Advanced Multicamera Production is supposed to teach us everything there is to know about producing a live remote multicamera broadcast, which means there will also be on-air opportunities for those of us who plan to work in front of the camera—as opposed to behind it—upon graduation.
The world of gymnastics is small and closely knit, and though there aren’t many opportunities for gymnastics commentators, I’m willing to pay my dues and put in the work to remain involved in the sport I love after graduation.
Coaching was never an option for me, a decision that was solidified after working my first summer camp. I love working with the kids and seeing the look of pride on their faces when they master a new skill, but it takes a special person to show up day after day with boundless enthusiasm and energy. That much peopling would suck the energy right out of my introverted soul.
Maddie, on the other hand, will be an incredible coach, and I have no doubt she’ll put her business degree to good use when she opens a gym of her own one day.
And who knows? Maybe I’ll be the one sitting in the booth giving commentary on her gymnasts’ flawless performances.
A girl can dream, right?
Parker shifts and his knee brushes against mine, sending a jolt of electricity straight to my lady bits.
I jerk back, but he makes no move to retract his giant tree trunk of a leg.
“Hey, no manspreading.”
“I’m not manspreading.” He straightens and moves his leg half an inch. “I’m six-three. In case you haven’t noticed, there isn’t a lot of leg room for a guy my size.”
“That doesn’t mean you get to creep on my space.”
“It’s not like you need it.” He glances at my very short, very bare legs and interest flares in his eyes.
“Maybe I do.” I shift, crossing my legs in his direction. To defend my space. Not because I want to touch him. Our knees brush, and this time I’m ready for the skin-to-skin contact, for the feel of his warm flesh pressed to mine and the crackle of awareness that passes between us. “Three hours is a long time to be crammed into one of these stupid chairs.”
“Tell me about it.” He lowers his lashes and I’m pretty sure he’s checking out my legs again—because player—when he whispers, “But by all means, stretch out. I don’t mind a little incidental contact.”
I roll my eyes—hard. “I’m sure you don’t.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Oh, come on. Don’t sit there and pretend like you don’t know your own reputation.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he mutters, brow furrowed. “Since you’re such an expert on the topic, maybe you can enlighten me.”
I tick the nicknames off on my fingers as I go. “Park-her. BJ Parker. Park-and-ride.”
And those are just the ones I can remember. The guy’s earned so many nicknames over the last two years, it’s hard to keep track of them all.
He snort-laughs and covers his mouth with a fist. He’s quiet for a long moment, eyes fixed on Mac, and when he’s sure the prof isn’t going to come down on him for disrupting the class, he whispers, “That sounds like some bullshit Coop made up. There’s no way anyone actually calls me those names.”
“Trust me, they do.” I nudge his knee with mine, pushing it out of my space and back to his side. “It’s disgusting.”
“No kidding.” His eyes go wide and he looks kind of shell-shocked, which is clearly an act. “It’s like I’m just a piece of meat to the ladies. And you had the nerve to accusemeof objectifyingyourbody?”
“Oh, no.” No way does he get to turn this around like he’s not the womanizing douchebag here. Especially since I have firsthand knowledge of said douchebaggery. “You were checking out my ass and we both know it.”
He twists in his chair, full-on looking at me now. “I’m not sure I feel comfortable sitting so close to you in light of this new information. I think maybe I should ask Mac to reassign our seats. I’m sure if I explain the situation, he’d be willing to make an exception to his seating policy.”
The pendejo actually raises his hand and panic floods my chest.
Without thinking, I grab his arm and tug it back down. “Don’t you dare.”
A move like that would kill any shot I had at the Sports Stream internship.
I glance at Mac, but he doesn’t seem to have noticed Parker’s attempt to catch his attention.
“Damn, girl.” He pretends to inspect his arm for damage. Which is ridiculous. I barely touched him. “Has anyone ever told you that you need to relax? Maybe try smiling once in a while?”
