Page 8 of Cleat Heat

With a heavy sigh, I turn and follow them. My cleats have never felt so heavy as I trudge back toward my coach. The small man stares us down, clearly noticing that something’s going on, but none of us breathes a word.

Rolling my neck from side to side, I try to push down the feeling that letting her leave may be a huge mistake. Practice holds no joy today whatsoever.

For the first time, I’ve found something that matters more than football.

And I’m pretty sure my whole life just changed—never to be the same again.

Chapter Six

Vivi

The door slams behind me as I finally enter my apartment, and the familiarity immediately works to calm my frayed nerves.

Home. Safe.

A shiver ripples down my spine, and my teeth chatter as cold sweat pops up on my skin. My body is off, shaken, and exhausted.

A little meow greets me as my big gray cat, Mako, winds around my legs. I drop my cheer bag by the door and quickly step out of my shoes, bending over to greet my favorite feline.

“Hey, buddy,” I say, hefting his huge body into my arms for a snuggle. The feel of his soft fur helps to center me further; and when he butts his head against my chin, I know everything will be all right.

Walking deeper into my house, I scan the room, taking a sniff to make sure everything smells normal. An omega can never be too careful.

Thankfully, the usual aromas filter into my nose as I walk along the dark wood floors to my kitchen. The space is small but sleek and modern, with lots of bright whites that make it feel light and airy.

“You want some food?” I ask Mako, who meows and then purrs against my chest. Guess that’s a yes. Setting him on the floor, I wander to my cupboard and rifle through it, looking for his preferred kitty cuisine, when my belly cramps hard enough to make me gasp.

What the heck?

It ends abruptly, and I grab the food, breathing out a sigh of relief.

“This better not be my heat three weeks early,” I grumble. Although I use scent-blocking lotions daily, heat suppressants are only available by prescription, and they’re scarce.

The little brown pellets tap on the pretty blue ceramic dish as I pour Mako’s food before grabbing a second one for water. The bowl fills quickly, and I twist the tap off before turning to place it on the counter for Mako when another sudden cramp causes me to stop in my tracks.

“Fuck!” Bending at the waist, I grip the smooth counter and try desperately to suck in a breath.

Cool water sluices over my hand as it trembles from the discomfort, and dread slithers up my spine. The chill of the liquid burns against my skin, and a whimper escapes. Fever?

“Shit,” I tell Mako, placing his water next to the food dish and heading toward my bathroom to grab a thermometer from the wall cabinet.

A trickle of cold sweat runs down my back as I uncap the small device and place it against my temple, hearing the soft beep before gliding it smoothly over my forehead.

Closing my eyes, I take a few deep breaths. Almost too nervous to look.

101 degrees. High…but not heat high.

My breath whooshes from my lungs, and I exhale with a shaky sigh. Dread pools in my stomach, but I don’t have time for this. Nope. Not happening. I have three weeks. This is just a spike. Or maybe I have an honest-to-goodness cold.

A cold would be lovely.

Mako appears in the doorway, stalking up to me on his silent, padded paws, rubbing his head against my leg and releasing a purr. His nearness soothes me like nothing else does. The gentle rumble isn’t quite an Alpha’s purr, but it’s just enough to help me settle. Even if my heat comes soon, I can handle it.

On. My. Own.

I always have before…

“You’re right, buddy. It’s all going to be okay,” I say aloud, but heat simmers under my skin and my pussy flutters. “A shower will fix me right up.”

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