Page 33 of The Anaconda Downstairs

What the hell had I been thinking, pretending to be Pen’s love interest? It was supposed to be a lesson, a way to boost her confidence. Instead, I’d gone and developed a full-blown crush on her.

“Jesus, Ev,” Hayes said, slapping my helmet. “Save some for the actual game, will ya?”

I shook my head, trying to clear my thoughts. “Don’t you worry, kid. I’ve got plenty more where that came from.”

And I did. Despite the mental gymnastics I was performing today, I felt... electric. Like every nerve ending was firing at once. Was this what being in lo?—

No. Nope. Not going there.

I needed to take a big step back from Penelope. For both our sakes. These “lessons” had gone too far, and if I didn’t put some distance between us soon, I was going to do something stupid. Like take her to bed and never look back.

That wasn’t in her plan or mine.

“Alright, boys,” Coach Doyle called out. “Hit the showers. Kingman, stick around a minute.”

I jogged over to the sidelines, where the head coach was saying something to Doyle. He didn’t usually get on us for day-to-day practice so I was bracing myself for... well, I wasn’t sure what.

“Kingman. What the fuck is going on with you?” he asked, his tone gruff as always.

I blinked, taken aback. “Uh, what do you mean, Coach?”

He chuckled. “Because you’re playing like a man possessed out there. Now, don’t get me wrong, I love the energy. But I’ve been coaching long enough to know when something’s up with my players. Everybody knows you Kingman boys play better when you’re in love. You got a new lady or fella in your life or something?”

The question hit me like a blindside tackle. “What? No, I’m just?—”

“Hmm.” He eyeballed me. “Whatever it is, keep it up.”

“Yes, sir.” I gave Coach a little salute, not trusting myself to say anything more. As Coach Shananagan walked away, I stood there, frozen.

Everybody knows you Kingman boys play better when you’re in love.

I thought the adage was about getting laid. God knows I hadn’t gotten any since... Aspen. Where I’d first met Pen. And Kelsey, of course.

This thing with Penelope wasn’t love. It couldn’t be. I was just... infatuated. Yeah, that was it. And I needed to shut it down before it got out of hand.

I headed to the locker room, and overheard Dion, one of our rookies, talking to Hayes.

“I don’t know, man. I’m gonna go, but this speed dating thing seems crazy. How am I supposed to make a good impression in just five minutes?”

Hayes glanced over at me and waved me over. “Ask our resident love guru. He’s the one I’ve been going to for advice with Willa. He gets the ladies falling over him in about ten seconds flat.”

I paused, an idea forming. Speed dating. That was it. The perfect way to help Penelope practice her flirting skills with a bunch of different guys... who weren’t me. Then I could take a step back and remember my role in all this as her coach, nothing more.

I plastered on my best love-guru smile. “I got you, man. When’s this speed dating event?”

All he needed was my standard be-your-most-authentic-self advice and Dion was good to go.Before I could talk myself out of it, I grabbed my phone and pulled up the website.

I clicked on the registration form and hesitated. This was the right thing to do, right? Yeah, it was. If she really didn’t want to go, I’d of course let her out of it. But I needed her to go. Needed.What if she met someone? What if she clicked with one of these random guys more than she had with me?

And... that was the whole point, dumbass.

I quickly finished the registration, which sure asked a lot of questions, like what she did, who her latest employer was, a headshot, and a reference. I guess they were being careful. Unlike me who was ignoring the knot that formed in my stomach. I was just hungry after practice.

I pulled up my messages and typed one out to Pen.

Got your next lesson lined up. Friday night, 7 PM. Wear something that makes you feel confident. I’ll pick you up.

I hit send before I could overthink it. Almost immediately, those three little dots appeared, indicating she was typing a response. My heart did a somersault.

---