Chapter 40 #2
“I think it was about us getting on the same page,” she said, giggling through my kisses.
“Mhmm. And that’s getting you the other job, dating, then publicly dating, right?” I kissed down her neck and Kodi laughed, finally setting aside her mug.
“Yeah, something like that.” She leaned her head to the side, allowing me to lick up her neck. This was the taste I preferred. Her sweat, her heat, the feel of her pulse under my tongue, that was something I could taste every second of every day.
“Good, I’ll talk to Hansen about it tomorrow.”
“Oh, absolutely not,” she said, pushing me away by the shoulders. “Under no circumstances should you talk to him about the job.”
“Why not?” I pulled back, brow furrowed.
“Because he’ll ask why you’re pushing for it out of the blue and he’ll know I put you up to it.”
“But it wouldn’t be out of the blue. I know I don’t know shit about socials, but you’ve taken my profile from nonexistent to trending multiple times.”
“One of those times was because we became a meme, though,” she said, an eyebrow cocked.
“That’s beside the point. You’re good at what you do. And if he won’t notice it until someone points it out, I’m happy to do that.”
“That’s …” She sighed and ran a hand through her hair. “That’s sweet and I appreciate the acknowledgement. But if he even suspects there’s any funny business going on, then I might as well kiss that job goodbye.”
“I don’t understand. Why’re you so sure Hansen would think there’s something going on?”
“The boys figured it out pretty quick, didn’t they?” she asked, brow raised like she had a point. But the way her teeth caught on her bottom lip made me question it.
“Is there some other reason Hansen doesn’t believe you’re a good fit for this job?”
Kodi let her head fall to my shoulder and huffed, her breath fanning over my chest.
“You know —” She paused to poke a finger into my chest. “I find it weird and unfair that you can read me so well.”
“Duly noted.” I hooked her chin with my fingers and lifted her face up. “What else is going on?”
“You’re not gonna like it,” she said with a sigh, confusing the hell out of me.
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Well, given your attitude with Brooker, I’m guessing you’re the jealous type.”
I thought back to how it felt seeing her in another man’s jersey and nodded. When it came to Kodi, I definitely had jealous tendencies.
“Right, so don’t do that.”
I snorted and made no promises. Kodi noticed and rolled her eyes.
“I … got banned from the stadium five years ago,” she murmured, eyes dropping down.
“Banned?” I repeated, unable to think of a single way Kodi could have caused enough trouble to be banned. Normally, that sort of punishment is for unruly dudes who decide to take a loss personally and throw punches. I couldn’t picture Kodi doing that.
“Yeah, for … public indecency.”
Everything went white and the only sensory input still working was the tug of my shirt as Kodi fiddled with the hem.
“Did you — were you —” I couldn’t form a full sentence, I was too tangled up by all the possibilities.
“Ugh.” She pushed me away and hopped off the counter, grabbing her phone and tapping it a few times before handing it to me. “It’s easier to show you. And a little less embarrassing. A little.”
I took the phone and pressed play on the clip she’d pulled up.
It was dated a little over five years ago and started with Marshall and Lowery bantering in the announcer's booth. It was Marshall’s first time in Destin, fresh off the injury that forced him into retirement.
He was bitter and Lowery poked fun at him before the cameras turned to fans welcoming Marshall to Destin.
I was about to ask why I was watching this when Kodi appeared on screen.
She was with a group of other girls, all screaming excitedly, faces red from sun and drink.
And Kodi was in the center of the group, vibrant, wearing a well-worn Trevino jersey, eyes bright.
I hadn’t had the opportunity to meet this Kodi yet, and knowing that we were getting to a place where I could made my heart warm, a soft comfortable heat.
That warmth twisted to something else when the Kodi on the video lifted her shirt.
I slammed her phone onto the counter, screen side down.
“Hmph, you seemed to like my tits last night,” Kodi huffed, snatching her phone back, lips pouted.
“I do, but …” My hands itched to take the phone back and see the rest of the video, but not sure I could stomach the reactions she got.
“Well, they were painted like soccer balls. If that changes anything.”
“Kodi.” I said her name like I was in pain, though I didn’t know what about the whole situation hurt.
“Yeah, I know. I hate myself for it, too. It’s was an impulsive, stupid —”
I took Kodi by the shoulders and turned her to face me.
She looked up, brow furrowed but eyes glossy.
She’d said something similar before, calling herself unprofessional, and I could see how this small, impulsive act of a drunk college kid haunted her.
How she was fighting this bad impression, how it changed how she acted, why it mattered that Hansen thought she was good for the job on his own and not because of my recommendation.
That’d been how I felt about my performance as a player. That my work, my stats, spoke for me. But Kodi made me see how showing my worth, actively displaying it, engaging with the fans mattered. And all that work was definitely going to pay off if the owners sold like everyone seemed to think.
I wanted to do something similar for Kodi, to help her progress in her career. I wanted that for her more than I wanted to date her openly.
But she was right. If I pushed Hansen to give her the job, it’d draw suspicion.
“Okay, I won’t say anything to Hansen,” I said and Kodi sighed in relief. “But I do have two follow-up questions.”
“Ah, I guess that’s fair. Shoot.” Kodi grabbed her coffee again and pushed up her toes to get on the counter. Without a word, I lifted her up the rest of the way so she didn’t have to hop and risk hurting herself. She gave me a smug little smile as I settled her on the counter.
“Can I talk to some of the guys about the situation? They might have some advice on … your career advancement.”
Kodi hummed into her coffee. “Who’re you thinking? 'Cause while I like Brooker, Fuller, and Sosa as friends and people, I don't think they're the best fit for this kind of conversation.”
Kodi calling my teammates her friends made my heart flutter, especially since she knew them.
One day, I’d come back home from an away game she couldn’t join me on, and I’d be able to tell her everything that went on without explaining who’s who.
That wasn’t something I’ve ever had, nor thought I wanted. But now that I had it … it was good.
“I was thinking Taylor and Christenson. Maybe Carter.”
“Mmm, yeah, those three have good heads on their shoulders. Though I haven’t really gotten to know Christenson yet.”
“Yeah, he’s …” I trailed off, thinking about the last time I’d talked to Christenson outside of practice and struggled to remember any conversation beyond checking in about Kodi.
Normally, Christenson was a talker, not in an annoying way, but in that he liked to check in with everyone on the team.
First and second-string. As captain, he took it upon himself to know the team better than anyone else.
A job I’d normally describe as the coach’s.
But Boyd was more of a hands-off coach and that was even more true now that there were rumors of the team being sold.
And as Boyd became more absent, Christenson stepped up. “He’s been busy with team stuff.”
“Busy, huh?” She set her now-empty coffee cup aside, congealed sugar coating the bottom. “Our thing aside, if the team does sell and they get a new coach, are you confident that someone new would keep you on the team?”
I rested my ass on the kitchen island opposite her and shrugged.
“I have a good record, a new owner with a new coach is unlikely to risk trading me for somebody else on top of all the other changes happening.” Kodi hummed, not wholly convinced, and to be honest, I wasn’t either.
Having a solid track record would only get me so far in today’s landscape.
So to set her mind at ease and to solidify something I’ve only thought about, I added, “In the past, I didn’t care much about who I played for, just that I got to play.
With that logic, I thought all that mattered was that I played well.
I didn’t care what team I was on. But I do now.
I wanna stay with the Dastards. With you. ”
Kodi slid off the counter again and pulled at the string of my shorts until our bodies pressed together. “I take back what I said about you liking me more being a possible problem. It turns out I like being adored.”
Her hands looped behind my neck and she kissed me slowly, like she was saying thank you for liking her so much. And while the kiss started sweetly, it quickly heated as her hands went around my waist, slipping under my shorts to squeeze my ass.
“Before I try and convince you to have me for breakfast —”
“No convincing needed.” My mouth was already watering at the thought of tasting her again.
“Good to know,” she said with a giggle. “But what was the other question?”
I tipped my head back and groaned, debating if I wanted the answer or to pretend I forgot to get Kodi in bed quicker.
Unfortunately, curiosity won out.
“Have any of the guys seen that video?”
Kodi threw her head back and laughed, cackled even. I would’ve found it endearing if the situation was any different.
“Kodi,” I groaned, shaking her a little when her laughter went on too long. “You’re being mean.”
“Sorry, it’s just — it really wasn’t hot looking back at it,” she said through laughs. “Like, sure, they were a bit perkier than they are now, but with the paint, you couldn’t see anything good. It was such a stupid idea.”
“That doesn’t answer my question, baby.” I picked her up and her legs instantly wrapped around my waist like it was a habit.
“Hmmm, I don’t think anyone’s been on the team for that long.” She leaned in to kiss my cheek, then trailed her lips over to nip at my ear. “But are you willing to ask around to confirm that?”
I raised an eyebrow at her and Kodi giggled, eyes sparkling as she dared me to argue with her.
I decided not to. I was done talking. It was time for breakfast in bed.