Page 113 of Striking Heat
I’m lying on my couch, waiting for Mac to get here. She’s got practice today, and I’m hoping it’s going to be a better day for her. The rest of the team has been slowly coming around to her. They were pretty pissed off at first, especially when the papers came out with our kiss after the Gotham FC game, but neither of us cared.
August just asked that we be a little careful with the PDA and maybe tone it down a bit until things calm down. I agreed, but Mac wanted me to kiss her passionately every time we were out in public. We compromised and I just eat her pussy every time we come home from a night out. I told her that’ll be her passionate kiss.
My phone rings and I expect it to be Mac telling me that we’re going out tonight instead of her coming to me. Instead, I see August’s name on the caller ID.
“What’s going on, man?” I ask him.
“How much do you love me?” he asks me. He sounds pretty pleased with himself right now.
“What did you do?” I ask him.
He chuckles into the phone. “I think I found you a job, dude.Unless you’re no longer looking, and you want to be Mac’s sex slave for the rest of your life.”
That is a title I would love to have for the rest of my life, but I won’t tell him that. I’m careful not to share any details of our sex life with him. I confide in Nick a bit, but not August. He’s too close to the organization, and as good of a guy as he is, I don’t want to cross a line with Mac. She specifically asked me to keep my mouth shut around him about us.
“As tempting of an offer as that would be, I think I might need some income too.”
He laughs. “That’s good because I have an opportunity for you.”
“Spill it.” I sit up from my lounging position on my couch and wait for him to spill the beans. I would be lying if I said I wasn’t excited to hear what August might have for me. I can’t keep lying around waiting for Mac to get off practice or traveling with her to all her games. As fun as it is, I need more, and I think she deserves to be with the kind of man who has goals in life.
“I have some friends who work for the University of Tampa, and I was golfing with one of the guys today from the athletics department. He was mentioning that they were looking for a Men’s Swim Coach. I told him I knew someone who would be perfect for the job. He was all about it. What do you think? Would you like to meet with the guy? Be a coach for the sport you used to participate in? Jase thought you might be down to do it too.”
I smile into the phone and nod my head. “Yeah, dude. I would like to coach. That could be an awesome opportunity. If I get it.”
August just laughs. “If I have learned one thing about having this last name, it’s that a Cromwell recommending you for a job means you’re going to get it, buddy.”
“Oh, wow. Isn’t there someone who would want to meet with me?” I ask him, confused. I mean, I know what he’s talking about. The name Taylor can carry the same weight, especially if you’relooking for a position on a football team. My dad could open all kinds of doors for someone.
“Dylan said he would be giving you a call, so just wait for that and you should be in,” he tells me. “I know it’s only a Division II school, but the larger Florida schools, like Florida State, would take you farther away from Mac, and I’m not sure I should be helping you get a position that takes you away from my striker.”
I chuckle. “No, it’s good. Thank you. I wasn’t really looking to leave her. I need to stay with her.”
“You love her. That’s great.” August doesn’t say it like he’s making fun of me or being an ass about it. It’s just a statement, and he’s happy to hear that I love her. There’s more to this man than people give him credit for.
“Yes, I love her.”
“Good for you, dude. You make a good match. She’s got a smart mouth, but I think you compliment her well and don’t take any from her shit.”
“I agree. And she’s a good one. She just needs to be loved right.”
“Keep on doing that,” he tells me.
“I will. How are things with the team and her? Are they really improving? Are they being kinder about all the attention?” I know I shouldn’t ask him this question. She wouldn’t like it if she knew, but I can’t help myself.
“Yeah, I think so. Mac looked really confident when I saw her on the practice field today. I think it’s all going to blow over. Besides, they’re women. They’re bound to get into a scrap every once in a while.”
“Yeah, good. I hope you’re right.”
“I usually am,” he says, throwing his cocky little attitude around.
It’s then that I hear the keypad at my house making noise. It’s Mac. She’s using the code I gave her a few days ago to get in my house.
“Listen, August, thanks. I really appreciate it. Just let me know what I should be doing and who I should be getting in touch with, and I’ll do it.”
“Will do, man. I’ll send you the details via email.”
“Cool, and really, thank you so much for what you did for me. I won’t forget it. You’re alright.”
