Page 6

CHAPTER 6

HOT FOR… ATHLETIC TRAINER?

JACKSON

T here are five things I’m acutely aware of right now.

One: Theo is on campus. Two: Not only is he on campus, he’s on a part of campus that’s restricted to athletes and staff. Three: He definitely had on a Palm University polo… typically reserved for… staff. Four: I would bet my right fucking knee that as soon as he saw me, he thought about that night on my porch. Which would explain why I’ve caught him repeatedly staring at me out his living room window. And why he’s been following me around campus. And why he just ran from me like his ass is on fire. And five: His ass looked fucking delicious in those khakis.

* * *

Emerson’s team won their season opener four to two. And considering my baby brother is only a sophomore playing on the third line, he gave it his all. I’d be willing to bet anything that both he and Dominic will be starting players next year. They both have worked too hard and are too good not to be.

But despite how impressed I was with Emerson’s defensive skills, my eyes kept wandering to him . He’s an athletic trainer.

Theodore Young, my neighbor, the man I made out with on my front porch, is an athletic trainer at my school.

I’m not sure if that makes me incredibly lucky or incredibly unlucky.

Jury is still out.

But, because I’m well, me… I can’t just let sleeping dogs lie. This is exactly why I’m still standing outside of the hockey rink in the parking lot. Right next to the doors, in the dark, even though Emerson left twenty minutes ago, and there’s quite literally no other reason for me to be here.

Besides him of course.

Ten minutes later, the door opens, and I spot a familiar head of blond hair. Having it queued up on my phone since I got out here, I press play on my phone. I stay leaning against the brick wall beneath the light as the lyrics to ? * Van Halen’s “Hot for Teacher” echo through the almost empty parking lot.

The grin on my face is so wide it’s hurting my cheeks.

Theo stops in his tracks, and his sigh is so loud I swear I hear it all the way over here. He drops his duffle on the ground and slowly turns to face me. He levels me with a menacing glare. Silently commanding me to turn the music off.

But I’m not one to really take orders from other people. Especially when a game is at stake.

And this has the potential to be the most exciting game I’ve ever played.

So instead of silencing my phone, I raise a brow, hold my phone out in front of me, and turn it up louder.

I see him mouth something along the lines of, “For fuck’s sake,” before he looks around and marches over to me.

He reaches for my phone as he hisses, “I’m not a teacher, and you fucking know it.”

Knowing I’m taller than him, I hold it straight up in the air. “No, you’re not. But there’s not a song that says ‘hot for athletic trainer,’ and I thought this was pretty clever if you ask me.”

Theo’s nostrils flare as he inhales a frustrated and exhausted breath. “Not clever, Jackson. It’s…” He’s panicked, looking around again. “It’s childish and irresponsible. Turn it off. Now.”

Okay, nope. Don’t like that.

Dropping my smile, I narrow my eyes, pause the music, and pocket my phone. “So here’s how this is going to go,” I snarl. “I don’t care who you are. If you’re staff or not, or if you’re older than me. You’re not gonna talk to me that way.”

I can tell my tone catches him off guard as I watch his Adam’s apple bob in his throat as he swallows harshly, but he rights himself and stands tall. “I can talk to you however I want when you’re putting my job at risk, Jackson.”

“Why didn’t you tell me you worked for the school? It doesn’t take a genius to figure out we’re students.” I let my eyes dance between his as he tries to come up with some bullshit excuse.

“I didn’t think it was important,” is all he manages.

I huff a humorless laugh. “Should have been pretty important when I had my tongue down your throat.” Theo’s lips part at the memory. “Don’t you think, Mr. Young?”

“Don’t call me that,” he snaps.

“But that’s your name, isn’t it? That’s what your students call you?” The thought of me calling him that as he’s on his knees in front of me sends a wave of pleasure straight to my cock.

My gray sweats do nothing to hide my obvious arousal, and it takes Theo all of five seconds to notice out of his periphery.

“Jackson…” he pleads. Whether he’s begging for mercy or for more, I’m not really sure. And I’m also not sure I give a fuck.

“Or do you prefer your athletes call you Theo?”

“I don’t?—”

“What do you want me to call you in just a few weeks when I walk into your office after practice?” Theo’s eyes widen. “Oh, didn’t you know? I’m on the men’s sand volleyball team. You’re going to be my athletic trainer too, neighbor.”

“Jackson, we can’t?—”

My eyes zero on his lips. It’s like they call to me. It’s like he calls to me. Which is exactly why I cut his bullshit off again and say, “Too late.”

* ? Hot for Teacher - Van Halen