Page 6 of Jockstraps & Newspapers

The players cheered back, pumping their arms as Elliot led them in a rousing jog around the track, then onto the field.

Starting light, they did pushups, high knees, bendy straws, and then finally ups and downs.

He was in the middle of getting them to run lines when he saw a familiar bundle of blond curls.

His heart soared as he saw Cassie step up to the side of the field, tucking her tote under a bench.

Didn't even have to ask and Toad waved him off.

Elliot flashed his co-captain an apologetic smile before he jogged to the side.

Only, his heart stopped as he whirled to face the Fae and found Stevie McMatterson lingering beside her.

He was talking with his hands, leaning into her.

That fake, customer-service smile was on her face as she slowly edged her way away from him. Not again. Elliot jogged faster, rushing for the side of the field. The last thing the poor journalist deserved was to be accosted by Slimy Stevie.

Elliot was inches from the sideline when he heard it. "But you know, if you want, I could show you around the arena, all the—"

"Cassie!" Elliot barked, panic coursing through his veins.

Relief filled her pinched features as she glanced Elliot's way.

Cassie was bent backward an inch, away from Stevie like he reeked of sewer and cigarettes.

She laughed sheepishly, putting up a finger to Stevie and rushed across the grass to Elliot.

Her face was a blistered tomato as she scrambled away from the slimy human. "Oh, bless the dragons, Elliot. Hi!"

"Hey," he panted, gaze glued to Stevie. The human furrowed his slick eyebrows down on his face. Elliot peeled his attention away from his worst enemy and smiled down at Cassie. "Great timing, you should come talk with me while everyone's warming up. Gonna be hard to catch me today."

"Oh! Perfect! I did have some starting questions about the game itself." Then her face paled as she looked back at her tote. "Uh, I…Um, need my notebook."

Elliot nodded, "No worries, Stevie won't bite, right Stevie?"

Stevie frowned, a deep-set scowl around his lips. "You two, uh, know each other?"

"Yeah, Cassie here is writing about the team and me!" Elliot slapped at his lightly damp chest before flashing his best smile at Cassie, "We're gonna be attached at the hip all season, basically."

"Huh," Stevie let out a disappointed huff.

Cassie mouthed something to Elliot before the two walked to her tote together.

Elliot didn't catch it. He didn't trust Stevie not to try something.

Yet, as Cassie grabbed her notebook and pen, she stayed an arms distance from him at all times.

They both watched the man stalk off, back toward the group of other people at the base of the stands.

Cassie let out a heavy exhale, "That's Stevie McMatterson, isn't it? "

"Unfortunately," Elliot grumbled.

"I've heard rumors about him. Mr. Pearson told me that his dad owns the league and the field?" She said it more as a question as she faced Elliot.

"Yeah, Marvin's fine; rich guy, kinda boring like watching paint dry but uh, he's fine." Elliot shrugged before noticing. "Hey, you do something new with your hair?"

It was the first time a lady flinched when he noticed her hair was different.

Unlike yesterday, the bouncy rings of blond hair were up in a ponytail, a bandana cutely wrapped around her head with a bow.

Cassie reached up and touched at the fabric on her head.

"Uh, yeah, just…wanted to try something to keep my hair off my neck. "

"Right on," he nodded. "I like it, makes your curls pop, you know, like corn."

Cassie sputtered, blinking rapidly. "What?"

"Oh, uh, I just meant, like…it's bouncy and really…nice?" He floundered quickly as he began to dig his own hole. Pop like corn? What kind of bull-honky was that? He laughed sheepishly, "Sorry."

"No, thank you," she sighed with relief, hugging her notebook to her chest. There was something sad in her eyes as she looked away, prodding at her hair. His chest sank as he watched her wilt before him. Man, first she gets harassed by Slimy Stevie, now something’s wrong with her hair.

Today's not going her way…not to mention she doesn't even know that I… fuck.

"Here, uh, lemme help. I know a thing or two about fur," he chuckled, motioning at his fur.

She glanced up at him sharply, confusion painting her face.

But, she slowly turned and gave her head to him.

He towered over her, so it wasn't hard to lean over.

He plucked the hair tie from her bundle of curls and undid the bandana.

Instead, he worked to quickly braid in her swirling tendrils.

They were so slippery and soft, he burned with a fresh new blush.

Thanks to the fur, no one would ever notice.

But he'd braided his share of curls, silky tendrils, and fluffballs.

He fishtailed her hair and used the hair tie to keep it locked at the end.

Then, he tied the bandana like a headband over her head to keep the hair back.

Pretty quick, probably a personal best. He beamed as he tapped her on the shoulder.

She pulled her phone out of her pocket and opened her camera.

She let out a relieved breath, "Oh, thank you!"

"Better? That'll keep the hair back and off your neck." He tossed his hands to his hips, standing proudly.

She beamed, a true smile as she glanced up at him. "How did you do that?"

"The cheerleaders have a lot of hair. Plus, when you're covered in fur, you get good at braiding it out of your face.

" He studied her face as she tentatively touched the braid down the back of her head.

She looked…better. Not that she didn't look good before, but her face, it was full.

The smile was broad and there was joy in her eyes again.

His little fun sucker was happy. "You're pretty sensitive about the hair, aren't you? "

She squeaked, dropping her hands. "No."

"Cassie, you don't have to lie to me, I get it." He shrugged nonchalantly.

"It's not," she let out a low whine before hanging her head back. "It's the ‘cute’ thing."

"The cute thing ?" Elliot cocked his head with question.

"When I don't painstakingly take care of every piece of hair, I look ‘cute’.

Everyone always babies me when I look cute.

I'm short, I've got pinchable cheeks, a button nose, and curls.

And no one takes me seriously! Stevie didn't, when I tried to tell him to leave me be, he just got more insistent.

And I just want people to take me seriously. " Her heart visibly sank.

His chest ached as he blurted out, "I think you're the most professional person I've met."

"Thank you, that's very sweet," she sighed, looking down at her notebook.

The guilt from that morning returned. Cassiopeia just wanted to be taken seriously in this world and his brain made her into some silly fantasy.

Boiled her down to just her parts, didn't even give her the respect she deserved.

He wanted to apologize but confessing that he'd creepily gotten off to the thought of her thighs was the last thing she needed right now.

What she needed was a good time and to stay far away from Stevie.

"Come on, you can ask me everything you want. "

She smiled weakly, fiddling with the buttons of her blouse.

Elliot didn't realize what was happening until she pulled off her blouse to reveal a silk camisole underneath.

Oh no. He was in trouble. Because there was the part of him that wanted to get that smile back on her face, to get her a story that'll put her name in lights, to make her life easier…

and then there was the part of him that raked over her shoulders and memorized the swell of her breasts in that camisole.

Long slacks that made her hips stand out and she was wearing good, supportive boots.

He let out a wheeze of a laugh, "You uh, you took my advice, I see? "

"Yeah, not trying to twist my ankle at the beginning," she laughed weakly.

"Yeah, that's more of a mid-season move." He grinned as she snorted, shaking her head. Offering her a sweaty arm, she took it with a warmer expression on her face already. "Still not gym clothes."

"I don't own sneakers, okay?" she huffed.

"Who doesn't own sneakers?" he retorted.

"Why would I ever need sneakers?" She tossed him a disapproving look.

"Well, for starters, you're working a full season of SportsBall." He arched a fluffy brow down at her. She narrowed her eyes on him, but there was a playfulness in her face. Elliot smirked cheekily, "If I find some stylish sneakers, will you wear them?"

"Sure," she snorted, rolling her eyes. Only, she froze when he put his pinkie out to her. Cassie eyed him then his pinkie. "What are we? Six?"

"Sorry, forgot you don't like fun," he teased, slowly taking his pinkie back. She snarled, tossing her hand out and looping her pinkie around his. Elliot grinned to himself as she shook his pinkie promptly before stomping the rest of the way across the field.