“Yeah, I’m good. I just needed to work out after taking my brothers to the airport.”
“That was a quick trip.” He put his weights away next to me.
“For sure, traveling with kids isn’t easy. Plus, they’ll be back in a few weeks for our season opener.”
“Oh!”
I shot him a look. “You do know you’re going to have to get over the crush you have on my brother, right?”
“Why? It’s perfectly acceptable to have a man crush, and mine is Wyatt Boone.”
“What about Trevor or Bryton?” I asked.
“Oh, them, too.”
I shook my head at Perry before I used the bottom of my shirt to wipe the sweat off my face. Of course one of my best friends was obsessed with my brother. Maybe it was karma for constantly hitting on my brother and his friends' partners for years.
“Are you going to tell me why you dragged me to a gymthat’s not our own?” I asked then, taking another drink of my water.
“Well, there’s this hot girl?—”
I groaned. “Perry, really? You know the team doesn’t like us working out somewhere else, and for a chick?”
“Ahotchick,” he added. “She’s not here today, though.”
I closed my eyes with a sigh. We were going to get in trouble when the team found out we were here instead of the faculty gym.
“It’s Friday, have any plans tonight or this weekend?” Perry changed the subject. “The guys and I were thinking of hitting up Club Z tonight, you wanna join?”
I knew I should say yes and go. Do a bit of team building, even if it was at a club, but part of me just wanted to stay home tonight. Aside from grueling practices the last few days, I always felt drained after my family left. Almost like a small piece of me left with them.
Maybe a night out would do me some good, help get me out of my head for a bit, but the thought of being surrounded by a bunch of people while loud music blasted made my head hurt.
I was usually one to say yes to anything. Want to go on a hike before the sun rises? I’m there. Last-minute plans for a road trip? Let me pack my bag. Need someone to help you move a mattress? I’m your guy.
“Sounds fun but I can’t tonight. Coach gave me tons of plays to look over before Monday,” I said, which wasn’t entirely a lie. I did have a lot of them to go over this weekend before our practice Monday morning.
“You sure?” If it were anyone other than Perry, they would have hounded me to go, but he knew the pressure I felt being the captain. Unlike a lot of the players on the team, I had more on my plate.
“Yeah. Tell the guys I’ll make it to the next one.” I had a strict policy of no partying until after the season was over, so I would have to go out at least once before the season started in a month.
“If you want to meet up this weekend to go over plays, let me know.” He slapped my shoulder before reaching for his gym bag. “I better get going. I have to pick up Stan from the groomers.”
Perry’s scruffy terrier was the man’s pride and joy. He found him abandoned on the street two years ago, and from the moment he saw the little guy, he’s been wrapped around his finger.
He spoils the pup rotten. Stan goes to the groomer every few weeks, and when we’re away for games, he hires a doggy sitter to take care of him. He even feeds him the high-end dog food.
“See you later.” With a quick bye, Perry headed for the exit, gym bag on his shoulder, phone halfway up to his ear as he went.
My leg muscles twitched as I squatted down, reaching for the foam roller I put off to the side. The moment I put it under my right thigh, supporting my upper body with my hands behind me, I let out a groan. I truly believed this thing was a torture device, even if it helped.
I spent the next ten minutes rolling out my thighs, going from the front to the back, each time groaning under my breath. Pretty sure if anyone was close they’d think I was doing something inappropriate.
Just as I finished my last pass, a voice sounded above my head. “Hey, you’re Mateo Boone, right?”
Damn Perry for having us come to this gym.I should have left when he did and stretched when I got home.
Pushing off the mat, I stood and faced the person. My annoyance evaporated seeing a kid that couldn’t have beenolder than seventeen in front of me. The kids eyes were wide, mouth practically hanging open as he stared at me. The look of awe was something I was slowly getting used to.
