Total pages in book: 104
Estimated words: 97882 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 489(@200wpm)___ 392(@250wpm)___ 326(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 97882 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 489(@200wpm)___ 392(@250wpm)___ 326(@300wpm)
Of course, this particular day held more weight than ever — because he was the new coach.
And he’d shaken things up.
I didn’t have to look to know there were surprises, that players used to starting found themselves slated in the number two or even three spots. There was a raucous energy among the team as we all filed into the cafeteria after practice, and when I filled my tray and turned to find a seat, it felt like every set of eyes was lasered in on me.
“Hey, why don’t you sit with us today?”
I blinked at the soft, sweet voice, and found myself looking down to find Giana Jones to my left. She held a tray of her own, her curly hair framing her smile like a halo as she beamed up at me.
“I’m Giana,” she said when I didn’t answer. “I know we haven’t had much time together yet, but I’m the Public Relations Assistant Coordinator. I’ll probably be hounding you for an interview soon,” she added with a laugh. “So, let me at least sit with you at lunch first.”
I tried my best to smile back, nodding toward the room in a silent answer for her to lead the way. If I was being honest, I’d planned on taking my tray back to the training room and eating next to the ice baths.
But again, I felt the weight of my father’s expectation, the pressure of the hope he held onto that this move would be good for me. He wanted nothing more than for me to find friends, to find purpose, to be okay.
I’d rather fake that I could do those things than admit to him that I never could.
I followed Giana through the crowd, ignoring the stares from players as I did. I couldn’t tell if they were angry with me, like I had an influence over my father’s decision, or if they were intrigued by me.
I knew that game well — the one where they took bets on who could get the coach’s daughter in their bed before anyone else.
But this wasn’t my first rodeo. If any of them actually thought they stood a chance, they’d end up disappointed in the end.
Giana slid into a seat at a table in the middle of the room, patting the one next to her for me to take. It was right across from Riley Novo, the only female on the team. She beamed just as brightly as Giana when she noted me.
“Hey, Julep. How’s it going?”
“Peachy,” I answered flatly.
Riley and Giana shared a look as if they were having a silent conversation.
“Don’t worry about all this,” Riley said, waving her hand at the tables around us. “Some of the team is bent up over their poor performance at camp that was reflected in the chart today.”
She said that last part louder, which earned her some disgruntled murmurs from her teammates. But she just smiled, cutting into her chicken and popping a piece in her mouth.
Giana snickered.
“How’s it going so far?” Riley asked next. “Anyone I need to set straight?”
The tension in my shoulders eased a bit as I unwrapped my silverware. “Nothing I can’t handle.”
“That’s what we figured,” Giana interjected. “We saw it the first day you walked in during spring training. You’re used to this circus just as much as we are.”
“What made you get into training anyway?” Riley asked between bites. “Are you an athlete, too?”
“Does pole dancing count?”
Riley coughed a little as Giana’s eyes doubled, and I waited for it — the judgment, the instant awkwardness that I was met with most of the time when I let that little fun fact slip.
“Um, hell yeah, it counts!” Giana said, surprising me with a light smack across my bicep. “I want to learn! I mean, I’ll probably fall on my face trying but hey, I’m game.”
I smiled — at least, as close to it as my lips could get nowadays.
“I need to build my upper body strength,” she added.
“Lifting books to your face every night doesn’t count?” Riley quipped.
Giana stuck her tongue out.
“I bet you’re stronger than you give yourself credit for,” I said.
“She is,” a deep voice interjected, and then Clay Johnson swept in and kissed Giana’s blushing cheek before taking the seat on the other side of her.
“You don’t even know what you’re encouraging,” she shot back.
“Enlighten me.”
“Julep is a pole dancer, and she’s going to teach me.”
One of Clay’s dark brows shot up, and he assessed me with an appreciative smile. “This sounds like a great deal for all parties involved.”
I snorted. “It’s not as sexy as you think — especially in the beginning. A lot of bruises.”
“I didn’t see any bruises.”
I went stiff at the familiar voice, keeping my eyes on my food as a large, warm body filled the seat next to me.