Page 10 of Coach's Pet

All of us silently follow him, and when he pushes open the door, I step inside.

“Thanks,” I tell him.

“Don’t change out there. You got me?” I narrow my eyes at him, both annoyed and oddly turned on with him bossing me around. “You got me?” he repeats a little firmer this time.

“I got it,” I say because I certainly don’t got him. He stares at me for a long second before shaking his head. After that, he leaves the locker room the same way all the players had.

“That was nice of him.” Bennett smiles and places the beaver suit on Coach Shay's desk.

When he and Tins close the door, I drop my bag onto the chair and change out of my clothes. I put on leggings and a sports bra and then ask Tins to help me zip up the beaver suit. Bennett goes over a few things with me on the way to the field, but once I’m out there it’s not so bad.

I stand with the cheerleaders and jump around, giving out high-fives. I don’t have to put on too much of a show since the game is taking center stage. I’m trying not to think about Coach Shay, but I catch myself staring in his direction more times than I’d like to admit. I swear one time I thought I caught him doing the same to me, but I must have imagined it.

“You think he’s married?” I hear one of the cheerleaders say. I peek over to see it’s Milly, the co-captain of the squad.

“No ring,” another says. “But I don’t think you’ve got a shot, Milly.”

A few laugh, but that doesn’t stop them from talking about him. With each word they speak, I find my anger growing. I have no right to him. He’s not mine, but he’s not theirs either.

When halftime comes, I jump up and start to work the crowd again with the cheerleaders. I spot Tins in the stands and can't help but smile. She spent the majority of the game on her phone and now she’s jumping and cheering for me. You’d think I was the star.

Coach Shay went back to the locker room with all the players at halftime, but I don’t think they need too much hype. The team is playing well and are up in points at the half.

The band plays a few songs while I do my thing, and when they march off the field I look up to see the players sprinting out of the locker room. I’m filled with relief because that means halftime is over and my moment in the spotlight is done.

To my surprise, I actually watch the game, but I suppose I'm more interested in observing how Coach Shay manages the team. I snort a laugh when he goes off on Parker for throwing the ball to the other team. It doesn't take long for me to start cheering for our school, even though I dislike most of the players. I think it’s because I want Coach Shay to win.

At one point, Parker takes a hard hit, and it causes the ball to shoot out of his grasp. One of the guys on the line manages to throw themselves on top of it so the ball is still ours. After that, Parker really goes downhill.

He’s scared, and although I shouldn't be enjoying it, I am. Each time the ball is hiked to him, he dances around, wanting to get rid of it quickly. He doesn’t want to get hit again or throw what one of the cheerleaders said was an interception.

Coach Shay shifts strategy, and from that point on they are exclusively running the ball. Parker doesn't try to throw anymore, and it’s only because of their lead going into the second half, and the kicker, that they pull off a win.

All the players head toward the locker room, and I follow after them, wanting desperately to get out of this damn beaver suit. While I’m walking, my foot catches on something I can’t see, and I trip. I stumble a step, but the weight of the suit is too much to steady, and I go crashing to the ground. It knocks the air right out of me, and the beaver head rolls off.

I stare up in time to see Parker walk by, and he smirks. With that one look I know he’s the reason I tripped.

“Move!” The command echoes loudly, and everyone scatters away from me. Coach Shay fills my vision as he drops down to a knee next to me. “Are you okay?” He brushes my hair out of my face, and I nod as a rush of embarrassment fills my cheeks. “It's all right, babe,” Shay says softly before offering me his hand and helping me to my feet. “I should look you over and make sure you're okay.”

“I’m fine, really,” I tell him as he picks up the beaver head and carries it for me.

“I’ll be the judge of that.” He snags my elbow, and I know I don’t have much of a choice. Although do I really want one?

Shay leads me straight to his office and shuts the door behind me. “How do I get this off you?”

“Here,” I say as I reach for the snap in the back, and he unzips the rest. The costume drops down to my feet, leaving me in my sports bra and yoga pants. I step out of it and then motion at my body. “See, I’m okay.”

My ego is definitely bruised, but otherwise I’m uninjured. Coach Shay's eyes drop to my chest and then slowly down the rest of me.

“Shit.” He runs a hand down his face and turns around. “Get dressed.”

My bag isn’t on his chair anymore but on his desk. It’s open, and I know I zipped it closed before I left. I peek inside and notice right away something’s missing.

“What the fuck?” I mutter to myself.

“What is it?” Coach Shay turns around and glances at the bag.

“My panties are gone.”

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