Page 13 of Crazy for the Coaches

Steve was wiping his face with a napkin.

“But also the shaved head,” she said, rubbing over my scalp.

I was hard as a rock. The scent and taste of her when I had my turn would be burned into my memory forever.

Steve pulled off the wrist restraints and helped her up so she could stretch.

She turned and pushed us each down on the couch with a hand on our chests.

“Now it’s your turn.”

Steve and I looked at each other as we heard her light snore much later that night, and grinned.

“Let’s trade off beds for now. And hopefully she’ll move in here soon, too.” Steve gently picked her up. I got her legs, and we carefully moved her to Steve’s room for the night.

Chapter Seven

Mandy

I still felt a slight soreness when walking to the stadium from the parking lot the next morning. I’d run home to get more clothes, though I’d showered first with Aaron, then Steve.

It would be so easy if I lived with them, the voice in my head said. I knew it was true, but it was so soon. What if it didn’t work out with us then?

I had two weeks before I had to be out of my condo.

“Hey, girl,” Chantelle, one of the marketing team, was walking in with three players.

“Hello yourself.”

“Catch you guys later,” she called, blowing them a kiss as they headed to the workout area.

I wanted to ask. Badly.

I was even more surprised by the question she asked me. “So, Martin and Joyce tried to get you to move in, too?”

The meeting was owners, and business staff. The players and coaches were doing some final assessments of the team, trying to see if we had a strong starting lineup.

“I just have a few items of business,” Martin said when it was his turn. “We have a lot of the positions for concessions and security filled, but we are having them sign the same morality clause we all signed. Some staff are in unconventional relationships. I feel that goes against the morality clause. I could fire anyone in relationships other than as a couple from staff, or the team, or the coaching staff.”

There was silence for a moment. How did he know? Then I realized several staff were looking around nervously. Obviously, Chantelle and I were not the only ones in unconventional relationships. Who would he target next? LGTBQ players? Interracial? This was not happening.

“Give me a break, Martin. That’s no one’s business,” Margot, the head of HR, said. “The clause specifically targets drugs and treatment of children and animals. We don’t want players doing ad campaigns with products like alcohol or vapes.”

He snorted. “Like any of these guys will be that famous.”

“Ed Sanchez has already had an offer to do a social media campaign for an area craft beer,” one of the PR staff said.

I was fuming. Why be the owner of the team if you didn’t think the players could become famous?

“I think we need a vote on this,” Eli said. “I vote no to firing people over their relationships. Marianne?” He asked the owner next to him. They all voted no except Martin and Joyce.

“This is ridiculous. I’m an owner.” Martin’s face was getting red.

“Maybe you shouldn’t be,” Eli said.

I was never prouder of my brother.

“Eli.” I gave him a hug as soon as we left the room. Martin and Joyce had left in a huff. “I’m so proud of you.”

---