Ale barks out a laugh. Luca, not impressed, clucks his tongue.
“Fine,” I agree. “But no pulling big-brother power moves on the field.”
“The pitch,” Ale corrects me.
“Remember, you’re a coach, not a tyrant,” I tell Luca.
“Alright. But I don’t want to hear ‘I know’ every time I correct you,” Luca shoots back.
“But what if I do know?” I arch an eyebrow.
Alejandro laughs again. “This is too good. Joe, you hear them? Luca wants to coach Carla.”
Joe howls. “It’ll be a bloodbath.”
“Who are you putting your money on?” Ale asks.
“Carla,” they say in unison.
I beam; Luca scowls.
“Recovery matters,” Luca continues. “Your sleep, nutrition, and stretching are nonnegotiable. No injuries, cucciola.”
“No pet names,” I remind him.
“I’m not agreeing to that,” he says bluntly.
“Fine, but then, I pick our workout playlists. And no whining if it’s reggaeton.”
“I like reggaeton,” he murmurs.
“No, you don’t,” Ale cuts in, shaking his head.
“To recap…” Luca ignores him. “You show up, check your ego, and prioritize your health.”
“And you treat me like an equal, let me pick the music, and try to keep your cutesy pet names to yourself,” I toss back.
Luca grins and holds out his hand. “Deal.”
I place my palm in his, ignoring the thrill that dances up my spine when he wraps his fingers around mine. Secretly, I love the idea of spending more time with Luca. Of having someone with his level of experience training me. He’ll be a lot more effective of a coach than El Tanque or Risitas and I’m fortunate he offered. “Deal.”
“And I’m now taking bets,” my brother calls out.
I elbow him in the ribs and take a sip of my beer. I savor it, knowing it’s the last one I’ll have in a while.
“We start tomorrow.” Luca leans into my side, his voice low. “Seven a.m.”
“Seven?” I gasp.
Alejandro chuckles, his dimple deepening. “It’s like watching reality TV.”
I narrow my eyes at him. “This is nothing like Las Islas.”
My brother’s face pales and he gives me a strange look. “Of course not. The two of you…” He shakes his head, gesturing between us. “I only meant it’s a train wreck waiting to happen…”
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@santaisabeldeportes Welcome, Carla García!
