Page 48 of Everything's Better With You
Joe’s eyes flared and he barked out a laugh. He glanced around and leaned in closer. “After last night? I’d wash it for free. I’d be glad to do it.”
“Stop it,” Leslie whispered, his cheeks beet red and not from the heat. “You’re getting me all worked up over here, and I actually have something serious to discuss.”
Joe ran a hand in front of his face to wipe away his smirk. “Yes, Coach Payton. What can I do to you…I mean for you?”
Leslie attempted a reprimanding look, but all it did was make Joe grin wider.
“You can run training for my players tomorrow. Hard training, like the kind that will make them walk funny afterwards.”
It was Joe’s turn to laugh. “Are you serious? What do I know about training football players?”
“You know about training bodies in flexibility, agility, balance, and strength. That’s what I want. Plus I’ve got a few boys that could stand to be taken down a peg, if you know what I mean.”
Joe crossed his arms over his chest, which he sensed was in the beginning stages of a burn. “So you want me to put up with a bunch of homophobic douche bags and teach them a lesson.”
“I do. Look, Terrell’s right. Football as a whole could use a little education and I can’t think of a more qualified person.”
Joe loosened his arms. “You know I’m going to make them all suffer. I’d do no less for my team.”
Leslie inclined his head. “I’d expect nothing less. Sandy and Randy will be there to supervise. I’ve gotta fly out forMonday Night Footballor else I’d be there…”
“No, it’s fine. I’ve got this. What time? And where should we meet?”
“Tomorrow afternoon? How about the high school gym? Should be big enough?”
“You’re on.” Joe gave a confident smile that didn’t reach all the way inside. He wasn’t sure he was quite ready for this much of a challenge to his authority—to his masculinity—so soon, but he also didn’t want to let Leslie down. “No problem. As long as you know what shape they’ll be in Tuesday morning.”
“Sounds great. Now, about washing my pickup…”
Joe leaned a little closer. “You couldn’t afford me. Besides, I’d insist on doing it naked and, well, this town ain’t ready for that on a Sunday afternoon.”
“I don’t think I’m ready for that,” Leslie said, his voice hoarse. “I’ll have the, um, kids wash it then.”
“Probably safer for you that way. I’ll just be over here reapplying sunscreen.” He took out the bottle and squeezed some in his hands, rubbing it slowly between his palms, coating them generously.
Leslie’s eyes bugged out and he cleared his throat. “Coach.” Hewalked swiftly away and toward Marti, who he handed a wad of bills before walking over to chat with some of the townsfolk waiting for their cars.
“That was cruel, even for you,” Marti said as she joined him. “That poor man.”
“You saw that, did you?”
She clicked her tongue against her teeth. “You’re bad. Now, you want the totals?”
“Give it to me. Oh, and guess who’s leading football practice tomorrow afternoon?”
Marti’s eyebrows raised dramatically. “Oh, oh…oh, this is priceless. That’s what he was asking you for?”
“Mm-hmm, I get to torture footballers for two straight hours. I think I’ve died and found heaven in a cornfield.”
“Man, I’d love to be there, but I’ve got clinics tomorrow from four to six. But you could take Terrell? You know, if you needed an assistant.”
“That’s a good idea. Can you believe Payton was trying to poach him?” Joe shook his head.
Marti laughed. “I can believe it. My son made up his mind. His dad and I fully support his decision. I have to admit I’m relieved, although you’re going to have to hold my hand through all the auditions and shit. A career in dance is a roller coaster I never wanted to ride on.”
“He’s going to be great. How could he not? Look at who raised him.”
The two of them plotted the best exercises Joe could give the team to really make them suffer. Joe promised to make it to clinics for the second half and the two agreed that it was good for her to have some time alone with them. They’d been afraid that some of the kids would just be trying to show off in front of him rather than truly trying to make the team. They called Terrell over and he was hesitant to go to the football practice, but he agreed when Joe told him about the whole torture part.
