Page 20 of Hard Count
“And this is Ozzy.” He waves a hand toward a guy with close cropped blond hair and gray eyes. “They live at the house with us and are on the soccer team.”
“Nice to meet you both,” I say. “I’m Drew.”
“Hi, Drew.” Another blond steps up beside me. “I’m Asher.” He holds out his hand and I shake it tentatively.
“Hi, Asher.”
He opens his mouth to say something else but Eli clears his throat. “She’s Coach’s daughter.”
“Oh,” he says, taking a step back. “I’m…just…I’m going to go over there.” He tosses his thumb over his shoulder. There’s nothing in that direction but a blank wall and a water fountain. Good to know being the coach’s kid still sends the boys running in the opposite direction.
“Not so fast, Asher,” Nash says, making him stop in his tracks. “Drew and I have a bet over who can squat more weight.”
“Oooh, I like it. What are the stakes?” Gage asks.
“If she can squat more weight than one of us, she gets out of helping the team with her weekly analysis. If she loses, she’s stuck with me for the rest of the season,” he explains to the group.
“Can you do the same thing for the soccer team? Nash showed us the report you put together. We could use you this spring,” Ozzy says.
“Yeah, you want to be ours next season?” Gage asks, but the question lacks conviction. He says the remark as if it's something that's expected of him. It has the desired effect on Nash as the tips of his fingers dig into my back. I can't stop myself from leaning into the contact.
“I don’t see why not. It’s just soccer. Not like it’s hard likerealfootball,” I joke. Nash and Eli both laugh. I have a feeling arguing over which sport is superior is an everyday occurrence in their house.
“Funny. I like you,” Gage says, eliciting a growl out of Nash. It’s barely noticeable over the clanging of weights but I can feel his chest rumble against my shoulder.
“Should we get started?” Nash asks. The guys nod in agreement.
“Wait. I have two conditions.” I turn to face Nash. “We don’t tell my dad. He didn’t want my help and I don’t want him to know I’m giving it.”
“Okay, we won’t tell him.” He looks at Eli for confirmation. “We can use our gym time to workout with you. Coach doesn’t have to find out. What’s the second condition?”
“You have to join me for the post game celebration dinners with my dad.”
I barely made it through the last dinner I had with him. He went on and on about how well Newhouse played and how they adapted to the opponents defense and offense like itwas second nature. Agreeing to help means living through that every week. I’m not going to do it alone. What I’m really asking for is Nash’s support.
His tongue rolls over his bottom lip as he studies me. I swear my fucking right knee buckles. “Okay, but you have to come to our house for the after party.”
“Yeah come hang out with us, Drew,” Gage says then immediately starts groaning when Ozzy punches his arm. “What the fuck, bro? She’s not our coach’s daughter.” He rubs at his arm. Ozzy glares at him then nods to Nash. “Oh, sorry, man. I didn’t know.” He winks at me which irritates Nash even more.
I brush my fingers down his forearm to bring his attention back to me. “I agree. Now you just have to beat me.”
“Asher, what do you think? Can you take her on?” Nash asks, without cutting eye contact with me. “We need her help.”
Asher prattles on about how he’s been working out but he still has weak shoulders and bad knees as he gets into position for his first turn. Meanwhile I’m stuck reeling from the sincerity behind Nash’s words and the intensity of his brown eyes.
The first and second round we lifted fifty and seventy-five pounds. I can already feel the effects of squatting. Even if it’s only a few seconds.Nash’s taunting motivated me through the third round.
It’s clear Asher is an honorary roommate with the way the guys cheer for him when it’s his turn to squat and hold one hundred and twenty pounds. Veins begin to pop in his neckand his face turns red as he struggles to hold up two-thirds of his weight with his legs for the mandatory ten seconds.
“Time,” Ozzy says. Gage and Eli take the bar and rack it until I’m ready and in position. Asher walks away rolling his shoulders to find some relief.
“Your turn, Drew.” Gage slaps the side of the rack. Standing next to Nash, I massage my thighs to loosen up my muscles.
A hundred and twenty pounds is almost my full weight. It’s more than I’ve ever tried to hold in a squat before.You can do anything for ten seconds.I get into my spot. My thighs are already burning from the combination of the first three rounds and my morning workout.
Pushing my feet into the floor, I attempt to lift the bar and dip into a sitting squat. The strain is almost enough to make me nauseous.You can do this. Prove it to yourself. Do this for you.Closing my eyes, I release a slow breath.
“Time starts now,” Ozzy says, looking at his phone. Ten seconds doesn’t seem like a long period of time until you’re carrying the weight of a whole ass person on your back.
