SOL - Back to work

It’s early enough that it’s still cool, although it’s humid. This place, Florida, is truly miserable. You lean over, resting your hands on your knees and taking deep breaths as sticky, heavy sweat rolls down your body. Your soaked practice clothes cling to you. Many of the other girls are doing the same. You’re all athletes, but that was a lot of distance right out of bed just now.

Tiff is with Riley, speaking quietly. Even the endurance runners like Riley are badly winded from this pre-dawn run.

You are a stranger in America, but you are not a stranger to football. You know why coaches abruptly do things like this. They sense trouble. They like to wear out the team. Exhausted players are less likely to engage in drama.

You’ve been so wrapped up in your business that you haven’t paid attention to the other players. The drama that must have prompted Tiff to do this is a mystery to you, as is the itinerary for the day.

You straighten up, but catch yourself before you can look around. The revelation that Riley’s sister is here, hidden among the staff has made you more aware of the people who work for FUTA. They used to be invisible to you. Now, you keep an eye out, wondering if she’s nearby.

Last night was rough for you. Maybe that’s why this run was so bad. After lights out, Lara and Riley snuck out of the cabin, leaving you **** but to lie in your bunk and try not to think about what they were doing.

Miserably, you follow the others. Rather than returning to the cabin, which only has six shower stalls, Tiff takes you to one of the big shared ones down by the field. There, you all rinse off. It sounds like there’s going to be a serious discussion of strategy after breakfast, followed by some things that must be intended to keep the team split up and relaxed. Some spa visits, some yoga, and some free time. You don’t care about any of that.

You keep your eyes on the wall as you shower. As much as you want to see Riley naked, you don’t want to see her. Or Lara. In your efforts to keep your mind off Riley, it strays to Kayla. A bit of your old self is still in you; prison couldn’t erase it. Kayla’s softer, more womanly curves. The way her little polo shirt stretched to contain a pair of magnificent breasts almost as large as the set on that pretty Swedish girl on Blue Team…

You shake your head. Getting an erection in this shower won’t help you. Getting an erection while thinking about Riley’s sister of all people will be even worse.

You turn off the water and turn around to find the shower empty. You spaced out.

Shit. You need to get to breakfast. Life is hard enough without having to face it on an empty stomach.

You hurry out to the locker room but stop short as someone grabs your arm.

It’s Lara. She doesn’t look happy.