Page 23 of Power Pucking Play

She quickly looks back up and realizes she's been caught. She rolls her eyes and turns on her heels, opening the passenger door and sliding in.

The drive to the gym is mercifully short. As we pull into the parking lot, I notice Lexi fidgeting with her notebook.

"Nervous, Brookes?" I tease. "Don't worry. I'll go easy on you."

"Don't you worry. Easy has never been my thing." She smirks, grabbing her bag from the trunk.

I shake my head and lead the way into the gym. Inside, I head straight for the locker room, grabbing a towel. Lexi follows close behind, pulling out her notebook and pen, and I turn to her, brows furrowing.

"Uh, I'm sorry, did you plan on joining me in the locker room?"

"Relax, I just need to take some notes for the article," she says, flipping open her notebook and scribbling something down.

"You do realize there are cameras everywhere in here, right?"

"Of course. And that's why I'm standing at a discreet distance." She flashes me a charming smile. But when I don't return it, she sighs and holds her place in the notebook with her pen. "This isn't my first rodeo, Giovanni. I've been in plenty of locker rooms before. This is just part of the job."

I smirk. "You mean a perk of the job, right?"

"Do you struggle getting out of doorways with that big head of yours?"

I laugh, heading over to a bench where I set my gym bag down.

I strip off my shirt, feeling the chill of the air against my skin, and put on a show as I reach for my gym clothes. Lexi’s eyes dart between her notebook and me, clearly trying to maintain her professional composure.

"So, Giovanni," she says in a formal tone, pen poised, “what do you think sets you apart from other athletes?”

I chuckle, my gaze steady on her. “Well, for starters, I’m not afraid to give the audience a good show.”

I can see her cheeks get slightly pink, as I reach inside the waistband of my sweatpants, lowering them. Lexi's eyes sweep over the bulge in my boxer shorts and she swallows hard.

I keep going. "But really, I think it's a combination of dedication and natural talent. And being able to perform under pressure."

Her pen scribbles quickly, as if the speed of her note taking will help her regain some of her lost composure. “How do you deal with pressure during competitions?”

I take my time pulling on my gym shorts, letting the silence stretch between us. "It helps to know when to turn the heat up," I smirk, watching her squirm just a bit more. “And when to put on a little show for my fans. But ultimately, it’s about staying focused and trusting in my training and abilities.”

I can't help but enjoy this.

Putting her on the spot seems almost too easy.

But then she surprises me with her next question. “What about outside of the gym? How do you handle the pressure of being in the public eye?”

I pause for a moment, considering my answer carefully. "Honestly, it can be tough at times. There's always someone watching and judging your every move. But I try to stay true to myself and remember that I'm human too. Taking time for myself and having a strong support system also helps keep me grounded."

She nods, scribbling down my words. I catch a glimpse of her notes as she shifts her notebook slightly – “humanizing” and “support system”.

"And, uh, does this support system happen to include anyone special?" she asks.

Her shoulders are held tightly underneath her blouse, her blonde hair falling in front of her face. She doesn't look back up at me, but I can see the blush creeping up her neck.

I grin. "I have a great group of friends and family who support me, but as for someone special...well, I'll keep that private."

I can tell she wants to press for more, but she simply nods.

I glance down at her notes. "Guess being single and eligible doesn't make for good headlines?"

Lexi clears her throat. “No, just…personal and up-close details are important for the article. You know, audiences love a good romance angle.”

---