Page 27

Chapter 27

Good Cop Bad Cop

Robyn

A few days later, I’m sitting in the locker room before practice, smiling at my phone like an idiot. Dell’s flirtatious texts have been a welcome distraction from overthinking about seeing Isaiah again today.

Dell: Come kiss me again

Robyn: You certainly made my workout yesterday worth it biting lip emoji

And girl, did he. After our morning session yesterday, we were so worked up from keeping it professional that as soon as my time was up, he had me pinned to the floor with my hands above my head and was kissing me senseless. It only lasted a couple minutes because he had another client coming, but I’ve been living off that and Friday night’s memory like it’s my only energy source.

“What’s happening?” I asked after Isaiah left my place with his tail between his legs.

The couch dipped as Dell laid down by my side and kissed me. “I’m showing him how hard it’s going to be if he loses you for good. He’s in love with you, Robyn, and don’t tell me he isn’t. I’m gonna make him step up.”

“What about you? You want him too.”

“I want you both,” he said simply, tracing his fingertip along the curve of my lips. “I’m not going to deny it anymore. Neither are you, and neither is he. ”

“What about your rule?”

“That’s a bad, bad rule that no longer applies to either of you. Don’t you wanna be a little bad with me?” he said smoothly.

I did. I really did.

“We can be bad in secret,” he murmured, and his words crept in like sweet sin. “You’re bad at kissing,” he said, and I felt his grin against mine. “You’re bad at dancing.” Another kiss. “You’re bad at keeping your legs closed for big, strong, personal trainers.” Kiss. He crept down my body leaving kisses in his wake, and I showed him just how bad I am again and again.

When I tried to reciprocate, he denied me, which kind of stung because fuck me do I want to see what he’s packing. We spent the rest of the night cuddled on the couch and kissing slowly, unable to get up from our secret little bubble. I forgave him for using me like a pawn at the club, not because of the world-altering orgasms he gave me, but because I saw his vision for us; I saw his big, meddlesome heart.

We woke up in our rumpled clothes and he made me an omelet the size of my head, which is exactly the size I like, before dipping out for an early client appointment.

Serwaa called me that afternoon to try and piece together what happened Friday night since she was two sheets to the wind. Unable to keep anything from her, I told her what happened. Everything. About the punch, which she didn’t remember. About Dell and Isaiah at my place. About the tangle we have found ourselves in.

I’m not really sure what we are right now or what this means for our professional relationships, but I kind of don’t care. I want more of them.

I want to see Isaiah squirm under Dell’s command again. God, that was hot. Exhilarating. With Isaiah watching us from his chair, I was floating in pleasure and power. I wanted to make him jealous just as bad as Dell did. I loved hearing Dell put him in his place. I loved every whimper coming from Zay as I rode my trainer’s face.

Having Dell dominate us like that could have gotten me off all by itself—his words alone had me clenching.

Like I am right now… oh god, cool it, Robyn.

“Ooooh, Birdie’s smiling at her phone!” Skirt teases. I look up to find her shimmying toward me with a mischievous glint in her eyes.

“Shut up,” I smile, turning off my phone before she tries to wrestle it from my hands.

“Remember Birdie,” Khaos says, rolling her socks up, “any nudes you take must be approved by the rugby coven before sending.”

I laugh, “Yes, I’m very aware of the rules. Our phones are blown up daily with pictures of your naked body. How could I forget?”

Casshole speaks next. “Can there be a rule that no nudes should be sent to the coven if you’re in an established relationship? I’m looking at you, Khaos.”

She gasps. “Fine,” she mutters. “But what if I get my tiddies tattooed? Would you want pictures then?”

“Of course we would,” I say and everyone nods. “That’s expected.”

“Y’all are sending nudes to each other?” Skirt asks, her eyes round.

“Oh, sorry!” Khaos chirps. “We forgot to add you when you joined the team. Do you want in the coven? You will receive unsolicited nudes at any time of the day and night.”

“Your membership will also include you to the list of handlers for Roger when we travel.”

“Roger is… the team dildo, right?” Skirt asks.

“Yup!” Khaos smiles.

She nods. “I consent.”

“Sweet,” Khaos drawls and types on her phone. “You’re added, rookie. Welcome to the rugby coven, Skirt.”

“Alright team,” I announce and head toward the door. “Let’s go!”

I lead everyone through a fifteen minute warm up before our coaches take the field. And there he is again, wearing black rugby shorts and a white and blue Valor T-shirt, looking like a snack with his meaty thighs out like that.

How dare he.

I expect Zay to ignore me or at the very least treat me indifferently, but when he gets closer, he gives me an unexpected and pointed smirk.

Oh shit. So we’re just telling everybody that you watched me get off, huh?

When he turns his focus to the rest of the team, I exhale and try to calm my nerves. I’m being dramatic.

“Backs with Coach Bob,” he calls. “Forwards and scrummy, you’re with me.”

Be his sunshine, I tell myself. You’re the good cop.

I have to repeat this mantra to myself several times through practice because Isaiah is back to his demanding ways, barking orders and growling at everyone’s mistakes. Mistakes that I find fair, considering he’s giving us new lineout drills we’ve never done before.

“C’mon, we got this, ladies,” I clap, trying to keep our energy high and positive. “We’re almost there. We’re so close, I know it.”

“Cass and Mo,” Zay bellows. “If I see you lift Toni too soon one more time, everyone on this team has suicides and burpees coming their way! Get it right.”

Both of their jaws tick before they let out a combined huff.

“It’s okay, guys,” I cheer. “We’re going to nail this one.”

Turk stands on the sideline, ball at the ready with Isaiah next to her. “Forty! Baja! Tango! Matchbox!” She calls out as Toni sprints from my side into Mo and Casshole’s front pod and waits for Mo’s tap. She's lifted into the air from her knees right as Turk throws the ball down the imaginary tunnel and into Toni’s hands. Yes! In a flash, the ball is thrown to Khaos, and I follow her until we hear the whistle blown a second later.

“That’s what I’m talkin’ about!” I whoop, skipping back to the group.

“Finally,” Isaiah sighs. “Let’s run it again.”

And again we run it. And again, he shows no emotion outside of his perpetual scowl. Who is this man? Where’s my friend Zay who used to cheer for me from the sidelines and recap the great plays with me? I’m ten times the player I was in college, and he was so supportive of me then. Where did that man go?

The weight of our upcoming home game this weekend looms over everyone and grows more ominous as practice goes on, especially with our coach barking at us. I’m trying my best to counteract his grumpiness, but I can sense pressure building in everyone.

The locker room is somber when we get back in and the coaches are gone. No more talk of the coven. No smiles. Just sweat and eerie silence.

Like a knife, Serwaa’s voice cuts through the quiet. “You need to talk to him, Birdie.”

“Yeah,” Casshole mutters.

I don’t have to ask what they mean because every face staring at me has the same serious expression. I know they’re not happy with him. They don’t know he’s capable of being kind and genuine like I do. He needs to step up, and I need to push him.

I don’t care that he watched Dell eat me out in front of him a few nights ago. If anything, it makes me more determined to speak my mind. If Dell can force him to face his fears head on, then I can muster the courage to tell Isaiah how the team perceives him.

I peel off my compression shorts and wrap a towel around my body and swallow. “I’ll take care of it.”

Fresh from the shower and dressed, I make my way to my car, ready to call Isaiah, when I see his SUV still here. Walking up to his window, I catch him scrolling Instagram. My Instagram.

I tap on the window and he jumps out of his skin, turning off his phone. Bemused, I smile as he rolls down his window. “Hey,” he blushes.

“Hey,” I reply and point to his discarded phone in the passenger seat. “If you wanted beauty tips, you could have just asked me.”

He clears his throat. “I’ll keep that in mind.”

“We need to talk, Zay.”

“Um, I’m actually on my way to meet my brothers for a drink.”

“Cool. I’ll join you.”

He jerks his head back slightly. “Really?”

“I’m not trying to talk about what happened Friday night. Although, we do need to talk about that. No, I need to talk to you about your coaching style.”

A crease forms between his eyebrows. “Okay,” he drawls.

“Good. Tell me where you’re going and I’ll meet you.”

“Flanagan's Pub.”

“See you there,” I smile. When I get to my Jeep, a notification pops up on my phone. It’s a text from Dell.

Dell: Can you move your Monday session next week to later in the day? I have a scheduling conflict.

Robyn: I don’t have to wake up before the sun?! Of course I will!

Dell: I promise to make your sacrifice worth it wink emoji