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“Dude, Izzie’s the real deal.” Sean leans against the locker, his head practically blinding me. “She’s completely solved my cramping issue with my knees, and I’ve been having that problem for months. She’s like a little miracle worker.”
Anadorablemiracle worker. But I try not to let the guys see my true feelings.
“Come on.” I shrug. “All she’s doing is telling dudes to go eat their broccoli. She’s hardly curing cancer.”
Just then, Marcus walks in. Fuck, doeseveryoneon the team need to be included in this conversation or something?
“Uh, guys, practice started like two minutes ago.” As the smallest and youngest-looking, Marcus’s voice is always surprisingly deep every time he opens his mouth.
James props his elbow on my shoulder, leaning on me. “We’re talking about the hot blond nutritionist that Brady’s got the hots for.”
“Who, Izzie?” Marcus sits down, now fully invested in the conversation.
Ugh, will these people leave! I now fully regret even bringing her up. I can’t have Coach finding out that I have a girl on my mind—and a coworker at that.
“Yep.” James digs his elbow into my shoulder. “We were just talking about how amazing she is. And hot, right, Brady?”
I guess I’m just the butt of everyone’s jokes today. It’s a good thing I’m the type of person to not take it too seriously.
“I have a girlfriend, so I’m not really looking at her like that,” Marcus’s voice vibrates. “But I have to say, her anti-inflammatory diet’s the reason I’ve been able to shave time off my running game despite my knee injury last season.”
Sean stretches his legs on the bench. “It’s crazy how much she’s changed the team in such a small amount of time. If we do well this season, it’ll honestly be all credited to her.”
Wow, and now I can’t help but laugh—a loud, boisterous cackle that snaps the other players out of their “Let’s Tease Brady” game.
“Really?” I grab my helmet. I’m so ready to leave. “You think she deserves more credit in this team than me? I mean, I understand I’m not an attractive blond lady, but comeon.”
“I don’t know, Brady. You tell us.” James has that cocky grin on his face again. “You’re the one who seems a little obsessed with her. I noticed your behavior has changed for the better, too. Looks like Izzie’s had a positive effect on everyone.”
Before I can say anything, Coach walks in. The room’s a clatter of noise as players stand up and start rushing out the room.
“What is this, a Girl Scouts’ meeting?!” Coach’s voice can be heard from Saturn. “Practice started five minutes ago. Move, move, move!”
As my teammates all rush out of the room, I follow them, but I’m stopped by Coach McGoy. He places his hand on my shoulder, and already I know what he’s going to say to me.
“I heard some pieces of the conversation as I walked in here.” The coach lowers his voice into a whisper. “What’s all this talk about Ms. Williams?”
I shake my head. I’ve never felt readier to go to practice andnottalk about women in my life.
“It’s nothing. Me and the guys were just talking about how her diet plans have been working for everyone on the team. Everyone seems to like her at lot. That’s all.”
The coach eyes me without saying anything. Ugh, I hate when he does this.
“Please don’t read into this.” My eyes are pleading.
“Listen, I know you’re a guy and you have guy thoughts,” Coach starts, “but that morality clause is iron tight, you hear me?”
I nod. It feels like a broken record to hear about abiding the morality clause again and again and not “fraternizing” with any lady coworkers. But hearing it out loud from Coach really seals in the cold, hard reality of the situation.
As amazing, smart, and adorable Izzie is, I need to stop focusing on her so much. Because in the end, I can’t act on any impulses I have.
Plus, Izzie seems to be warming up to every player on the teambutme. Why obsess over her so much if she hates my guts?
“I understand, Coach. I won’t do anything stupid.”
“I hope I can trust you on that.” Coach slaps me on the back. “Besides, Izzie’s not like one of your football groupies from back home. She’s a good girl with her focus on her career. Don’t be getting any wild ideas in your head.”
“I won’t, I won’t.”
