CHAPTER 20
BURTON
The week has been full of trainings, appointments, and restaurant shifts, but it feels like it’s been dragging. I shouldn’t be this attached to Laney this quickly, but I can’t help it.
We’ve texted here and there, and getting her photo with the green skittle made me grin for hours, but it’s been hard to connect when one of us isn’t working.
Maybe I should call her tonight and see if we can chat? She’s two hours ahead though, so that makes things harder.
Coach Martin added another five days of two-a-days onto the already long, six-day stint we usuallydo. Jackson looked half dead that first week after the intense training and cardio sessions.
It hasn’t been as bad for me since I started training with Laney. Sure, we only got a few sessions together, but those helped spur me on to daily workouts that differed from my typical weight training and boring, long jogs.
“How goes it?” Clark asks as we stop for a water break.
The spring didn’t last long, and it’s going to be a blazing summer if it keeps up like this.
“It’s going,” I say, breathing out and in a few times as I try to recover from the sprints.
“Are you ready for this? We have the Rattlers in ten days.”
I nod. “Nine, actually. I’m ready for whatever hits us. How are you?”
Clark grins. “I’m good. Things are coming along for the event.”
I blink a few times and then remember what he’s talking about. Working at the restaurant has taken up any extra time I’ve had in the evenings, and I haven’t seen any of my roommates outside of practices since we started. “What route did you take?”
“The marketing team liked the idea of a photo scavenger hunt. They sent it out yesterday, and we’ve already gotten a bunch of submissions from all over the state.”
I raise an eyebrow. “A bunch, as in what? Ten?”
Clark laughs, slapping me on the back. “Probably, but they sounded excited about it.”
I don’t tell him they just started working for SMG, and we’ve never done anything like this, so there isn’t much data to go on.
“What do you need the team to do?” I ask, leaning over to pick up my stick.
“We’ll decide that before the big day, but probably walk the kids through a few drills.”
Nodding, I say, “That I can do. We probably better get out there before Coach gets whistle-happy.”
“Are you doing okay, Burton?” Clark asks.
“I’m great,” I say, giving him an overly cheesy smile.
Clark shakes his head. “You don’t look great. You need some rest, brother.”
I shake my head and say, “No, I’ll be fine. I’m living the life I’ve always wanted.”
He raises an eyebrow. “Working yourself to the bone is your dream life?”
“It’s not that bad, and it’s not forever. I’d do this for a hundred years before I’d trap myself behind a desk.”
He reaches over and puts his hand on my shoulder. “I don’t think you can sustainit for that long, Burton.”
“I’ve got a bunch in savings, and I’m ready for the summer.”
He studies my face for a few moments, looking like he wants to call my bluff. Instead, he says, “What about Laney?”
