Page 39 of Kickoff

“I learned about an hour ago that my prison sentence had been lifted.”

“That bad, huh?” I asked when we got in step

“They worry. All the time. But I’m doing much better. I had to get out of the house for my sanity. By the way, were you also listening to my conversation?”

“Never. I walked in when you were complaining about your mom.”

“I have a visit scheduled with the surgeon in three days to remove the stitches on my abdomen. Mom didn’t want me to come back to school before then. What she doesn’t understand is that the sooner I return to my life, the happier I’ll be. She’s like this helicopter parent who won’t let me breathe on my own. I had enough. I miss the pool and I miss swimming and I missed being here too.”

“How long until you can resume training?”

“Two to three weeks. It’s way too long in my opinion. I feel fine. All I did while being on bedrest was watch TV and read books I wasn’t invested in. Mom kept checking up on me every thirty minutes. She fed me comfort food, as she called it, and I’m pretty sure I have gained twenty pounds. I have eaten enough in the last week for years to come. I’ll have to up my training game now if I want to perform and go back to where I was or else I’ll spend my season eating other swimmers’ dust. No, thank you.”

“Well, I can help you with that,” I offered. “Some jogging, a bit of yoga, weight training. I’m sure we can get you back in shape in no time.”

“You think?”

“I believe it. Call me Trainer Pierce.”

“Jesus, you won’t let it go, will you?” She snickered, the sound addictive. “And tell me, since when are you a yoga guru?”

“When I hurt my shoulder sophomore year, it helped me with flexibility, and I gained back the momentum I had lost. I like to include a session or two weekly in my workout routine.” And even more so since I injured it again last summer.

“Mason Pierce in a pair of yoga pants. Never would I have thought I’d witness this one day.”

“You’ll see. People say my ass looks awesome in those. And the color of the spandex makes my eyes pop. It’s a win-win outfit. I should wear it more often.”

“Stop throwing yourself flowers. They’re almost the same as football pants.”

“And how does my ass look in football pants, Mel?”

The slight blush on her cheeks confirmed my suspicion.

My grin must have reached both ears. “Yep. No need to tell me. I can read it on your face. See, I know my ass is extraordinary. I’m not shy to admit it.”

Melinda backhanded my chest. “That ego, Mase. Better watch it before it swallows you whole.”

“All under control. I’m not being cocky, just stating facts. Anyway, let me know when the doctor clears you to train again and if there are restrictions, and we’ll start from there. With the training, I mean.”

Her eyes sparkled, and she squeezed my forearm. “Thank you, Mase.” Neither of us moved for what felt like an infinite minute. Her fingers glided to wrap around my wrist, her thumb caressing my pulse point. Could she feel the pounding of my heart? Melinda stepped closer, almost killing the distance between our bodies. A loose strand of hair fell over her right eye, but before I could tuck it away, she did, and the spell that had descended upon us dissipated.

I swallowed hard as I said, “Anytime.”

We stopped by her homeroom. “Let me know if you’re sick or anything. I can hide you at my place if you don’t feel good enough to be here and you don’t wanna go home either.”

“Paige already called shotgun on that role.” She offered me a hint of a smile. “Thanks, though. For offering. I didn’t know jailbreaker host was also one of your many titles.”

“Just so you know, Paige isn’t a certified nurse. And she won’t know what to do with a jailbreaker. She may report you. Just sayin’. It would be much safer to run things by me instead.”

She raised one brow. “And you are?”

“I’m the most qualified person to take care of you. No doubt about that. I think I proved it to you the other night. You can’t deny it.”

“How poetic.”

“Hey, Mrs. Belleville,” I greeted the teacher when Melinda and I walked into the classroom.

“Mr. Pierce? Have you transferred to my class and I’m not aware?”