Page 2 of 3rd and 4 (Season of Change #3)

“Jesus.” I mumble, watching this new girl school everyone on how it’s done.

She’s talented. Like Simone Biles-Olympic talented.

Instead of sporting a patriotic leotard during a floor routine, she’s wearing tight shorts, a sports bra, her hair in a messy bun, sweat glistening on her lightly tanned skin… and she’s absolutely stunning.

And strong. The lines of her body are distracting.

She’s lean, athletic, and powerful. Not overly muscular, still quite feminine, her thighs hint at the strength she possesses.

I gulp at the thought of those muscular thighs wrapped around my head…

she could crush me like a watermelon. Why is that so hot?

She finishes and collectively, we stare in stunned silence. I clap my hands together and that seems to be the signal, as most everyone yells and claps their enthusiastic approval. What can I say? We are cheerleaders.

Though, as Mic-Man, I practice with them, I’m often doing my own thing or working in tandem with my best friend Tyrone.

He’s the school mascot and a damn fine one at that.

We’ve been friends since my freshman year, after his accident.

We just clicked and it worked out well since our positions with the team require us to work together often.

Plus, his brother Lyndell is fucking awesome.

Jenna starts practice and it’s grueling, especially for the first day of camp. We’re all sweaty and tired and sore by the time she calls it for the day. I’m toweling off, and guzzling water from my bottle when I catch sight of the new girl.

I smile when Eva Dups latches onto Daya again.

Eva’s good people. Something in their interaction has Daya smiling and I’m mesmerized by her wide, expressive mouth.

More than just how it would look stretched around my cock, it’s the way it tips up into a brilliant smile.

How her eyes crinkle with the movement. How it lights up her entire face. She’s difficult to ignore.

Movement to the side catches my attention, and I begrudgingly scan the crowd.

My gaze snatches on Shaye, Lindsay, and Jillian.

They are openly glaring at Daya as Eva leads her around, introducing her to everyone on the squad.

The three of them put their heads together and my stomach cramps knowing they are going to be trouble.

Jenna is an excellent coach, but she’s singled out Daya and put a target on her back.

The cheer squad is much like a family, complete with dysfunction and dissent.

“And this is our Mic-Man, Elijah Addelsbach.” Eva drags Daya in front of me.

She looks up at me with dark guileless eyes.

Our eyes hold for a moment, before Eva clears her throat with a chuckle.

I blink twice, cross my eyes and stick my tongue out at Eva.

“Daya Moul,” Eva continues. “My new bestie.”

“What if I want her to be my bestie?” I argue for fun. Daya’s throat works as she swallows, her eyes darting between Eva and me.

“I saw her first!” Hands on her hips, Eva pouts. “And Ty would be mad he was replaced.”

“Ty ain’t my best friend.” Eva’s brows dip in confusion. “I’m using him to get close to Lyndell.”

Daya’s eyes widen, and her mouth forms an adorable little “o”.

She shakes it off quickly. “You’re gay.” She isn’t asking, she says it like she’s solved a puzzle.

Eva nearly chokes on her tongue, she’s laughing so hard she bends in half, hands on her thighs for support.

I push her shoulder hard enough to topple her to the ground, where she rolls around, cackling like a hyena.

“I’m not.” I respond, my entire focus on Daya.

“Ty is my best friend, and Lyndell is his older brother. He’s the towel boy for the team, Ty’s the mascot.

” She’s still staring at me, a little crease between her brows.

“Lyn is intellectually disabled, though very handsome. He’s definitely the better looking Wicawiil brother.

” I pause for a breath and start laughing at myself.

“That didn’t make me sound less gay, did it?

” Daya’s head tips back slightly while she laughs.

It’s a beautiful sound, even if it’s at my expense.

“You’re just secure in your own sexuality and appreciate beauty, regardless of the vessel.”

“That was…yeah. That was well said.”

Her smile grows, her teeth straight and white.

“Thank you. I scored well on the English portion of the ACT.” We stare at one another again, goofy smiles on our faces.

I’m in no rush and neither is she. Eva has apparently moved on to something else, because I don’t hear her hyena laugh, although right now I can’t hear or see much of anything beyond Daya.

Jenna blows her whistle. A foot away from me.

I heard that . I turn my head slowly to glare at her and she grins unrepentantly.

“Hit the showers, pack up…and get out! I’ll see you bright and early tomorrow morning!

” Jenna looks at Daya. “You did great today. Picked it up quickly. Study the handouts I gave you and let me know if anything is too ambitious for you.”

Daya nods, her expression serious. “Yes, ma’am. Thank you.”

“Have a good night, Daya.” Jenna looks at me.

“Can I have a word, Addy?” I nod. It’s not uncommon for Jenna and I to chat about routines and techniques, and the last couple of years she’s asked my opinion on the freshmen and pairings.

But I don’t think this has anything to do with normal business.

Her smile is tight, eyes narrowed. She’s pissed.

“It was a pleasure to meet you, Daya.” I tell her with a smirk.

“I look forward to working with you this season.” Her cheeks flush, she waves and heads off to her bag.

Eva sidles up next to her and the two talk.

I glance behind me a few times, not wanting to lose sight of Daya, but I follow Jenna to her office inside the athletic complex.

I close the door behind me, and plop down in the seat in front of her desk. She sits behind it, a heavy sigh escaping as she leans back, her eyes closed. “I fucked up.”

“Yes.” I don’t sugarcoat a thing. “To be clear, though, are you talking about parading Daya in front of the natives and putting her on the radar of some…unsavory members of our team?”

Jenna’s head falls forward with a scowl.

“Well, I was. But now I’m thinking my first fuck up was encouraging you to always speak freely with me.

” I bark a laugh, sit back in my own seat, and rest my right ankle on my left knee and stare at her unimpressed.

“Shit.” She bangs her head off her desk.

“She’s unbelievably talented. In fact, talented isn’t even the right word for her.

I understand her reasoning for passing on Olympic training, but her skill is wasted here.

However, I’m selfish enough not to care too much, because it gave me the opportunity to snatch her up. ”

“You’re bordering on creepy.”

Jenna laughs. “I wasn’t the one watching her every move like a stalker.

” I shrug, because that’s fair. I was watching, I couldn’t look away from Daya.

Not just when she was on the field, but right in front of me.

“To be fair, she was watching you with the same intensity.” I perk up at that, glad that I wasn’t imagining the connection I felt.

“Down boy.” I shake my head with a grin.

“Do not have… intimate relations in a school facility.” My lips turn down and I open my mouth to argue but she holds up a hand to stop me.

“I know you aren’t the type to do that. But I have to say it. ”

“I would never, NEVER disrespect the woman I was with, you, or the university like that.”

“I know. I’m sorry. Please keep an eye on her. I know you are going to anyway but just watch out for her. I don’t trust some of the girls on the squad…”

“Shaye. Lindsay. Jillian.” I lean forward, placing my arms on the desk.

“They’re going to be out for blood. Shaye has been talking about being a featured performer since Gabby’s last game.

” Gabby was the unofficial featured performer last season.

A few games, she and I would team up for something fun.

“I know.” Jenna grimaces. “I don’t know where she got the idea from that she would be selected. I’ve been watching Daya for a couple of years now. I tested the position out with Gabby, but Daya was always who I envisioned in that role.”

“Who knows? Shaye is delusional about a great many things.” She believes she is God’s gift to men.

She tries to hook up with all the guys on the squad, myself included, but she pushes herself on the athletes with the potential for profitable futures, especially the football team.

Granted, several have taken her up on the offer, but never for more than a night or two.

And one night with her would be a year too many for me.

Ty, Pribula, Gill, Schultz, and Hayes haven’t either.

I don’t know about anyone else, but my close friends wouldn’t touch her if she was the last woman on earth.

She’s the type to poke a hole in your condom and trap you.

She’s made it clear she’s at college to find a husband to take care of her, by any means necessary.

Jenna shuffles things around on her desk and hands me a binder when she finds it.

“Here’s what I have in mind for you and Daya.

Look it over tonight and we’ll talk tomorrow about any questions or concerns you have.

” I grin at the binder, not opening it just yet.

Remembering the few things Gabby and I did during the games last season, my blood sings in my veins at the potential for Daya and I, knowing her skill level.

“Thank you.” And I mean it. I’m honored that I was chosen as the Mic-Man three years ago.

It’s a big role during the games. I have worked hard not to give Jenna or anyone else a reason to regret their choice.

I would be lying if I said the thought of my hands on Daya’s fit little body isn’t a hell of a reward for all my hard work and dedication.

“Get out of here. You stink. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

I’m out of my seat in a second, and out the door. Rushing back outside, I’m disappointed that everyone has cleared out already. I was hoping to talk to Daya or walk her home. I grab my gear, and head to my apartment.

I have a feeling this season is going to be one to remember. And if I have my way, Daya and I will be enjoying it together.