“Damnnnn,” someone else says.
I turn to see who they’re looking at and as if the world slows down to slow motion; I see Francesca in her running gear, light pink Lycra pants molded to her every curve, and a matching tank showing her full breasts and that hair in a ponytail. That ponytail I imagine pulling on. I instantly get hard and have to adjust myself, lowering my clip board. This is becoming an issue around her.
“Who is that?” Connor asks slowly.
“Thatis too old for you,” I reply.
“A cougar? Is that a real-life cougar?” Jameson tries to be cool by leaning against my shoulder but when I sidestep him, and he stumbles and everyone laughs, including Francesca, he quietens down quickly.
“That’s a cougar to you boys, and out of my league for sure.” I whisper those last words and begin walking towards her, hopefully out of range of listening ears.
Laughing, Chess stops in front of me. “Did they just call me a cougar?” she asks, wide eyed.
“You realize you could almost be their mom. Be thankful that’s the only name that came up.”
“Jackson! I am not that old and you know it! Oh my god, don’t you know you should never call out a woman’s age!”
“So, you’re upset about noting your age but not about being called a MILF?”
She rolls her eyes. “Anyway, I came out here to tell you, you’ve got yourself a deal, boyfriend.”
“Oooohhhh!” The boys start hollering and barking. Jesus, what is with the barking? I hear the beginning of the k-i-s-s-i-n-g song.
I shake my head, then blow my whistle. “Three laps around the field. GO!”
So much for moving out of listening range. Damn ears got me anyway.
They groan and grumble. “That will teach you to eavesdrop!” I yell back at them as they take off and I nudge Chess a little further away from the other coaches’ ears.
“Really? We’re going to do this?”
“Yes, I thought about it, and I want to help. We’re going to get you back on track and maybe I’ll find my passion while we’re at it. This is my last-ditch effort to decide whether I’m going to keep on with PR or have a complete life makeover.”
“I… Chess, thank you. Seriously.”
She waves me off. “Maybe it will be fun. I always loved getting one over on the media,” she laughs. “But we must explain this all to my brothers and your sister first. They have to know this isn’t real. It’s just us putting on a show.”
“I agree. I’ll text everyone and invite them over for a BBQ later. We can hash it out over dinner.”
She’s still cautious about it all. I can see it all over her face and I hate she feels that way around me. It’s my fault though, when I left all those years ago, I didn’t keep in touch with her. I figured she’d find out what she needed to from her brothers. Plus, it wasn’t the right thing to do. Bro code. Adam is my best friend, she’s the little sister. It just wasn’t appropriate no matter what I felt.
But this strain, I don’t like it.
She backs up. “Ok sounds good. I’m going to do my run and then I’ll see you later.”
I reach out my hand to, what? I don’t know. Hold hers? Touch her arm? Keep her close to me? She notices and looks at me. I drop my hand because I don’t want to make it weirder. When in doubt, result to the lewd comments. “Seems you’ve already got your exercise in. You’ve been running through my mind all night.”
She groans and, oh Christ, the sound turns me on. “You’ll never learn, will you?” she shakes her head but has a hint of a smile.
“Probably not, but I can’t wait for you to teach me. Over and over again.” I wink as she rolls her eyes and jogs off to the track.
My assistant coach comes up next to me. “Casanovas little sister?” I look at him and he’s got a shit-eating grin on his face.
“Drop it or I’ll make you run sprints with them.” He punches me in the arm and says, “I hope you know what you’re doing,” as he turns to walk back to the field.
Me too, pal. Me. Too.
Chapter 9
