Page 9 of Go Deep (A Bad Boy Sports Romance)
4
Cassidy
Still reelingover the business project partner nightmare from this morning, I showed up at practice and dropped off my backpack on the bleachers to join the other cheerleaders on the sideline at the practice field. Miranda was already there, doing her stretches in her all-black leotards and her bright pink hair up in a cute ponytail. As usual, some of the others gave her that familiar sideways glance that said they were confused with her fashion choices. They were used to short shorts, micro mini-skirts, and any top revealing enough to get the star players’ informal nod of approval.
I shook my head and walked over to her. Like me, cheerleading was in our comfort zone, a remnant leftover from her high school days. I’m not sure why she didn’t stop, but the other girls on the team just didn’t see her the same way after her interest in the occult and mythology darkened her wardrobe.
“How were your classes?” I asked, starting my stretches.
“The usual. How about yours?”
I breathed out a frustrated sigh, which came out sounding like a grunt. “If I start talking about it now I think I’ll end up decking Slade.” As I looked up, I noticed Sarah, a second year cheerleader, practically giving Miranda the evil eye. This was going overboard now. I stopped what I was doing and walked over to confront her. I admit that perhaps it was a distraction so I wouldn’t have to think about working all semester long with Slade.
“What’s that look for, Sarah?” I asked when I got to her side.
“Your friend,” she answered, barely holding back her laughter.
“What about her?”
“She sticks out like a sore thumb down here.” The girl had a high-pitched whiny voice that carried. Dammit, Miranda heard and stepped up to the girl.
“Hey, this is the only time I get to feel like a normal human being. You and everyone else on this team should all be pleased with that and stop giving me shit.”
Sarah seemed like she would say something, but thought against it. Miranda had a way with words, and if this had turned into an argument, she’d probably have Sarah crying in all of three minutes. My only worry was about how long the team’s coach would allow Miranda to keep her hair dyed pink. She already had to take out her eyebrow ring when we were at games.
I noticed everyone seemed to get distracted all of a sudden as the football team came out onto the field for practice. I rolled my eyes and groaned. Slade was strutting in with his squad, probably feeling like a boss for screwing with my chances of enjoying what was left of my time as a student.
“What’s wrong now?” Miranda asked, taking her eyes off the boys on the field for a moment.
“Nothing.”
“Bullshit.”
I wasn’t a good liar. I knew this, but I still tried from time to time, whenever I didn’t want to share with the entire team.
“What’s up?” she insisted.
“Slade.”
“Mmmm, I’d like to gethimup.”
“Gross, Miranda.”
“What? He’s hot. Look at that body,” she said. “Have you seen the way he moves on the field? I can only imagine how he moves in bed.”
I rolled my eyes in disgust. “Oh my God, Miranda. They all have great bodies. They’re football players.” Not wanting to stand there with my jaw dropped open like the other cheerleaders, I went over to the sit on the bleachers while everyone stood and stared. You’d think these ladies would be used to this deal by now. Both the team captain and athletic coach were late or MIA for some reason, so I made myself useful by flipping through my social media pages while we waited for practice to start.
“So, what’s your problem with Slade?” Miranda asked me. She sat down next to me, her grey eyes still glued to the boys from our spot in the bleachers.
“You know, Miranda. He’s a dick who won’t accept no for an answer.”
“So? You’re a cheerleader, Cassidy. That’s pretty much every guy on that field, right?”
I nodded. “Yeah, I guess, but I’ve known Slade all my life. He should know better.”
“That doesn’t sound like the real problem, hun. Tell me. What’s bothering you? Something had to have happened after you two left the Café this morning. Spill.”
“Professor Taylor happened, that’s what.”
