Wesley laughs while I push my legs faster. “You should just send her a selfie. I’m sure you’d get your answer much faster.”
“What does that mean?”
“Nothing,” Wesley sings. He turns my way. “Hey, Coach. Fancy seeing you here.”
I force my shoulders back and look over at them. Finn’s pocketed his phone now, frowning. My discomfort must seem obvious to Wesley because he shrugs at me before lifting the weight rack to appear busy.
“Hey, guys,” I mutter.
“He’s making it seem like we didn’t notice you were here, but we did. Just ignore him,” Finn tells me. Standing to his full height, he gives Wesley a smack on the back. “Sorry if you had to hear all of that.”
“No apology necessary. I’m fully aware of your friendship with both Wesley and Aubrey.”
“Yeah, but I’m sure you came here for privacy.”
He’s not wrong. “It’s fine, Finn. I believe you and Wesley were here first.”
“I really wish you’d call me Wes more. The only people who call me Wesley are the women in my family when I piss them off,” Wesley grunts while coming up from a squat.
“Take what you can get,” Finn tells him.
I slow my pace on the bike and fill my screaming lungs with a long breath. Sweat drips down my temples and throat. My shirt’s already damp with it from my previous workouts, but I use it to dry my face before standing and reaching for my water bottle. The cool liquid soothes my throat as best it can.
“Are you excited for the game tomorrow?” Wesley asks once I’ve lowered my bottle.
“I’m always excited.”
Finn makes a noise of agreement. “I can’t wait to get back home.”
We’ve been here for three full days now, with our most recent game having been this morning. It’s later in the afternoon now, which should have meant that I’ve retired to my hotel room and ordered something to eat. Yet here I am. I suppose it’s ritual. I’m not the one who was playing today. I haven’t for a long time.
Neither of the players here with me right now played either. They’ll both be back out on the field tomorrow.
“Yeah, it’s way too hot here,” Wesley grunts, finishing with his squats.
Finn gives him a funny look. “It’s really not that bad.”
“For April? Yeah, it’s too hot. My body isn’t adapted for this kind of heat so soon.”
I don’t have an argument, so I let it go. My water bottle is the only thing I brought with me, so I’m left to stand awkwardly nearthe two men and debate whether it would be rude to just walk away without another word. While this team may be a family, that doesn’t necessarily mean I want to be included in every conversation that goes on.
“Do you want to go out with a couple of us tonight?” Wesley asks. Silence falls as I wait for Finn to answer. “Roman?”
I blink, turning to him. He’s staring at me expectantly. “I’ll pass. But I appreciate the invitation.”
“Alright. We’ll see you tomorrow, then.”
“You’re playing,” I remind him. Sliding my warning gaze to Finn, I realize he’s already slipped away with his phone back in his hand. “Both of you.”
Feeling my eyes on him, Finn glances up and shakes his head. “I’m not going out.”
“You know it is completely possible to go out andnotget plastered, Coach? We’re responsible, don’t worry. Plus, Jett’s coming.”
The mention of our star shortstop settles me a bit. He’s never been one to party, but he avoids it more than he used to now that his daughter is old enough to know how to search his name on Google.
“Just be ready to win tomorrow,” I say.
Wesley salutes me. “You got it, Coach.”
