Page 57 of Against The Rules

BEAVER CHEER RULEBOOK

Nutrition and Health Guidelines

Cheerleaders are expected to meet uniform standards on game day and beyond, and as such, will be expected to maintain their figure and health.

Cheerleaders will receive a weigh-in once a week, during which they must be within three pounds of the Organization’s goal weight for their body type.

Cheerleaders will work out every day of the week, and turn in workout logs on Saturday morning by seven AM weekly. Tri-weekly dance rehearsals do not count towards the prescribed exercise.

Cheerleaders are expected to eat healthfully in order to have well-nourished skin and hair on game day. Please see the addendum for a refresher on food groups and calorie intake recommendations by weight.

CHAPTER 23

TYLER

It’s hot as fuck, despite fall on the horizon, and I’m more focused than ever at practice. Every spiral our QB Daniel throws winds up in my hands. Every time there’s an opening in the defensive line, I find my way through. Every time I have the chance to give one hundred percent, I give one hundred and ten.

Every time I have space to think, my thoughts are filled with Savannah, and I’m not sure if I like that or not.

So I keep as busy as I can, and I work my ass off.

“Damn, son, what’s lit a fire under your ass?” Anton, the coach for the receivers, is shaking his head and staring at me with a look of wonder. “Whatever it is, you keep it up. This is what we like to see. We knew you could do it if you just dedicated yourself. Proud of you, man.”

A ripple of pleasure goes through me at the praise, and I work myself even harder the rest of the week, earning fist bumps and more aggressive praise from the rest of the practice team.

Every night, I sit at the kitchen table and I run through plays mentally, then collapse into bed exhausted. Every morning, I wake up and text Savannah, who provides perfunctory updates on the way she’s spending the money on the business.

She’s put up a boundary. I get that.

So I get up, I go to work early, and I go talk to Dr. Kim, and I miss my fucking wife all week.

It’s funny how I think of her like that now.

Like she’s mine.

I just have to prove to her—to myself—that I’m worthy of her.

I haven’t seen her all week, won’t see her this weekend, thanks to traveling to Kansas for our next game, but I’m thinking about her all the time.

I’m thinking about who I might be with her.

And I’ve decided I like thinking about it a lot.

CHAPTER 24

SAVANNAH

Tired. I’m so tired.

I’m dancing like shit, I’m going through the motions at practice. I’m drained as hell even after paring down my personal assistant clients to my two favorites, but between that and starting up my little business and practices three nights a week until late, I’m running on fumes.

The windows lining the back wall of the Beaver Cheer dance studio are black, illuminated with the parking lot lights.

“Savannah,” Rebecca calls my name, and I break out of formation to jog across the Marley floor to the door she’s standing in. “Weigh-in time,” she adds needlessly.

Thursday night practice is always weigh-in time.

I glance at my reflection in the mirror, and for once, I think I have nothing to worry about. Despite my full face of makeup, required for practice, I look like shit. I didn’t need to contour my cheeks or jaw. I look exhausted.

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