Page 90 of Stroked Hard
“Hollis! What the hell is wrong with you?”
I grab the back of my head, rubbing my skin as I try to think of a reasonable excuse to ask Holly to leave. “Uh, I think I can handle practice by myself today.”
Sitting back in her chair, she eyes me up and down, a sarcastic laugh popping out of her mouth. “You think you can handle practice by yourself today. Three days before you leave for the final send-off before Rio? Do you really think I would let that happen?”
“Uh, if I ask nicely you would?”
“Guess again.”
“Holly, please. Let me just have today.”
“Are you insane? I’m not going to let you practice alone three days before we leave.”
The door to the gym opens and Melony walks in, looking around. My heart hammers in my chest as I take her in. She’s wearing hot-pink spandex capris and a form-fitting black tank top. Her hair is pulled back, a few strands falling forward. God, she’s so beautiful.
Holly follows my gaze and then looks back at me. She catches my stare and all I can do is smile.
She pinches the bridge of her nose and shakes her head. “I can’t fucking believe you right now.”
“Holly, you don’t understand how long it took me to get this girl to trust me.”
“What does that have to do with me?”
Fuck, what do I say? I don’t want Melony to see my handicapped sister because I’m afraid she’ll hate me for life? What kind of shitty person does that make me? The absolute fucking worst. I already know that, given my past indiscretion. Shit.
“Listen,” I swallow hard, “I don’t want her to meet family. We are keeping this little thing between us right now, and you’ll scare her off with your twin stories. Please, Holls, I will come back later tonight if you want. Just give me this right now.”
Anger surfacing her features turns soft for a brief moment. “Fine, but you owe me doubles tomorrow with zero complaints, got it?”
Doubles . . . insert whiney emoji face. Melony is worth it.
“Got it. Now get out of here.”
Shaking her head at me, she leaves me but not before saying, “Work on your approach on your four-and-a-half somersault at least.”
“Done. I’ll call you after.”
Mumbling, she says, “That’s right you will.”
Thank fuck for an understanding sister. Melony is chatting with another athlete she ran into when I walk up to her. “Hey baby.”
Turning, she has a bright smile on her face. “Hey. Did you just get here?”
“No, I was warming up,” I lie. “Coach isn’t here today, but I have some things to do and thought maybe I would show you the ropes. Come one, I have my own space over here.” I nod my head toward my corner full of mats, practice platform, and bin of foam blocks.
Melony says bye to the other athlete and walks next to me. Because I can’t be close to her and not touch her, I link my fingers with hers. “How was work?”
“Dreadful. Bellini felt a pimple coming in. She thinks it’s from stress, but I think it’s the itty-bitty alien that controls her body trying to free itself.”
I laugh and pull her in so I can kiss her head. “Why does that actually seem plausible?”
“Because she is the worst human on this planet.”
“What could she possibly be stressed about?”
“No clue. She got a letter in the mail today that freaked her out. I hope it’s some hateful fan mail. Maybe someone is trying to capture Pope Francis for ransom.”
“Maybe she was caught on camera stealing a pack of Tic Tacs out of desperation,” I suggest. “And now she has to serve time.”
