Coach Me

Mills is standing next to him, talking animatedly with his hands. Torres doesn’t seem to be interested in what he’s talking about at all.

“Okay, ladies. Make your way to your coach. Just because it’s going to rain doesn’t mean we don’t have work to do.” Hamilton claps her hands twice and Kendall, Janine, and I part ways, but of course Kendall doesn’t go simply. She sticks her hands out at me like a toddler, pouting her bottom lip. “I’ll miss you, Lakey Lakes!”

I can’t help but giggle at that as I walk away.

Sighing, I trudge my way in Torres’ direction, my heart beating faster and my throat feeling dry. The other meter runners stand in front of him in a half circle and I move to the end of the circle, avoiding Torres’ gaze altogether.

“Alright, so today is going to be simple. We can’t exactly sprint like we want to in here because space is limited, so you’re gonna hit the weights.” He reaches behind him to pick up a small stack of papers. He starts on the left side of the half circle and hands each girl a paper. “Work on your thighs, quads, and glutes. I haven’t been seeing the power I want in your legs when you take off, which makes me think your legs are weak. Afterward, hit the track, do two miles. Partner up if you want to, or don’t.” Torres stops in front of me and my heart beats harder, faster as he sticks out a paper at me. “I don’t care what you do, so long as you do your workout and stay out of my way.”

He looks me right in the eyes as he says his last statement. I frown, snatching the paper out of his hands and looking down at the exercise list as a distraction.

Fortunately, he moves away from me and blows his whistle, and we make our way to the weight room through the double doors. As I go, I glance over my shoulder at Torres, who folds his arms and looks around the room of the indoor track.

I should have known he was going to act like a jerk. I mean, after the way he said he’d see me at practice like nothing had happened on that boat, I should have known.

I felt that kiss—felt it to my core and savored every second of it—and I felt him too. He was groaning, sighing—he had his hands all over me. He was hard as hell in those gray sweats. He enjoyed it just as much as I did, despite how fucked up it was, so he can’t deny that.

Still, I do my best to let it go and get my work-out in alone. Nicole and Parker insist I join them and eventually I do, but I don’t talk much. After we’re done, I go back to the track and jog my two miles…well, more like sprint the two miles.

I run hard, passing each girl on the track. I pass by Torres who is standing on the side, next to Coach Mills. Mills is talking. Torres is watching me, his arms folded, eyes narrowed.

He brings his whistle up and blows it. “Slow down, Lakes! There are other people in here besides you! Show some control!” he hollers.

I ignore him, still running fast. If he wants to pretend what we did was nothing to him, I can do the same.

The whistle blows again. “Control, Lakes!” Torres’ voice booms, echoing off the walls.

I don’t slow down. I run faster and faster until I’m finished with my five laps around the track, and when I’m done, I step over to the side and walk it off, panting wildly.

Footsteps sound behind me and I look up. Torres is charging my way, his eyebrows drawn together and his jaw clenching. “What the hell was that?” he snaps.

“I was running, Coach.” I exaggerate the last word, holding his gaze. His eyes soften a touch when he realizes what I’ve done with the word, but his brown gaze turns into steel again in an instant.

“Get out in the hallway. Now.”

I turn away, heading for the double doors.

I’m out of my mind. This is not like me. I’m not one to rebel, but the way he’s acting is pissing me off. The least he can do is say it was a mistake, that way I can try and let go of what happened. He left it up in the air and now I’m confused.

I shove the door open and walk down the hallway. As I go by the gym doors, I hear the squeaks of the basketball players’ shoes as well as the dribbling of basketballs and deep shouting. I stop in front of one of the exit doors that’s around the corner, and Torres meets up to me.