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I watch him as he instructs the boys from the sidelines. The confidence he has, he's at his best like this, and you can see how much he is enjoying this coaching gig. It suits him almost as much as when he was in his uniform.
I've lasted one week avoiding this pull, this undeniable attraction I have toward him. He kept to his word and has given me the space I need. Just a wave here and a cute dimply smile there. And that has been enough to have me in an absolute tizzy. I’ve barely slept all week, tossing and turning, unable to get him out of my head. I close my eyes and I'm back to the night we had together in Austin, and every time I let it enter my brain, I get tingles right through my body. So I lie there and fantasize what it would be like to be his again. I'm so insanely attracted to him.
"You're supposed to be watching the game, not the coach.” Scarlet smirks.
“Oh yeah.” I laugh, realizing I must have been staring pretty hard. Maybe I'm the one becoming a stalker now. Actually, I definitely am. When he had football practice on Wednesday, I snuck into his office just so I could sit in his chair and have his smell around me again. That's disturbed even for me.
I think it's time to face my fears and just see where it takes me. Right now, the life I'm living is only half a life because I'm too frightened to really do what I want, and what's the point in that? I want him, crave every little thing about him, to the point it’s driving me crazy. I knew having one little taste wouldn’t be enough for me. And being friendly with him all week is only making it worse, so tonight I'm going to fix the mistake I made on Monday.
“Go, Scorpions!” screams Scarlet, making me jump. The rest of the crowd erupts around us as well, and I realize we’ve just scored. She grabs my hands, her excitement contagious.
Brandon is in the zone on the sidelines, his students all looking to him for guidance, and there're going to need it to win this one.
Thegirlsperformedtheirlittle hearts out for the halftime show. I knew they would kill it with their new routine. They’ve been working so hard to perfect it, and you could tell they were feeding off the awesome energy of the home crowd. Even I'm amazed at the atmosphere here tonight. "Can you believe how many people are here? The stands are full."
"It's pretty impressive. I'd say that's got something to do with your man Brandon being the coach. But it's awesome for the school." Mr. Rodgers certainly was smart for hiring Brandon to fix up the team and bring a new love for the game to our community. The school must be raking in the cash at this point, and I'm sure Brandon is worth every cent Jerry would have had to pay him to get him to take the job.
The final whistle is blown, and our side of the crowd goes wild. The Knights were up in the first half, looking like they were too strong, but we came back in the second to claim the victory. Brandon and Miles are going nuts, patting the team on their backs as they run back through to the changeroom. When the team are all through, Miles follows them. But Brandon searches the crowd for me.
From the moment the whistle blew until now, he has been entirely focused on his team, but when he finds me, he throws me a cheeky wink, and a huge smile breaks out across my face. I offer a little wave back. A wink shouldn’t make butterflies dance in my tummy like this, but when it’s coming from him, they do. It’s the same as when he offers me a wave in passing in the hallways or brings me a bottle of water after dancing in the gym. I can try to deny it all I want, but every time the man is close to me, I’m a lovesick teen all over again.
“Yeah, I saw that.” Scarlet gives me a look. “Super cute couple, you should make it a thing.”
I laugh and shrug because there is no covering it up anymore; the attraction is too strong between us. “I might just do that.” I smirk, knowing my mind was made up half an hour ago.
BRANDON
NOBODY THOUGHT THE SCORPIONS could do it, but we won the game. I knew it. And it wasn’t just my competitive ego. Our team is stronger this year than ever before. With the addition of our new talent and a bit of extra training, they are working together as a team and playing like winners. I might just take them to the finals in my first year as coach.
When I’m here with the boys, my attention is solely for them, but as soon as the game is over, all I can think iswhere is she?I knew she was coming to watch tonight, and when I find her still in the crowd, all I can think about is how much I want to celebrate this win with her.
It wasn't hard to keep myself busy this week, with the shit hitting the fan when we all found out about Ace. There has been more to do than hours in a day, and it was a welcome distraction to stop me from turning up at her house and dragging her home with me where she should be.
“Coach, you coming for a drink? Just got a text from Scarlet. She and Cassie are looking to meet up to celebrate,” Miles calls to me, looking up from his phone.
I’m surprised but not complaining. This is exactly what I had hoped would happen. Give her a little time and she would work it out. She can’t be without me. "Tell em to meet us at The Joker," I say, making sure it's one of the Riveras' newly acquired establishments.
I watch as he texts back. Probably a little bit too eager, but if she is happy to celebrate with us tonight, then maybe she’s reconsidering what she said on Monday. And I really fucking hope that's the case because I'm not waiting much longer.
I smell Jerry before I see him, that cheap cologne. I can't put my finger on what it reminds me of, but it's something from my childhood, and I can't stand it. His hand rests on my shoulder and taps a couple of times. "Good work tonight, boys. I knew I could rely on this team to bring home the win. And did you see? The stadium was full to the brim."
His praise is unneeded; the results speak for themselves, but he's taken an interest in the game, so we get a quick motivational talk at the end of every match. Then he disappears back into the office upstairs.
Halfanhourlater,the four of us are seated in a leather booth with cold pints of beer in front of us. The girls got here earlier and have started without us. Cassie already has a relaxed glow about her, and I wonder how many she’s already had while we got held up dealing with Jerry. The only thing that could make this celebration drink better would be if it were just the two of us. But for now, I can deal with this cozy evening with our staff. And the cutest girl imaginable sitting opposite me with a look in her eyes I know all too well.
“Congratulations, boys, an excellent win tonight,” cheers Scarlet, holding her drink up to the middle, and we all raise our drinks in a toast. We beat last year's top team.
“I heard the halftime show was pretty impressive as well,” points out Miles, implying Cassie’s cheerleading girls did well, and I'm sure they did.
“They were amazing. It was a new routine we were testing out. We’ll probably take that one to state if we pass the qualifiers,” says Scarlet, waiting for a reply from Cassie, but she’s too busy looking at me. I grin back. Yeah, I know, Shortcake, you want another taste of what you sampled in Austin. Just took you a little longer to get with the program than me.
“Cassie,” Scarlet says again, bumping her arm.
“What? Yeah, that routine was awesome. I definitely think we should take it to the qualifiers and see how we do.” She smiles sweetly at Scarlet, a silent message passing between them.
The conversation continues around the table. It’s light and fun with us all in such good spirits. After a rocky start, things are turning around for our team, and it appears for me too. Jerry is off my back for now, and with the way Cassie keeps looking at me, she’s practically drooling, her eyes filled with a fiery lust. She looks good enough to eat tonight in her cute little outfit, and I intend to peel it off her and have a taste.
I glance around the rustic bar. The lighting is low, and I know this place pretty well. I’m sure I could find a quiet corner to do unspeakable things to her. But I promised I won’t push her, so if that’s what she wants as well, then tonight she’ll have to come to me.
