“Always! Isn’t the autism facility gorgeous? I heard Nico Merryweather is funding it.”
“I heard that too,” I add with a nod. “It’s a great building. They need volunteers, from what Kayla was saying. I offered to play music for them.”
“Oh, Evan! I love that idea,” she gushes.
“Yeah, we’ll see if it works out,” I say, and then I laugh. “I had a weird encounter.”
She raises a brow. “Encounter?”
“Yeah,” I say, laughing again. “I pushed the front door open at the same time this girl was pulling it open, and we ran right into each other. I apologized, of course. But then she wouldn’t say anything, just kept repeating what I said. It was weird, and then—” I snort with laughter at this point. “She turns around, goes in, and face-plants on the floor. It was hilarious, but I felt bad because I had to go and I couldn’t go in and help, not that I think she wanted me to.”
Her laughter makes her belly jiggle, almost knocking the bowl off her stomach. “Aw, if you find her and she knows how to speak, that can be y’all’s little meet-cute!”
I furrow my brow. “Meet-cute?”
“Yeah! Like when you meet someone and fall in love.”
“What the hell? That’s crazy!”
“Just saying, how cute.”
“It was weird and silly,” I say, still laughing.
“Obviously you liked it. You can’t stop grinning.”
I press my lips together. “Whatever.”
She laughs. “Hey, it’s better than Aiden’s and mine. I slept with him with an Elsa wig on, and he didn’t even know he grew up with me.”
“Wow, what a start to a beautiful love story.”
“I think so,” she laughs, and I laugh along with her as I check my watch.
“I gotta go.”
“Okay, have fun!”
“Thanks. Love you.”
She tells me she loves me too, and I hang up. Once I gather my things, I head out. I have to make sure no one is doing anything stupid as I go, and thankfully, they’re not. I’m unsure if I just have a great group of guys or if they’re waiting to ruin my life later. The jury is still out on these dudes. One thing is for sure, they respect me, which is all I can ask. As I walk out of the house, I can’t stop thinking about that girl I ran into and our “meet-cute,” as Shelli called it. Stupidest thing I’ve ever heard, but man, that girl was pretty. Really fascinating green eyes. Something about her made me feel as if I’d met her before.
But surely I would remember someone like her.
As I make my way to the gym, I take in the beauty of the Bellevue campus. It reminds me a lot of South Carolina, especially downtown, where the arena was. It makes me miss it a bit, and then I miss Owen. It’s hard being away from him, but as I told my therapist, I am excited for all these new opportunities. I’m actually considering changing my major to something that will help kids mentally in sports. It can be so hard if you don’t have the right tools, and I don’t want anyone else to fail like I have. Maybe I can help.
I’m not sure yet. Still thinking it over.
When I reach the gym, I’m greeted by the coach, Jason Ottera. He’s the new head coach since the previous one retired. He’s a cool dude, but I soon realize I don’t need to dress nice when I come in. Within minutes, I’m helping move mats and I’m fixing equipment. I’m covered with chalk immediately, and my mom is gonna be pissed when I show up needing these pants to be rewashed and ironed. Once the gym is set up, I’m shown my office slash work space. I have a standing desk with a computer and printer combo. It has a table for me to work on the athletes, and I wish I were joking, but there’s a closet full of tape just for wrapping.
Lots of weak ankles is all Coach keeps saying.
I look around a bit before I hear the girls coming in. A little flutter of nervousness fills my stomach at the sound of them. They’re loud and boisterous. Lots of slamming of lockers and then some music starts. When I see Jason coming down the hall toward the gym, I follow him out.
“The girls are great. They’re crazy and loud, but they’re a good group. They’re warming up, but after I introduce you, you’ll have, I think, nine girls to tape.”
Nine? Jesus. “Wow, okay.”
“Yeah, man. Weak fucking ankles,” he says, shaking his head. “But then, no one’s body is meant to do this much banging and slamming, ya know? They beat the shit out of themselves, all for the glory. It’s pretty badass.”
I nod. “For sure.” Though I’d never really thought of it that way. “How did you get into coaching?”
“I come from a family of Olympians. Mom and Dad both won medals in gymnastics. Mom had nothing but boys, and we’re all Olympians. I’m the only one who didn’t medal, though.” He laughs. “I was an alternate, but I figured out I coach better than I compete. I don’t like men’s gymnastics, though. I like women’s for the sheer fact it’s insane what these girls can do. My parents own a gym in Canada, and I coached there for a while before I came to school here. I started where you are, and Coach saw something in me. Here I am.”
“That’s amazing,” I say, holding his gaze. I want to ask so badly how it feels not to have medaled when the rest of his family did, but there is no time.
“Ladies!” he hollers, and all at once, the chatter stops. They turn, and everyone’s eyes are on us.
Okay, I’m not trying to sound like Owen, but they’re all looking at me. I even see some whispering and grins. Great, they may even be putting me in short shorts and me in khakis together in their minds. I’m not going to lie, though; these women are freaking hot. All different sizes and ethnicities. One thing is for sure; they all look like they can whoop Quinn’s ass.
“Good afternoon. Hope everyone had a good day of classes,” he says, crossing his arms over his chest. “This is Evan Adler, and he is our new senior sports therapist. I like this guy. He isn’t a dumbass like the other ones we’ve had. He’s eager to learn and is helpful. The reason the gym is ready for you guys is because he helped me.”
I thought I was supposed to.
“Cool dude, be nice to him, and don’t be all catty and girlie with him. Treat him as a teammate. I know, I know. Listen, I’m not blind. He’s a good-looking dude, so don’t fucking sleep with him. Okay?”
I don’t even know what I choke on, but I start coughing as I look up at him, wide-eyed. He grins at me before hooking his thumb behind him.
“My weak ankle crew, go get taped up. This is the only time you are able to tell him how to do your ankles. Don’t make him redo it over and over again. One-and-done. Get tight! Get it right!”
The girls clap, repeating what he said.
I’m still standing there gawking at him.
That was one hell of a welcome.
eight
Callie
You’ve got to be kidding me.
Beside me, Cameron is holding in her laughter. Let me rephrase. She’s trying to. She is snorting, tears in her eyes, and she is unable to look at me. I called her as soon as I got up from eating the floor at the ACOB and told her what had happened. She found it very comical, but I don’t. I am mortified. Is this God’s way of punishing me for lusting after Evan? Or is this a prayer answered for Nico? Did he pray so hard that I wouldn’t meet anyone that now God has no choice but to ruin every chance I have with a hot guy?