Page 34 of Always Be True: Tino
She watched as Tino stopped two of the boys and demonstrated what he wanted them to do. Thanks to the racket all the bouncing balls made, it was impossible to hear what he’d said to them. Whatever it was, they both grinned and took off dribbling again. When Tino glanced toward Jay, he looked surprised to see that she’d joined the audience. He nodded before turning his attention back to the kids.
“Okay, guys, freeze!”
Once he had their attention, he continued, “Put the balls away and then run four laps. When you’re done, we’ll break for snacks.”
Then he clapped his hands. “Go!”
After some good-natured grumbling, the boys headed over to the rack and set the basketballs down before taking off at a run. Jay pushed himself up to his feet. “Hey, Mitchell, no cutting corners.”
The boy in question laughed and veered back toward the edge of the gym. Jay shook his head and turned his back to hide his grin. “The rascal tries that every time to see if I’m paying attention. He’s one of my most promising players, but he’s on the lazy side.”
He winked at Natalie. “Reminds me of myself back in the day. My coach didn’t cut me any slack, either. I figure this is the universe’s way of getting even with me for all the grief I gave that man.”
Tino stopped to make a layup before joining her and Jay as the boys pounded their way around the gym.
The two men looked impressive as they stood shoulder to shoulder watching their team. Despite the differences in their builds and coloring, there were definite similarities. Both were physically fit, but it was more than that. Something about the way their eyes constantly scanned their surroundings as if hyperaware of everything going on around them. Jay and Tino also shared the same air of confidence she found so sexy.
Meanwhile, Tino looked down at her. “Your first class is tonight, isn’t it?”
She glanced at the clock on the wall. “Yes, it is. In fact, I should go get everything set up.”
“Give me a yell if you need any help. Jay can handle the kids by himself for a few moments.” Tino followed her over to where she’d left her things. “When your class lets out, I’ll walk you to your car.”
If she didn’t know better, she would’ve sworn her grandfather and Tino had been talking. “You don’t need to hang around that long. Clarence can always see me out.”
He stopped by a cooler she hadn’t noticed before. “It’s not a problem. After the snack break is over, we still have another thirty minutes of practice. By the time all the kids get picked up and we get the equipment put away, it will be about the time your class ends. I’ll wait for you by the door. If you don’t see me there, text me.”
She surrendered to the inevitable. “Fine. I’ll see you when I’m done.”
“It’s a deal.” He picked up the cooler. “Now I’d better go feed the kids before things get ugly.”
One look at the boys watching the cooler with greedy expressions on their faces and she realized Tino wasn’t kidding. “Good idea.”
She started for the door but turned back. “Hey, Tino.”
He glanced back over his shoulder. “Yeah?”
“It was nice of you to offer to help Jay with the team.”
“Who offered? The jerk ambushed me when I wasn’t looking.”
His partner in crime heard what he’d said and laughed. Jay waited until Tino was within reach and slapped him on the shoulder. “Navy Seals are crafty that way.”
Tino snorted. “Sneaky and underhanded is more like it.”
As tempting as it was to hang around and watch the two men giving each other a hard time, she headed for the computer lab. Time to get her head in her own game, which meant forgetting all about the image of Tino moving with such grace to shoot that basket and focusing on her lesson plans.
Later, though, when she was alone in her bed, she planned to replay it a few times in her head. After the rough start to her day, it would be nice to end it on a high note—or at least a hot one.
