Page 27 of Over Time Advantage

Daylen smirks. “Because she burns four rubbers a night.”

The guys all laugh while I shake my head and try to redirect our crazy gym conversation back to Beau, the lesser of two evils. “Can you please explain the men’s cycle to us all?”

I can’t believe I’m asking, but I want to know. I swear our weight room conversations get crazier by the day.

Beau nods. “Women’s cycles are lunar. They’re based on the moon. That’s why they’re twenty-eight days. They have different hormonal needs at different times of the month. Men’s cycles are based on the sun, which has a twenty-four-hour cycle. We, too, have different hormonal needs, but ours vary depending on the time of day. Our testosterone is highest in the morning, then decreases throughout the day before rising again. It reaches its lowest level in the late afternoon. The morning, when our testosterone is highest, is when we have the most clarity, focus, and happiness, and when we’re at peak performance. Doesn’t everyone wake up with morning wood?”

More than fifty football players and coaches universally nod, with a few mumbles of yes and a few other crude comments.

Beau smiles. “Right. We’re all probably at our friskiest in the morning. It’s why we like morning sex so much. It’s also why our team schedules morning workouts. The trainers know that’s when we have the most testosterone, so our workouts will be more productive. If we did them in the late afternoon, we wouldn’t build as much muscle.”

Someone coughs, “Bullshit.”

Beau shakes his head. “Not bullspit.” He doesn’t like to curse, likely due to his strict military upbringing. “Think of how men are when they get home from a traditional workday. They’re beat. They need time for their testosterone to rebuild. At least thirty to sixty minutes. A partner should never try to talk to a man at that time of day. He needs his energy-reboot time. After that decompression, the testosterone starts to build again, which is why he becomes frisky again at the end of the evening. That, my friends, is what we call a man’s cycle.”

This whole conversation started when someone complained about how early our morning workouts are. Beau wanted to explain the likely theory behind doing so.

I run my fingers through my hair as I contemplate what he just said. Somehow, that makes a lot of sense. Beau has a wealth of random information like this. He’s always sharing creative ways to build testosterone, which he believes to be essential to bodybuilding. You need only look at his giant frame and muscles to think he may, in fact, know what he’s talking about.

It’s Christmas Eve. We have an away game this weekend, but at least the holiday falls during the week so the guys can spend it with their families. Sometimes we play on Christmas, but not this year. Frankly, I prefer playing on Christmas. It makes me miss Kennedy less than I do when seeing her empty seat at the table every year. Our family is small. Neither Ginny nor I grew up in the area. We have no other family nearby, and I can’t travel because of my job.

The regular sounds of chitchat fill the weight room again as I walk toward Vance. Placing my hand on his shoulder, I ask, “You have somewhere to go tonight and tomorrow, son?”

Vance is from a small town in Montana. His parents run a farm that they never like to leave, even for the holidays. He’s an only child. The timing is too tight for him to fly home. I always worry about him in that regard.

“I do,” he answers. “The Humblecuts are in town. Tanner invites me when he hosts, but he’s got a very full house this year, so I’ll stick with Daylen’s crazy-ass family.”

I nod in understanding. “You know you always have an open invitation with me, right?”

He gives me a crooked smile. “Thanks, Coach. Appreciated. Will you be with Ginny, Pierce, and Kennedy?”

I sigh. “Kennedy is spending tonight with a few teammates, but I’ll be with Ginny and Pierce. I’m hopeful she’ll stop by tomorrow morning, but you never know with her.”

He pinches his lips together. “Right.” He knows Kennedy rarely spends time with our family. “I’ll be with Kennedy on New Year’s Eve,” he offers hopefully. “We’re all going out to some karaoke bar Daylen loves.”

I know Vance, Daylen, and a few of the guys on the team spend time with Kennedy and her teammates. “I’m happy to hear she’s made a nice group of friends.” Kennedy didn’t have a ton of friends growing up. She was always a bit of a loner.

He chuckles. “She busts Daylen’s balls constantly. The two of them hate each other.”

I smirk. “At least I know she has good taste. My kid can hold her own.”

He nods. “More than hold her own. She verbally demolishes him every time we’re together.”

I scratch the back of my head. “Yep, she’s a bit of a ballbuster. She’s always been like that.”

“Who’s a ballbuster?” Daylen interrupts as he approaches us.

“Your favorite Beaver,” Vance answers in a bit of a sarcastic tone.

Daylen rolls his eyes. “She’s such a ruthless bit…” he looks at me, “…eautiful person. The other day, I told her she acts like a man. She told me to watch and learn so that I can become one too.”

Vance snorts out a laugh. “I think she’s funny…and right about that one.”

Daylen narrows his eyes at him. “I disagree.” He crudely grabs his crotch. “I’m all man. Trust me.”

Vance and I exchange unamused looks, which frustrates Daylen. He continues, “I had sex with a woman last night who told me I was the biggest she’s ever had.” He leans forward and lowers the volume of his voice. “FYI, ditto isn’t a good response when a woman says that to you.”

Vance chuckles while I shake my head in annoyance. “You know you’re not twenty-three anymore, right? At some point, you’ll need to grow up.”