“We’ll get out of your way, boys,” Dad says as I stop my machine as well.
I grab the wipes and hand some to him so we can both wipe down our treadmills before we go. Breathing hard, I throw out my trash and drape my small towel around the back of my neck.
“Ah, Coach?” a player swallows hard at the door and I sigh, grabbing my water.
“We’re going,” I mumble, eyes on the ground.
“No, I was going to say that we should coordinate so you don’t feel like you need to rush off,” he says.
My gaze snaps back to his, and I search for his name. Isaac.
“Oh,” I say in surprise.
“Caelia, you’re part of the team. Act like it,” he says, coming further into the room as other players walk in.
“Ready?” Dad asks, amused as I nod and walk with him. “Bye, guys.”
Everyone mumbles their goodbyes, and two of them yawn as they struggle to wake up.
“Shower and then breakfast?” he asks.
“Yes, please. I’m starving,” I say.
“Well, now I know how to get you to eat more,” he grins proudly.
“By torturing me with early morning runs?” I tease.
Leaning against the wall, Troy is talking on the phone, looking stressed. I feel badly for everything he’s dealing with. He may not have been named, but there’s still people that are calling him, I expect.
“He may need to make a public statement,” Dad murmurs once we’re past him.
“It’s so unfair,” I sigh. “If that’s something he wants to do, great. I just hate that it’s forced.”
“That’s life in the public eye,” he says. “There’s pros and cons to it.”
The suite has two bathrooms, so we are both showered, dressed, and packed in record time. Dad ushers me downstairs, and treats me to a big breakfast of eggs, ricotta toast, and potatoes.
“Mmm. I’ll probably be full until dinner,” I say, sighing happily at the end of the meal.
“Good. We’ll be driving today. I want to swing by the store first so that I can buy you a butt pillow,” he says as he pays the bill.
My cheeks heat as people turn, while I shake my head in embarrassment. The weeks have passed by so quickly. We didn’t really decorate for Christmas, and now it’s officially January.
I haven’t stopped moving long enough to mourn the lack of holiday spirit. I also have had too much going on to really think about it.
“Thanks, Dad,” I murmur as his eyes sparkle with mirth. Yeah, he knows exactly what he did.
“If your dad can’t embarrass you, then who can?” he chuckles, standing.
“Wonderful reasoning,” I say, standing. “I really do want that butt pillow though.”
“Figured you would,” he says, leading us out.
Even with as much as he teases me, I’m enjoying every moment of our time together.
One week later
“Let’s go! We play the Scorpions again in three days!” Dad yells.
