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There’s ile person stopped what they were doing to look my way My head drops, and I stare at e to look over at Tank He’s staring at me with his jaw dropped

Tears spring to my eyes, and I’m horrified when they start to spill over my bottom lids Tank’s eyebrows disappear into his military-style buzz cut, but I only see that for a blessedly brief h the water in my eyes

“Fuck,” I mutter and spin away from Tank and the knives I dart across a small area set up with a squat rack where Sal Mezzina and Benji Darden are working out As I jog past, wiping my eyes with the back of my hand, Sal calls in his thick Bronx accent, “Hey Hart… what are the tears for? On the rag or so?”

It’s not the first period joke I’ve heard from my male coworkers, and it’s never bothered me before But apparently,knocked up, and a fresh wave of tears well in my eyes

Another wave of pure rage rockets throughme up fro

I veer left and change course without thinking, barreling right at Sal Through the tears and fury, I see his eyes groide He opens his mouth and holds his hands up in slow ht into his chest and he goes flying Right through the back of the squat rack and onto his ass with a resounding thud

I cos spread wide and hands on my hips

“I’ve got your rag for you, you fucking sexist pig,” I scream

He stares up atfroht this moment, it wouldn’t surprise me to find them there My body is not my own

This enrages me further and I open my mouth to lay every vile curse word in my arsenal on him, when an arm circles me from behind

Because I know his body so well, I recognize the planes and contours of Bodie’s chest as I’m hauled backward into it

I’m offended he’d think to stop me in theshaht to be incensed Doesn’t matter that it has never botheredfrom male teammates that means I’m part of their inner circle of trust

“Easy does it, Hart,” Bodiethat would require some serious anti-psychotic medication at this point

“Fuck you, Bodie,” I yell as I wrench out of his grasp Well, he actually lets o quite easily, and that he knows just what my boundaries are pisses me off even more