the other coaches call an end to the practice, and the two dozen or so girls on the blue mat disperse. Kay makes her way to a cluster of duffle bags on the blue camouflage pathway surrounding the spring flooring, pulls out what looks like an instant ice pack from one, and sends it sailing through the air at Tessa. We’re too far away to make out what’s being said, but the wild arm movements from both of them tell me it’s not the calmest of conversations.
“What’s with the sibling rivalry?” I point to where Kay is now reaching up to hold the cold pack to one of Tessa’s shoulders.
“Tess took a nasty hit from one of her flyers falling on her when they were tweaking the pyramid sequence earlier. Kay wanted her to step out to see the trainer, but all T did was point to Kay’s shirt and get in place to go again.”
My lips twitch and I swipe open my phone to see the pic Kay sent earlier of her in a black racerback tank. In the same graffiti-style writing I’ve noticed NJA uses on a lot of their clothing are the words Sweat dries. Blood clots. Bones heal. She said it was a nod to her own recently healed injury, but the part that was the pure Kay sass I’ve come to know and love is the words scrawled in silver glitter underneath: Suck it up, Princess.
It doesn’t surprise me that the tiny Taylor found a way to use her sister’s wardrobe against her. I’ll have to keep that in mind for myself.
“Do you cheer for one of the other teams?” I ask Savvy, figuring that’s why she’s here and hanging around until her best friend gets done with her practice.
“No.” How she’s able to make me feel like I should have known the answer to my question before asking it I’ll never know. Women.
“Bitchy!” The three of us look up when Tessa calls out for her bestie, but she’s looking down at her phone while she walks our way. “I’m gonna need to crash for a few before ton—” Tessa stops walking, her words halting with her steps as her head tilts to the side upon spotting Trav and me. “Mase?”
“Hey, Tiny Taylor.”
Her lips twitch at the nickname I’ve started using for her. “What brings you boys to our home away from home?” Tessa circles her arms wide to encompass the gym.
“I’d imagine the same reason I’m here,” Savvy says dryly.
“You wanna bang Short Stack too?” Trav perks up like an overeager puppy. “Hot!”
I cuff him in the back of the head. There are days I question my sanity based on my choice of best friend.
“Sorry to ruin your girl-on-girl fantasy, Mr. Quarterback.” Savvy stretches an arm in front of me to pat Trav on the hand. “They may call Kay ‘Little D’, but she’s not the type of D I go for.”
Tessa snorts and falls into a seat with a plop. “Savvy comes to practice any time she stays over.”
“I’m like the freaking NJA mascot,” Savvy mutters under her breath.
The last thing I would have ever expected is to be entertained by hanging out with a couple of high school juniors, but these two are not your typical breed.
The next few hours fly by while we watch the Admirals. It’s impossible for me to take my eyes off Kay as she puts her athletes through the paces, her voice strong enough to carry up to us as she calls out the count for the pyramid sequence they’re practicing. I can’t get over what a commanding presence she is when she’s coaching. When I was with her while she helped JT and his partner Rei put together their partner stunt routine for the collegiate nationals, I was impressed, but being here? In her house, it’s like it’s magnified. It makes my dick hard.
Or could it be the way her ass looks in those leggings?
Gotta say, the inner coach might be onto something with that one, because even from this bird’s-eye view I have going on, it looks spankable.
“Come on.” Tessa stands as the members of the Admirals start to scatter. Savvy loops her arm through Tessa’s while Trav and I pull up the rear.
Down the stairs and around a corner, we follow as Tessa scans a keycard and walks through the blue door leading into the gym. I didn’t think we were allowed on the gym floor, but I guess it doesn’t matter if we’re