JESSI

“Jes! Hurry up!!” Bri yells at me. “I’m coming, I’m coming,” I yell back. 

Today is the first day of our senior year, and Bri is determined to make every single day count. To me, it is what it is, at least this semester anyway. When I come downstairs, I have to lunge to grab my backpack and duffle bag before she drags me out the door. We tossed our bags in the trunk and took off to school in my yellow Camero. 

We make our inside and just like every other year; we are greeted with smiles, waves, and hugs. I printed off my class schedule last week, so I scrolled through Facebook to get through the waste of time that is homeroom. My schedule this semester consists of US Government, AP Microeconomics, Creative Writing, and Environmental Science. 

I crammed all the classes my parents wanted me to take into the first semester so I could relax and enjoy the last half of my senior year. After the agony of Ms. Martin’s homeroom, Bri and I head to our US Government class. The day just drags on from there. Honestly, aside from lunch, cheer practice is my favorite part of the day. 

There are fifteen girls on the squad, but Bri and I are the captains. We head into the locker room together and change into our sports bras, shorts, and tank tops. After pulling my hair into a ponytail, we head out to the field.

Our practices aren’t as strenuous as they used to be. This school’s squad used to compete in cheer competitions, but the squad four years ago, when my brother was a senior, was caught up in a cheating scandal. Even though the committee ruled that our squad would still be allowed to compete, our school board won’t allow it. 

Bri and I start the girls off with stretches while we wait for Ms. Martin. She was brought on during my freshman year. As a matter of fact, over the past couple of years, most of the older teachers have retired and been replaced with teachers who really aren’t that much older than we are. 

Ha! My brother was pissed when we came home from college to find a whole new bunch of ‘prime squirrel’, as he calls it.

Our stretching always causes the football team to whistle and catcall. I’m one of the very few girls that don’t flirt back. I’m also the only girl on the squad who doesn’t have a boyfriend. It’s not due to a lack of offers. It’s just that although these guys are hot, I just don’t see any of them in a way that makes me want to let them clumsily paw all over me in the back seat of their mom’s car. 

Now, all of the girls are flirting with the football players and they are coming closer. A whistle blows, long and high-pitched. “Get the hell on the field. This is football practice, not time to get a date. From what I saw, y’all need practice at that, too.” The voice was deep and smooth. The sound rumbled through my body. 

I turned to see who was talking and found the most ruggedly sexy man I’d ever seen. I licked my lips and took a deep breath. He was jogging closer, probably to round up the last few players from their girlfriends. He was wearing dark gray gym shorts, a light gray t-shirt with our school’s panther mascot on it, Nike shoes, a whistle around his neck, and his hat on backward.

He is tall and muscular. He’s tan and as his arms move, tattoos play peekaboo with his sleeves. He has a short, neatly trimmed beard that’s the same color as his dark hair. As he comes to a stop a few feet away from me, his sapphire blue eyes take my breath away.

He looks around and then looks me up and down. “Where’s your coach?” he grunts. 

I school my expression and shrug my shoulders. “She isn’t here yet,” I replied as snarkily as I could. 

“Alright then. Come on, you discount Casanova’s. Let’s get this practice over with.” He looked at me again, his brows knitting together. Then he jogged away.

The look he gave me set a fire inside my body. What the hell was that? Who knows, but needless to say, I was distracted for the rest of the practice. It turned out to be really inconvenient since I am one of the captains and should be setting an example. 

Once our practice is over, we join the guys. They are tugging off their jerseys and lifting their pads off their shoulders. Several of the girls run over to their boyfriends, hugging and kissing. Bri’s boyfriend, Justin, runs over and then lifts her up while they kiss. Don’t worry about me, though. Four of the guys come over, crowding around me. 

Their new coach is standing close by, looking in my direction. I wouldn’t go so far as to say that he was looking at me, but the possibility was exciting. I let my eyes scan his face. Despite his short beard, I could see his strong jaw, his cheekbones looked like they were chiseled by the gods. Literally, everything about him was perfect. I kept my eyes on him as I bit my lip. I saw his full lips curve into a smirk and I knew I had been busted. 

Damn!

I tear my eyes away from him and rejoin the guys in front of me. A few minutes later, Ms. Martin starts blatantly flirting with the bearded god. I rolled my eyes hard and I’m pretty sure I sneered in their direction. 

Who cares? 

Not me…

“Jessi, would you, um…come to the movies with me on Friday?” Brenden mumbled. 

“Oh…I can’t Friday. It’s my birthday so…” 

“I can’t believe I forgot your birthday is coming up. You usually have a big party. Not doing that this year?” he asked. 

“No, my brother is coming home just to see me, so I’m going to spend time with him.”

I shrug my shoulders because it’s really not a big deal. We’ll probably order Thai food and watch movies all night. 

“Let me know if your plans change,” he said shyly. 

Before I could say anything, Bri runs over and wraps her arm around my waist. “Come on, almost birthday girl. Noah texted me. He said to help you pick out a dress.” 

“For what?” I asked, as she steered me away from the guys. 

“It’s Noah, so who the hell knows? But also, who cares? Let’s go shopping!!!!” 

She had a point, so we ran off towards the locker room.

On the way to the mall, I asked more about what Noah said. If Noah wanted me to get a dress, why not just tell me to? I am his sister. He makes no sense at all sometimes. He could’ve used this as an excuse to text Bri. He has to know that I know he likes her. Anyway, Bri wouldn’t tell me anything except I am supposed to get a new dress and shoes. 

We went to four stores before I found one that I liked and Bri approved of. It’s a purple sequined strapless mini and Bri found me the perfect pair of rhinestone spiral stilettos. We charged everything to my parent's credit card (it was only $160) and headed back to my house. 

I pulled out my books and did the assignments due tomorrow, then texted my brother.

Jessi: Why do I need a dress? Why didn’t you just text me?

Noah: Official big brother business. Just do as I say.

Jessi: OMG. You’re such a douche sometimes.

Noah: You won’t think so on Friday night.

Jessi: Just tell me.

Noah: No.

Jessi: Please!?

Noah didn’t text back. He had something planned, and I knew it was for my birthday, but who knew with Noah, really? 

I took a shower and braided my hair. I wanted the effortless wavy look tomorrow, so I had to put in the effort now. I packed up my books and got my duffle bag ready for tomorrow, too. Once I got into bed and closed my eyes, I saw the sexy new football coach. Good Lord. It really should be a crime to be as hot as he is. Or maybe he just shouldn’t be allowed to be a high school teacher? Honestly! Our hormones are already raging hard enough and they are going to give us him to look at. It’s cruel.

I push him from my thoughts and close my eyes to sleep. Maybe tomorrow he won’t look so hot? Surely it was a fluke. Maybe he was just a sub and filling in during football practice. 

Yea…that’s what it is…

My theory was shot to hell, though, when I caught sight of him the next day during practice. Damn it. He is just as sexy as he was yesterday. His hat was still backward, and he was wearing the same Nikes, but the shorts he wore hung a little lower on his hips and his t-shirt had the sleeves cut out. Now his tattoos were visible on his muscular arms and they made my mouth water. 

On his right arm, there was a series of bands. There were six bands in total, and the thickness varied. They covered from the middle of his bicep to just above his elbow. The tattoo on his left arm was harder to make out. It looked like a wing and it disappeared into his shirt. I wonder how much of his shoulder it covers? 

Today’s practice went no better than yesterday’s. It was actually a little worse because word had spread about the smoking hot new gym teacher/football coach and some other girls were hanging around close by. Whatever! It’s not like the new coach had any effect on my life. Well, not until I had gym next semester. I groaned to myself at the thought.

The rest of the week went the same. My saving grace was that it’s Friday. It’s my 18th birthday. I struggle to get through the day and cheer, because I can’t wait to know what Noah has in store for me. He really is an awesome big brother.

After practice, Bri and I go straight to my house. Noah is already home and waiting for us. “Mom and Dad are busy, so I’m in charge of your birthday this year.” 

He smiles, and it’s full of mischief. 

“Awesome! What are we doing!?” 

He hands me a white envelope with a yellow bow on it. I opened it to find an ID. I look it over and my face lights up. 

My brother got me a fake ID! 

It looks so real and the picture is actually me. I look at him and his smile has only gotten bigger. “Get dressed, sis. We’re celebrating your 21st birthday!!” 

I look at Bri, and she holds an ID up, too. We squeal and I hug my brother before Bri and I take off up the stairs to get dressed. 

An hour later, we came back down. Our eye makeup is a little darker, we styled our hair, our dresses barely cover our bodies, and in our heels, we are still nowhere as tall as my brother. 

“Well, don’t you two look like you’re ready to get into trouble,” Noah said with a small smile and shake of his head.

We both laugh and tug him out the door. 

“We’re going to a club closer to my school. A couple of guys from the team are already there and they’re going to help me make sure you two don’t get into too much trouble.” 

He quirks his brow at Bri. 

“What!?” she groans. 

“I’m not sure the entire team couldn’t keep you out of trouble.” 

“Who said I wanted to be kept out of trouble, anyway?” she quipped back. 

My brother rolled his eyes. 

We pulled up to the club, and we took each of my brother's arms. With a nod to the bouncer, we walked straight in. 

This place is crazy. It is packed; the music is blasting around us, everything is vibrating, and it smells like sex. 

No, I’m not a virgin, by the way. I had a boyfriend my sophomore year, and we did the deed that Valentine’s Day. It took all of two minutes and I didn’t even have an orgasm. I broke up with him the next day. His family moved away last year, but I hadn’t spoken to him since the morning I broke up with him. 

Noah led us over to some tables in the far corner. The seats are filled with extra large men, all looking at us like we were fresh meat. “Guys, this is my sister, Jessi and her best friend, Bri. Remember what the hell we talked about,” he said in a threatening tone. 

Noah released us from his hold and leaned closer to me. “Go have fun. The guys and I will be watching in case you need us.” 

I smiled and kissed his cheek. 

“Thanks, Noah.”