiffened her stance. “You’re pretty. And Seth can’t resist a pretty girl.” Mandy eyed Natti’s old jeans. “I suggest you buy a few skirts. Fashionable ones, if you have the money. Makes things a whole lot easier.”
Natti groaned, “Why? Is that what Seth’s likes on a woman? Because I’m not interested.”
“Every girl is interested in Seth.” Mandy’s voice was a mix of jealousy and fascination. “Hell, most of the girls in this school wish he was theirs. And believe me, when you have had a taste of him, you’ll be just as hooked as the rest of us. Begging for more.”
“I doubt it,” Natti responded. “I am not interested in used goods.”