Page 60 of Jockstraps & Newspapers
“I’d say you don’t need it…but now you’re covered in me,” he chuckled sheepishly, raking his hair through his sweat-crusted fluff.
“Unfortunately, we’ll need to take separate showers.”She rolled her eyes, nodding toward the hallway bathroom.“You first, stinky boy.”
“The stinkiest,” he snorted, his nose ring rocking from the force.Cass swatted at his arm only to receive a sloppy kiss to her cheek.“Sexy girl.”
Red, hot, and stinging, the blush crossed her cheeks as she toted her basket away to her room.Elliot clambered into her mini bathroom, and she bemoaned how small he had to make himself to fit.I’m still locked in for four months, I couldn’t even take pity and move in with him even if I wanted to…The thought struck her hard.Was she truly thinking of it?
Psh—of course she was!Who was she kidding!Living with Elliot would…well…it would certainly make certain things easier.However, it would mean change for him as well.She needed a workspace, and he clearly needed a workout spot.They wouldn’t just be able to slam her stuff into his townhouse.
But that’s four months from now Cassiopeia’s problem.But wasn’t it a nice problem to have?As compared to the problems she’d been facing up till now.The problem of how they would simply merge their households together was such a lovely, fun thought.Not the heartache problem of how to get her boyfriend to tell her about why his brother nearly bled to death?Or how did they tackle Stevie McMatterson?Problems like what did they do when the season was over but he wasn’t coach yet, and how to find a Minotaur-proof place as well as an office for her…those were much nicer.
Cass tried to focus on the fun questions as she started up a load of clothes.Her mind, however, had other thoughts.Literally.She continued to slip back to Stevie.He wrecked my fucking car.She never did hear back from the shop what happened with it.Was it even worth a silver coin at this point?Maybe they mercy squished it and turned it into metal sheets.
She didn’t have proof Stevie ordered the butchering of her death trap.Salamander told her that security had sent in the video tapes to the Enforcers Guild on her behalf.Mr.Pearson whispered to her that Stevie wasn’t the one on the tapes.Some skinny person in a shabby hoodie and cargo pants, wearing a blurring charm to make their features distorted.
Cass may never know who really wrecked her car.
“Baby?”She was ripped from her pensive thoughts, whirling to see Elliot in a pair of boxers.Towel drying his fluff, he beamed at her and nodded at the steamy bathroom.“All yours.”
“Thanks,” she pushed up on her toes, kissing his jaw before ducking inside.She wanted fresh curls for the press junket, so she begrudgingly interrupted her cycle to wash her hair.The hour inside the shower, painstakingly shaving, applying shampoo and conditioner to her hair, letting serums soak into her skin, and rinsing off, was much needed.She stepped out basically a brand-new person.Curls in their silk prison for the night, her usual skincare routine back in place, she came back into the room to find her Minotaur passed the fuck out in her bed.
Stretched across her bed like a bearskin rug on the floor, mouth slightly open, a sweet snore from his nose, phone on his chest playing some video.She turned off the replay of the game Maylor had with another King’s Fall team and set his phone aside to charge.
Ah, so this is the life of an athlete’s partner.Snuggling up to a very warm, freshly washed body that is too tired to even realize that it’s been shoved to the other side of the bed.She wiggled down into the crevasse of his arm and breathed in the fresh scent of soap on his fur.
Tomorrow was the next game, and despite the giddy excitement, the acid churning anxiety of the press junket, and general worry for what would come next…she too drifted off to sleep to the lovely sounds of her Minotaur breathing and the honking of the city muffled beyond her apartment window.
Chapter twenty-seven
A game well played
Elliot
Pullingontheuniformfor the second game should, normally, not feel so weighted.However, as Elliot tugged on his mesh jersey over the protective gear, it was about a hundred pounds heavier than normal.Probably because, before, he was never worried about public perception.Win or lose, they would play the best game they could.However, today…everyone was watching.The vultures were out, ready to pick him apart.Any fumble, misstep, or mispronounced word and they would pounce.
“Bonesaw, you got a sec?”Renner asked, nodding for him to come away from the team.
Lee continued the rally cry for everyone, getting the team pumped while Renner pulled Elliot out of the locker room and into one of the many side areas not yet in the arena.“Hey, when I said I need you a hundred and ten percent Bonesaw, I meant it.”
“I know, I’m more than that, Coach, I’m good.”Elliot nodded his head vigorously.
“Good, cause this games just a game.I need you to put that big Minotaur noggin into it and get it together.This team, your family, is depending on you to be the Elliot they trust, the captain they admire, their soon to be coach.Fuck the press junket, I’ll be there to keep you together.This game, this night is all that matters, you got that?”Renner cocked a brow.
“I got it,” Elliot clapped Renner on the shoulder.Renner mimicked the touch on Elliot’s other shoulder.“I won’t let you down.”
“Look, I know I put the pressure on for the press junket but you gotta shake that off for now.Forget it even exists.Your girl, the world, and King’s Fall is out there looking for a good game and only Elliot Bonesaw can give it to them.”Renner slapped his palm against Elliot’s gear.
“Man, I’m gonna have to write some of this down to use for next year…if I’m still going to be coach next year.”He faltered, feeling the sting of uncertainty bite into his muscles.
“Hey, don’t you dare think about that now.What happens, happens.If McMatterson doesn’t think it through, that’s on him.Don’t act like Maylor and Tritus haven’t both put counter offers on the table for you.Don’t think for a second that Toad and the whole team won’t follow you to another team for you.Youarethe team, Elliot, and some fuckwit, big shot, money bag isn’t gonna change that.”Renner beamed, slapping Elliot’s gear again.
“Thanks coach,” Elliot smiled back, squeezing Renner’s shoulder.
“Your head in game now, Bonesaw?”
“Two hundred percent.”
“Good, then lets fucking show these people what being a Knight is all about, huh?”Elliot and Renner slapped palms together before jogging back to the locker room.The hooting and roaring from his team as they got in formation to hit the field filled him with pride.Fuck everything else.His coach was right.Just the game, just my team.He shoved his mouth guard into his mouth and shoulder bumped Toad for good luck.He stood at the front, fist raised in the air.
