Page 22 of Touchdown
“Someone grab a cross,” he told Micah. “He might be possessed.”
The phone buzzed again while I shook out my hands. I told myself not to look…and looked anyway.
Ivy
Client just asked if I could give him “a Tom Brady.” I told him that style requires a ridiculous jawline, a twelve-step skincare regimen, and a ring collection.
Ivy
He asked if we carried rings.
This one pulled a low chuckle straight out of me. Brady heard it and looked offended on principle as he wiped down the bench. “What are we laughing at? Is it me? It’s me, isn’t it?”
“Always is,” Raiden joked, sliding plates onto a trap bar. “But seriously, the dude smiled twice today. I concur. Must’ve gotten laid.”
Sylas didn’t even look up when he drawled, “How would you know? Last time you had a woman around you, skinny jeans were still socially acceptable. I’m starting to wonder if your virginity grew back like a lizard tail.”
Raiden scowled. “Remind me to truck you in nine-on-seven.”
“Please do,” Sylas replied. “I like it when my cardio happens by accident.”
Micah snorted, then motioned toward the sled. “Powell. You pushing or posing?”
I shot him a glare that could strip paint, set my phone face down, and got behind the slanted handles.
The rest of the workout was just as brutal as the beginning, but it was also invigorating and distracted me from thoughts of Ivy. Not completely, but it helped.
The phone lit again just as I returned a weight to the stand after my last rep. Sweat was dripping from my temples and running in a line down between my shoulder blades, soaking the band of my shirt. I wiped my head, then my palm, on a towel before I picked it up.
Ivy
Lorna says thanks again for lunch the other day. Also, she found my secret stash holding your salted caramel interest over me like blackmail. She keeps humming the Willy Wonka song. I may have to quit.
Me
I can bribe her with brownies next time. Consider your contraband safe.
The heat in my chest moved lower. I saw her smile in my head, imagining it when she read my reply—the way it started in her mouth and finally reached her eyes when she couldn’t hold the reserve anymore. My body reacted like it always did when I let myself go there, a hard line of want. It took a lot of effort to put a leash on it because this wasn’t the time or the place. I stuffed the phone under the strap on my bag and went back to cleaning up.
Once we finished setting everything right, we hit the locker room to shower and change. It hummed with bad jokes and steam that fogged mirrors even though the fans were doing their best to clear the air.
Metal lockers slammed. Tape ripped. Water hammered tile. This was the soundtrack of my life. Or it was before I met Ivy. Now, I couldn’t wait for the sound of her voice to wrap around me.
I toweled off, pulled on a black tee that stuck to my damp shoulders, and scraped my hair back with my fingers until it settled where it belonged.
Another buzz. Anticipation lifted one corner of my lips as I eagerly unlocked the screen. One line this time. But it pushed a bark of laughter out of my mouth, stunning everyone who heard it.
Ivy
Reminder, you promised not to glare at innocent men today. I have witnesses.
I felt my mouth curve even more. It was a good sign when a woman knew your bad habits and teased you about them like she owned the right. I typed back, leaned against the cool locker, and tuned out the noise in the room.
Me
First, I don’t remember making that promise. It doesn’t sound like me. Also…
Me
