I already know this, but when you’re playing with a new partner who doesn’t, it throws you off. We’re still a mess, butat least Elias is trying. Even though it seems to be taking everything in him to refrain from just pushing me out of the way and doing it himself. Especially now when there’s only one opponent on the other side of the court.
He doesn’t, though. He tries. And I can see that Coach is impressed.
He stops us about an hour in, though Elias looks like he wants to keep going.
“You guys probably have classes to get to, and we have our usual practice later.” Coach says. “I don’t want you wearing yourselves out—that’s how you get injured. And classes are important, okay?”
Elias nods impatiently.
We head into the locker room together to change. I’m nowhere near as sweaty as I’d usually be after practice. But when Elias heads for the showers, I feel like I should, too.
I’m about to join him—no, notjoin him,we have separate stalls, it doesn’t have to be weird—when my phone buzzes in my bag. I take it out to read the message, just in case it’s important. My heart sinks when I see a text from a new number.
Hi Ben, it’s Tom - Mackenzie’s cousin. Nate gave me your number. Hope that’s ok. Just wondered if you wanted to go out some time.
I should be happy, right? This guy saw pictures of me and was interested enough to ask me out. I’m still staring at my phone when Elias comes out of the showers with his towel wrapped around his waist. Does this guy take the world’s fastest showers every time he goes in there?
“What’s wrong?”
“Huh?” My head snaps up before I have a chance to warn myself that there’s a half-naked Elias standing right in front of me. My face is already in flames when he steps closer and I have to physically stop myself from stepping back.
“Nothing, it’s just….” I gesture to my phone before putting it back in my bag.
Elias is still watching me, waiting for an explanation. “Some guy asking me out on a date. Nate gave him my number.”
“Nate did?”
“Yup.”
“Did he ask your permission?”
I turn my back so he can’t see how badly I’m blushing. Or how hard I’m finding it not to stare at his nipples.
“What do you mean?” I go for a laugh, but it comes out more like a cat being strangled. “He’s my friend. I trust him to give my number out to people who aren’t creeps.”
He mutters something, I think he’s taking to himself in German.
“What was that?”
“Nothing.”
He drops his towel, exposing the most magnificent butt I’ve ever seen. I’m about to choke on my own tongue before I can pull myself together enough to turn away.
“Do you want to date this guy?”
“Huh?” My brain is still rebooting.
“I said, do you want to date this guy?”
“No.” I think Elias’ unfiltered honesty thing is rubbing off on me. That could be dangerous.
“So, tellhim.”
“The guy?”
“Yes. And Nate.”
I shake my head. “No, I don’t want to hurt him.”
