Total pages in book: 102
Estimated words: 98487 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 492(@200wpm)___ 394(@250wpm)___ 328(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 98487 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 492(@200wpm)___ 394(@250wpm)___ 328(@300wpm)
“Nope,” he says as he makes quick work of the prewrap. “Been focusing on healing.”
“That’s great. Healing will help get you back out there.”
He shrugs as he starts to tape. “I don’t know if I want to get out there.”
“But you love it.”
“I know. But right now, all I see is what I couldn’t conquer.”
“I get that,” I say, nodding even though he’s not looking at me. “I almost walked away from bars when I couldn’t catch a skill called a Ray. I knew I needed it for college and figured if I couldn’t do it, why try? But then my love for the sport made me work even harder.”
He looks up. “What if I don’t love it and just thought I did?”
I nod slowly. “Then that is something you need to recognize and build from.”
He holds my gaze, and I feel like I’m suffocating. I press my lips together and watch as he glances down before quickly moving his eyes back up to mine. He doesn’t say anything, nor does he do anything. We just stare into each other’s eyes as the air around us crackles and pops. When he looks down, I take in a deep breath, sighing loudly as he finishes my other ankle in silence.
“How do you like the gym?” I ask since the silence is driving me nuts.
“It’s a great facility.”
“Is everyone being nice? Coach is rough around the edges.”
He nods, and I enjoy how his brow furrows as he concentrates. His hair brushes against his forehead with every move he makes. His shoulders flex, and Jesus, I’m getting hot watching his man tape me. In my head, someone has cued the porn music.
When he starts to answer me, I’m thankful and disgruntled by his distraction. “Coach is a hoot, reminds me of my brother. And everyone is coming off really thirsty, if you know what I mean.”
“Because they are,” I deadpan, and he laughs. “Sorry, they’re a lot, but we’re a good group of girls.”
“Yeah, I can tell. And I get it. I’m the new, sparkly thing. They’ll get bored of me.”
Good, because I won’t. He pats both of my ankles once he’s done checking them, and then he looks up at me. “How does that feel?”
I flex my toes. “Great.”
“Awesome. Have a good practice,” he says, holding out his hand for mine. I take it, and somehow, we’re doing a handshake I used to do with Nico. He laughs, visibly impressed. “You know that shake?”
I nod. “I do. I do it with my dad-guy.”
“That’s crazy. I learned it from my brother.”
Whom I assume taught it to Nico. Why don’t I say that? “That is crazy.”
He helps me off the table, and I lift up on my toes to make sure the tape is good. “Cool. Okay, so I guess I’ll see ya around.”
“Yeah, see ya. Don’t trip over anything.”
I look back at him. “I won’t. I’m a gymnast, which means I have perfect balance.”
A beautiful grin comes over his face, and I smile back before I head out of his office.
With way more pep in my step than needed.
So much so, I trip on the mat when I go to join my team.
I look back, praying Evan didn’t see that, but I find he is watching me as he twirls a roll of tape on his finger.
And he’s laughing.
You’ve got to be kidding me.
nine
Evan
I think I may be a runner.
I’m not saying I want to run for a team here at the college; I just like to run. What am I thinking? But I enjoy it. I enjoy running around the campus more than back in the neighborhood where my family home is. Though, at home, I don’t get the looks I get here. As I run, a lot of different girls smile and wave. I don’t know any of them, and I’m not stopping to meet them. I’m on a run for a reason, and it’s to get the crazy out.
It’s been a weird week for me. I’m not used to all this attention from females. I’ve spent most of my life in Owen’s shadow, and believe me, I’m not mad about it. He’s such a huge personality, such a big presence, and he knows what he wants. Even on a good day, I have issues, and it’s easy to hide behind Owen. Let all the girls have a go at him. When I was in South Carolina, it was Owen, our teammate Dart, and me. Between the two of them, no one really noticed me, and I was fine with that. I’d rather just sit to the side and be me. I’m not saying I didn’t talk to anyone. I did, but it wasn’t to get them into bed like Owen and Dart did. I was honestly getting to know them. Unfortunately, the females I met only wanted to sleep with me before they got to know me.