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He pats my back, laughing.
“Don’t kill our physio, Montgomery,” Jackson calls out.
“I’m fine!” I hold up my hand, not wanting anyone to ask what we were talking about. Sitting back, I shoot Levi a pathetic attempt at a glare.
“Be careful. Someone might think you actually like me.”
He leans back against the headrest and closes his eyes. “No chance.”
I smile at the same time as he does, then follow suit and lean my head back, closing my eyes.
That’s when I feel his leg press against mine, and his hand brushes my arm. I swear I can feel his heartbeat, and it’s got the same rhythm as mine.
My body sizzles, craving more of his touch.
I don’t think I’m alone.
I think Levi craves me, too.
––––––––
THE WHISTLE BLOWS and the players burst into action in the second half of the game against the Tigers. In one snap the ball is passed to Levi, who the coach put on the field again.
I clap way too much, and Natalie shoots me a look.
“He’s a friend. What can I say? I’m happy for him,” I say, playing it off as nothing despite really wanting him to fuck my brains out.
After sitting next to him on the bus, like a crazy teenage girl, I checked into my hotel room and had to go have a cold shower.
And relieve my ache.
Sliding my fingers through my swollen flesh, I moaned out his name. God. I need him so much it hurts.
It took about two minutes before a full body orgasm ripped through me.
Right now, I force my eyes to stay off the ball and do my job. That’s Sports Therapy 101. Watch the players, not the game. Especially the knees and ankles of the offensive line.
The job is not as glamorous as people would think, we spend less time hands on when there’s an injury and more time asking “what’s the score” or “what’s your kid's name” to ascertain if there’s a head injury.
That’s priority.
Of course, I’m only a few months into the job and still think it’s amazing, but I’m craving some good table time with some players.
Not for creepy reasons.
Although let’s just say it’s not a bad part of the job.
“Just remember, when it’s a live game finding out if they are conscious and determining whether they can keep playing safely is the main focus. Assess if doing so will be a detriment to the team in the short and long term.” Natalie had told the physio team before game one.
It's just her and me this weekend.
She heads off to treat Kemal, who comes off after hurting his ankle, and I dart my eyes away from Levi.
They almost score, and the ball is stopped on the fifty-yard line by the Tigers.
The crowd roars.
I watch Levi talk into his helmet mic and nearby the coaches regroup, and there’s a mix of discussions and banter around me.