Sasha led The Unseen through yet another grueling routine. Betty stood off to the side, wiping sweat from her forehead.
"Carlos," Sasha snapped, her sharp voice cutting through the gym. "If you overshoot that flip one more time, I’m grounding the stunt."
"Relax, boss. I’ve got it."
"You’d better.".
Betty couldn’t help but chuckle at the dynamic. The team was chaotic, but Sasha always managed to keep them on track—usually through sheer force of will.
Still, as much as Betty tried to focus on the routine, her concentration kept slipping. Across the gym, Marcus leaned against the wall. She tried to ignore him, she really did. But every time she glanced his way, there he was, watching her, arms crossed, with that infuriatingly smug expression he always wore when he knew he was getting under her skin.
During a water break, she couldn’t take it anymore. She stormed across the gym, her sneakers squeaking against the floor as she planted herself in front of him, hands on her hips.
"Do you have to hover like that?" she demanded, drawing a few curious glances from her teammates.
"Hover? I’m just standing here."
"You’re loitering.".
His eyes flicked over her. "Can’t help it. You look gorgeous in that uniform."
Betty’s face burned as she gaped at him, completely thrown. "Go bother someone else.".
"Okay," Marcus smirked, pushing off the wall to walk away.
He threw her a wink over his shoulder on his way.
Betty stared after him, flustered and fuming, until Carlos jogged past her on his way back to the group.
"Nice boyfriend," he teased.
"Shut up, Carlos," Betty muttered, storming back to practice as Sasha called everyone to attention.