Page 15 of (La)Crosse My Heart (Sweet Sports Kisses #7)
Clark
" S o, what was the purpose of calling my mom?" I ask, tucking my phone back into my pocket.
"Just look at how relaxed you are," I say, opening the video on my phone.
It takes me a few seconds to look at the screen because I’m blown away by the happiness and excitement on her face, like she’s just discovered a hidden chest of gold.
Why am I having such a surge of feelings for her now?
Maybe because she’s been able to let down her defenses a bit and I’ve seen the woman she’s become. And the woman she hopes to become.
Was the sand the trick? If so, I need to remember this when I’m anxious before an event. Or an interview.
“What do you think?” she asks.
It’s only then that I come back to the present and realize the video is over. “Um, can you play it one more time?”
She gives me a slight frown and presses the button to play the video. I break my gaze away, knowing it would be embarrassing if I ask to watch it again.
Focusing on the screen, I see my face from the bars again. There's little emotion there, peppered with a small smile. Then she swipes over to the other video, and I have a wide smile on my face as I talk to my mom.
"What do you notice differently from this video to the one where you were hanging from the bar?"
I raise an eyebrow and then finally laugh. "This sounds like some test from school. It's been so long since I've been there."
"Come on. What do you see?" Jessa asks, pointing to the video.
"I'm a lot more relaxed."
She nods. "Absolutely. You look so casual, in a good way. We just need to channel the relaxed Clark when you have to be in front of a camera."
"If only there was a magic potion or something I could take to fix that."
She grins and shakes her head. “It’s called a muscle relaxer, but I don’t recommend that for you, especially before a game.”
“Can you imagine trying to play lacrosse?” I say, laughing loudly. “Running down the field and just flopping on the turf?”
Jessa’s laugh is loud and contagious, making it difficult for me to control my laughter. She’s now laughing so hard she’s snorting, and I collapse back onto the sand. My stomach feels like I’ve just done a hundred sit-ups.
She sits down next to me again, trying to stop laughing. A few minutes go by before we can compose ourselves. I wonder what the drivers of passing cars think of two adults just hanging out in the sand. Wishing we could be at the beach?
“Well, that was therapeutic,” Jessa says, wiping at the corners of her eyes.
I bend my arm and rest it behind my head, looking up into the sky. My body is buzzing with an energy I’ve never felt before, and I’m not ready to ruin it.
“Okay, so I think we've made some progress here. Let me check my plan to see what we need to do next.”
"Please don't tell me we're going skydiving or something," I say, laughing.
Jessa stares at me. “I don’t have that on the list, but I can add it if it will help.”
“Didn’t you say something about skydiving being on your bucket list at one point?”
Her eyes widen and she nods. “Yeah, that was a while ago. I forgot about it. Are you afraid of heights?”
Shaking my head, I say, "No, but I'm saving that for when I'm done with lacrosse."
"I didn't have you pegged for the all-out adrenaline rush kind of guy. Interesting."
"What about you? Would you fall out of a plane with nothing but some rope and a thin parachute to keep you from dying?"
She looks terrified. “I don't think I've thought about it that deeply before. Maybe I should scratch that off the invisible list.”
"There are things I've thought about way too much. Like interviews and cameras."
"We just need you to have an enjoyable experience with them. Oh, I remember what's next. This Saturday, the team is taking part in an event called Play It Forward."
"Okay, what do I need to do?"
She taps her chin and says, "That I have to do some research on. The name of the contact I have is Milo, and I haven't gotten a response just yet."
I nod, knowing I'll need to prepare for a lot of cameras if it's an event where all the team will be.
"You'll be fine, Clark," Jessa says, as if reading my mind. She pats me on the arm, her skin so soft.
"Thanks," I say. I'm not as sure as she is, but I still have a few days before I need to worry about that.
“Should we head out? I need to get a few things ready for social media. And I have my TV again and can watch my show.”
I raise an eyebrow. “Which show is this?”
“It’s a newer series about a detective who finds out she’s a paranormal and has to go on a treasure hunt to figure out her family history.”
I blink a few times and then nod. “Paranormal, huh? Like witches and werewolves?”
She blushes and nods. “I’m a sucker for a good mystery.”
“I’m interested to hear more about it.”
There’s a slight hesitation and she says, “You can come watch it, if you want. I’d even be willing to go back a few episodes so you can catch up.”
I can’t tell if there’s hope in her voice or if she’s just being polite and really wants me to leave her alone.
My phone pings with a reminder.
“Rain check?” I say. “I’m supposed to meet with the coaches in an hour.”
She nods, averting her gaze so I can’t tell if she’s happy or disappointed. “Sounds great. Let me know if you need anything for the meeting.”