Page 29 of Playbook
“Don’t be sorry. Get your ass to bed at a decent time tonight. Goddamn rookies partying all fucking night,” he mumbles. “All right, men.” His deep voice bellows. “Let’s stop there.”
Oh thank God. My shoulders relax.
“Everyone to the end zone for sprint and stride intervals.” He lifts his right hand and points with an open palm like a ref would.
There’s a collective groan, but we all hurry to obey. Our conditioning coach walks behind us with a whistle to lead the drill and Coach heads off the field. But as he does, I swear he looks right at me like he wants me to know this is all my doing.
After practice I hit the training room and do some stretching and roll out my calves. One of the new trainers, Libby, spots me as she passes by the room and then doubles back to come say hi. She and a few of the other trainers were with us last night. I can’t remember how late she stayed, but she doesn’t look like it was as late as I did.
“Tough practice?” she asks as she moves closer.
“Brutal,” I admit, standing. “I think I finally sweated out all the tequila though.”
Her laughter makes my headache worse. “You should have left with me. I told you that you’d regret it.”
Right.Now I remember. She tried to get me to leave with her last night. I’m not sure if she was looking out for me or asking to get naked, but now as she rests a hand on my forearm and then glides it up to my bicep, I think it’s pretty clear.
Libby takes a step closer, and the smell of her perfume hits my nose, making my stomach roil. It also makes me think of London and her claim that all my admirers wear cheap, old lady perfume.
I smile, and Libby must take that as an invitation because the next thing I know she’s rising up on her toes and pressing her mouth to mine.
Worth noting, I stink. I haven’t even showered yet, and as previously mentioned, I sweated out a bottle of tequila.
I’m too shocked to reciprocate or do anything. The next thing I know someone nearby is clearing their throat, and I come to my senses.
Libby steps back, taking her scent with her, and it clears my head enough that I look to the doorway where Cody and Coach are standing.
Fuck me.
Libby flushes and then scurries off. Wish I could do the same.
I open my mouth to tell my coach that it wasn’t what it looked like, but he holds up a hand to stop me.
I don’t know if it’s expressly against the rules to hook up with someone that works here, but I never would. A second longer and I would have stopped her. I think I would have anyway.
“Six, is your dick going to keep causing problems for you this season?” Coach asks, hands on his hips.
“No, sir.”
“I’ve cut a lot of talented young players that couldn’t keep their head when they got to the league. I hope you won’t be the next.”
I swallow thickly. Before I can comment, he turns and leaves. His sneakers squeak down the hallway. Cody walks into the room while I sit down on a weight bench. I feel like I might throw up all over again.
“Seriously, rookie?”
“She hit on me. What was I supposed to do? I’m a likable guy. I know you aren’t familiar with that,” I tease. He cuts me a glare that proves my point. Women don’t hit on him because he’s a wall of indifference.
“You could start with not kissing her in the middle of the freaking weight room, maybe?”
“She kissed me.” I groan.
“Coach doesn’t give a shit about your excuses. You need to get it together before he decides you’re a liability.”
With those sweet, charming words, he leaves me too.
I take a minute to collect myself and then head to the locker room. Archer is waiting for me.
“You cool?” he asks.
