Page 12 of Bad Run

“You keep your sweet little tush right there, mister. Class has started.” She waits for Reed to take his spot back on his mat before she introduces herself to the class. “Hello, everyone. My name is Flo, and today I’m going to teach you some flow.”

She cackles at her own joke as she wraps her long white hair into a bun and struts to the front of the room, looking like a scoop of orange sherbet in an orange top and a flowy beige skirt. Her wrists are covered in beaded bracelets, and on her feet is a pair of what I can only assume are hemp moccasins.

Flo pushes off her shoes and skirt, revealing her matching orange yoga pants, and turns to face us. “I’m not going to take it easy on you boys, so you better pay attention.”

Our instructor walks around the room, forcing us to introduce ourselves before she starts class, making me feel as if I’m in preschool again.

“It’s nice to meet you all. Now, let’s get started. The first position will be on your back. Arms overhead, legs out. Breathe in for four and out.” Flo gets on the ground at the front of the room and lies down.

The entire room of grown men, who are also professional athletes, sits still and, like me, is probably wondering what the fuck is happening right now.

Flo claps her hands and barks at us to move, pulling us from our frozen state. As a unit, we follow her lead.

“Good. Now bring your knees to your chest and rotate them in a circular motion. Now open and close your knees, opening up your hips. With the way you lot look, I’m sure you’ve had plenty of practice opening up your hips.”

With her inappropriate jokes, Flo has us laughing as she guides us through various poses. It’s by far one of the hardest and funniest classes I’ve ever attended.

As she teaches the class, Flo switches between standing at the front, showing us what to do, and walking around the room, fixing our form. “Step back into downward-facing dog and really feel that stretch.”

“This is more like it. Doggy style is my favorite position,” Blake jokes.

“Mine too, hot stuff. But you’re doing it wrong,” Flo says, grabbing Blake’s hips and pulling them back, forcing him to stretch his calves and hamstrings.

“Ow, fuck,” he groans.

“You’re welcome.,” Flo chuckles. “How about you, sweet tush? Need any help?”

I watch Flo squat down beside me so she’s face-to-face with Reed. He wobbles, trying not to fall over at her sudden closeness. “Uh, no, thank you. Ma’am.”

“Suit yourself, but I’m free later if you still want to take me out,” Flo says with a wink, then carries on her merry way, leaving Reed stunned.

“How in the …?”

Blake keels over with laughter. Even I can’t hide my delight at the green look on Reed’s shocked face.

“Anyone who can make Reed speechless deserves an award,” Cam jests.

Last season started off with Nico and Cam butting heads. This season, there are no problems in sight. The team is in sync.

Oh yeah, we’ve got this season in the bag.

four

Gwen

Present

My armpits feel like the burning depths of hell as I go over the slides on my laptop again. I have no problem speaking in front of large groups, but today is different.

Today, my boss, Maryse, is going to announce the new season’s player and team marketing strategies. Starting with the spring training plan. Since Maryse is pregnant this year, she is sending me to Arizona in her place, and I am nervous as hell.

This is a great opportunity for me to prove to my father that I have what it takes.

“Good morning.” Maryse walks into the conference room with the file box of the printed decks for all the players as I finish plugging in the laptop and mirror it to the presentation screen up front.

“I would have come back for these.” I rush to her side to grab the box, but she waves me off and places the box on the table.

“Oh hush. I can carry this measly little box.” Maryse is two months pregnant, and Sylvie has put me under strict orders to keep her from overexerting herself.