Not My Type

''The Wrong Target''

Across the gym, Tom paused mid‑rep.

He looked over at the bleachers.

Charlotte was yelling. Ryder was laughing. Lily was bright red.

Tom frowned.

He dropped the weight and walked a little closer, pretending to stretch while blatantly eavesdropping.

Ryder noticed and smirked.

"Oh look," Ryder whispered, "your shadow's listening."

Charlotte didn't turn around. "I don't care."

But her ears burned.

"So anyway," Ryder said, leaning closer, "Tom was actually cool yesterday. Like... normal."

Charlotte scoffed. "He's never normal."

Ryder shrugged. "He apologized."

Charlotte froze. "He did?"

Ryder nodded. "Yeah. To me. And Lily."

Charlotte blinked, confused. "Why?"

Ryder shrugged. "Maybe he's trying."

Charlotte looked down at her hands. "He's still awful to me."

Ryder softened. "Yeah. I know."

Tom heard that part.

His jaw tightened.

He looked away quickly, pretending to focus on the weights again, but his grip tightened until his knuckles went white.

He hated hearing her say that.

He hated that she wasn't wrong.

He hated that he cared.

The gym was buzzing with noise — sneakers squeaking, basketballs bouncing, voices echoing off the walls.

Charlotte sat on the bleachers with Lily and Ryder, laughing at something stupid Ryder said. Tom was across the gym, working out like he was trying to burn a hole in the floor.

Everything was normal.

Until Ethan walked in.

Ethan stepped into the gym with a stormy expression. He'd seen Charlotte walk in earlier with Ryder and Lily — not him.

He'd seen her ignore him in the hallway.

He'd seen her laugh with Ryder.

And it ate at him.

He scanned the gym, eyes landing on Tom first.

Tom, sweating, focused, jaw tight.

Ethan's expression darkened.

He didn't even think.

He just walked straight toward him.

Tom was wiping sweat off his forehead when Ethan reached him.

Without warning — without a word — Ethan shoved him.

Hard.

Tom stumbled back a step, catching himself on the weight rack.

He looked up slowly, eyes narrowing.

"What's your problem," Tom said, voice low.

Ethan's jaw clenched. "Stay away from Charlotte."

Tom blinked once. "I'm not even talking to her."

"Good," Ethan snapped. "Keep it that way."

Tom's expression didn't change — but something sharp flickered in his eyes.