Chapter 7
7
Bishop
The sun barely peaks above the horizon as I step out of my truck and walk over to the practice facility where I’m set to meet my team in twenty minutes.
Classes started two days ago and being the nice and awesome coach that I am, I gave them all off in order to get their schedules sorted. But break is over and it’s time for them to get their asses back to practice and workouts.
I walk through the facility that is so quiet that the squeak of my sneakers sounds like an amplifier is attached to it. I drop my bag and coffee on my desk and walk over to the window to flip open the blinds that lookout into the hallway leading to the team clubhouse.
We’re six months away from the start of baseball season but my guys know that workout days never end, and all of my returning players are always up and in the gym early and without complaints.
I pull out my laptop and fire it up, waiting for it to spark to life, so I can check my emails and any other notifications I’ve received since last night. My screen lights up just as I hear the loud clunk of a door shutting, letting me know that the first guys are making their way in .
I watch as they pass by the window and suddenly my captains are in my doorway.
“Hey coach,” my third baseman says, while my shortstop says, “What up, big man?”
I smile at their very different greetings. “Good morning. Y’all have a good first couple of days of classes?”
“Eh. You know. The usual. Syllabus handout, contact and office hours, and then spend the rest of the time checking out the new girls.”
“This asshole lucked out and ended up in a class with a bunch of hot freshmen. I don’t know how he managed that one.” My shortstop slaps the third baseman in the stomach hard enough that he makes a painful sound.
“I’m taking creative writing. It just so happens that it’s a popular class with the ladies.” He shrugs and I shake my head, thinking back to my college days and how I judged classes based on popularity amongst the women.
“Don’t forget to be respectful to the ladies. I’d hate to bench your ass for being a douche. Now go get ready. You two are leading the workout.”
They give me a “yes sir” then head off to their lockers to drop their bags and get ready to greet the rest of the team. The guys begin filtering in minutes later, and before too long, the locker room is bursting with players. The voices get lost in the many conversations that are being had.
I walk in, edging closer to my team captains, and hear one of them say, “Fuck dude. She was so hot. Small little shorts that barely covered that apple bottom. Her tits,” he rolls his eyes and bites his fist. “She had on this little purple shirt and I just wanted to bury my face in them.”
“Did you get her name?” another asks.
“It was kind of hard to hear with people talking but I think it’s like Inez or Anez. It won’t be hard to find her because she’s the hottest damn thing on campus. Just look for a little waist, light brown skin and a shit ton of curly black hair.”
My body tenses because I swear that sounds just like Anais. Perfect body, all that damn hair, the similarity in name. I feel my blood start to boil thinking of any of these assholes with their hands on her. I may not be able to have her, but I’ll be damned if I let one of them take her.
“Why are you still gossiping like old women? Get your asses in that gym before you’re running laps.” My voice booms through the locker room and the team falls silent.
I don’t normally yell at my team unless we’re in game time or their behavior calls for it, but my gut tells me they were definitely talking about Anais and it pisses me off. More than it should.
I tell myself it’s because I’m looking out for my best friend’s niece, but I know it’s bullshit.
The guys still mull around slightly so I yell, “Go! Now!”
They jump at my bark and quickly file out to walk down to the weight room, and I spend my morning with a scowl on my face and a guilty conscience on my shoulder.
I rub the bridge of my nose and close my eyes. The headache that started to build during this morning's workout now feels like a jackhammer pounding into my temples.
I look at the time and see it strike eleven-forty and decide it’s a good time to take a break.
Just then, a tap sounds at my door and I look up to find my conditioning coach standing there.
“You busy?” He asks.
“Nah man. I was just about to head over to the main campus and grab some grub. What’s up? Did you need something? ”
I stand up from my desk and pocket my phone.
“Actually I was coming to see if you wanted to go grab a burger. Why’re you headed to campus? Got a meeting or something?”
I flip the lights off and close my door behind me, locking it up and double checking the knob.
“No. Nix’s niece is a student here and he’s asked me to keep an eye on her.” We reach the doors and push them open, exposing ourselves to what feels like a furnace blowing hot air on our faces. “Shit it’s hot.”
“Balls hot, man.” He adjusts his hat, pulling it further down to block the sun. “So West has you on babysitting duty?”
I press my key fob and the lights in my truck blink. “He’s real protective of her and just wants to know she’s fitting in well.”
The drive to the main campus is a short one, but we circle the lot for parking, finally finding one after several minutes.
We walk to the dining hall and each go to a separate line, picking a table to meet at once we have our food.
I step up to the salad bar and begin piling my plate with veggies. In my peripheral I see a group of girls step up and start doing the same.
“Oh my gah! Did you see that one with the backwards cap? He was seriously yummy.”
“I did. I also noticed that he couldn’t take his eyes off Ana.”
“Um, none of them could take their eyes off of her. I mean, look,” one says and I slowly and slyly turn my head to look over my shoulder.
In the distance I see Anais walking with the girl who I think is her roommate coming towards us. She smiles and laughs at something her friend says, her eyes closed and head thrown back. Her hair tumbles down her back and the ends brush across the top of her round ass.
I squeeze my eyes shut, trying to wash away the thoughts I just had, but they still remain when I open them.
“Hey Bishop,” a silky voice calls.
I look over and see Anais standing right next to me along with the group of girls who were talking about her just moments ago .
“Hello Ms. De La Cruz, and it’s Coach Michaels,” I reply with a voice that feels like it’s being squeezed out of me. “In between classes?” I ask.
She bites her bottom lip and nods. “Yeah. Keyara and I told the girls we’d meet them here for lunch before heading off to our next class.” She motions to the girls beside her and I glance at them.
They all stand silent but with smiles that speak a thousand words.
“How are your classes going? Everything okay so far?”
“They’re okay. I do have one class I’m hoping I can switch, but I haven’t been able to make an appointment with my advisor yet,” she answers and hefts her backpack up on her shoulder.
“Just send your advisor an email with ‘schedule change request urgent’ in the subject line. They put priority on schedule changes so you’ll hear back from them pretty quickly,” I explain.
“Really? Oh awesome. Thank you. I’ll do that right away. I, uh, I was wondering if I can catch a ride with you to the game tomorrow night?”
My immediate reaction is to tell her I can give her more than a ride to just the game, but I clench my jaw and swallow back my words.
“Of course. I can text you when I’m on my way over.”
“Keyara and I were going to go, um, shopping after our last class. Do you mind if I just go to your place when I’m done?” Her fingers reach up and twist a lock of hair, and it takes everything in me not to reach out and do the same.
“Uh, sure. That’s fine. Just send me a text when you’re on your way.”
“Great. Thanks, Bish-I mean Coach Michaels. See you tomorrow,” she says, and pops up on her toes and throws her arms around my neck.
My body stiffens, tongs in one hand and salad plate in the other, and I quickly look around to see if there are any staff members watching. Luckily, only the group of girls watches us with undivided rapt attention.
I close my eyes for only a moment to allow the smell of her perfume to soak in. Green apples, fresh linen, and a field of wildflowers. That’s what she smells like. And I’ve never smelled anything sweeter or more forbidden.
She releases me and I breathe a sigh of relief. A few more seconds and I was going to throw this damn plate against the wall and wrap my arms around her body and never let go.
She walks away with a smile and a wiggle of her fingers and I try not to watch her go but my eyes follow her on their own accord.
“Please tell me that is not West’s niece,” a voice says.
I look over and see my conditioning coach standing there, his eyes glued to Anais’ ass. Just like the rest of the male population in the cafeteria.
“It is. Why?”
He shakes his head with a slow exaggeration and says, “Shit. West is going to have a problem keeping that one out of the hands of these slimy college boys. He should lock her up and make her take online courses.”
His eyes don’t move as he continues to watch her as she moves about the room. I smack his chest, snapping him out of his inappropriate gawking.
“Cut it out. You’re acting just like those slimy guys you’re talking about.”
He straightens his shoulders. “Sorry man. Just…anyway. Ready?”
“Yeah. Let’s eat.” I follow him to the table but my eyes belong to those of a horny college boy because they can’t help but seek her out.
I find her staring right back at me, a shy smile on her face, and I hurriedly look away and tell myself that maybe keeping her locked up would be a good idea.
For her sake and mine. Not to mention my sanity.