Playing at Love

by Ophelia London

  Jack had forgotten the whole thing by the time he walked into the teachers’ lounge Monday morning.

  “Coach! Over here!” Danny said, calling from the far end of the room.

  Jack waved back and was about to head that way, but the second he took stock of the room, something felt wrong. First, it was eerily quiet in the usually noisy space—only whispers, as though no one wanted to be overheard. And second, there was a distinctive, very literal split right down the center of the room. Sports and general ed faculty were on the left side with Danny and the other coaches, while arts and liberal ed were on the right.

  It was a war zone, complete with two sides and a front line. After arranging a fearless General Patton expression on his face, Jack strode up the middle aisle toward Danny, right past Tess…hoping he didn’t look as unnerved as he felt.

  Chapter Eight

  House key? Check. Earbuds? Check. Pumped-up attitude? Double check.

  Tess locked the front door and slipped the single key into her sock, then trotted across the street to the park. It was still pretty early—especially for a Monday—and not many other joggers were out on the trail circling the large pond. Tess liked it that way. She didn’t want to worry about what she looked like. She never understood women who actually put on makeup and clothing that matched to go to the gym. What was the point in that? When she exercised, her whole body was in on it.

  Her brain, however, was currently stretched to its limit. For one thing, all of last week had been crazy-busy and a bit chaotic. It started the previous Monday, with something about a note being left on Jack’s car over the weekend, and ended with some still-unnamed athletes replacing the choir seats with a row of bleachers from the stadium and then duct taping her office door shut. As far as pranks went, she couldn’t help being a little bit impressed, although it was a royal pain peeling ten layers of tape off the length of the door just to get into her office.

  Down on the grass by the trail, Tess did some stretching and a light warm-up before jumping to her feet, ready to start her run. She waved to a couple of people she recognized, but other than that, it was just her on the trail.

  The first loop around the pond felt great. Her muscles were getting loose and a light sweat was starting to build under her ponytail.

  Last Friday, marking the football team’s first away game, the choir had performed at the pep rally. They had been a huge hit, wowing the gym with a jazzy version of “Creep.” Penny hadn’t had a solo that time, which was fortunate, because she’d had a tiny issue with the choreography. Tess prayed that had been a fluke.

  Despite the choir’s second successful performance, Tess still felt nervous. There was so much at stake. She jogged past the deserted jungle gym, pumping her arms, pushing herself harder.

  Just as she was clearing the top of the hill, something caught her attention. It was a boy—a man, actually. He was sitting on a bench, half hidden behind a tree, his back to her. He looked kind of thuggish—long hair and a dirty T-shirt. Not that Franklin was a Norman Rockwell painting, but there’d never been much of a “thug” problem, which was probably why alarm bells were suddenly going off in her head. Tess had no idea what he could be doing on the side of the running trail at six in the morning. When she got closer, she saw that he had a girl on his lap. The couple might have been kissing or something similarly benign before she’d come upon them, but they weren’t kissing now. In fact, it looked like the girl was struggling to get away.

  “Hey!” Tess shouted without thinking. “Are you okay?”

  The second the thuggy guy was distracted, the girl pushed him off the bench and bolted. “Get back here!” he yelled after her. But by the time he made it to his feet, she had crossed the street and was gone.

  Tess felt a cold shiver run down her spine as the thug turned her way. He didn’t say a word, but before Tess knew it, he was coming at her.

  Tess had never been a sprinter; she was more about endurance than speed. And it didn’t help that everything felt like it was happening in slow motion as she turned on her heel and took off.

  Her apartment was across the street from the park, but it was over the bridge on the other side of the pond. She would never make it.

  Tess vaguely remembered that there was one emergency phone along the trail. Somewhere. She could hear the guy gaining on her, yelling curses the closer he got. She knew a little self-defense, but she didn’t think she had time to whirl around and karate chop the guy in the groin.

  Panic burned her already aching lungs when she felt the thug’s hand on her shoulder. When she jerked away, she lost her footing and tumbled forward. A second later, she was on her feet again. But she didn’t make it ten steps before both her shoulders were seized. She felt herself being yanked back, then spun around.

  The guy had black eyes. She’d heard of that before but had never seen it up close. It was terrifying. When he grabbed her by the arms, terror filled her heart; she didn’t know if she would scream first or vomit. Luckily, her body went into autopilot.

  “Help!” she shouted at the top of her lungs, pushing all the air out of her diaphragm like she was trying to hit a high note. “Help me!”

  “Shut up,” the thug barked, yanking her forward.

  But Tess didn’t stop. She kept on screaming bloody murder.

  The thug lifted one hand, like he was about to strike her, but then he seemed to notice something past her shoulder.

  “Hey!”

  Tess heard a distant voice coming from behind.

  “Let her go! Now!”

  The thug’s eyes grew wide, as though he was seeing an avalanche heading straight for him. He swore, dropped Tess’s arms, then turned and ran off.

  Tess stared after him for a moment, then whipped her body around, not wanting to let anyone else sneak up on her. She almost screamed again when she caught sight of the single-file parade of twenty-plus matching blue shirts running down the hill. About ten yards in front of the pack was Jack.

  “Tess! Are you all right?” he asked, once he made it to her. She blinked and nodded, pressing both hands over her pounding heart. After taking a moment to look her in the eyes, Jack stepped around her to peer across the street where the thug had disappeared. “I think he’s gone,” Jack said, standing in front of her again. “Did he hurt you?”

  “No,” she said, staring up at him. But she automatically crossed her arms, running her hands over her shoulders where the thug had grabbed her.

  Jack noticed and reached out, peeled her hand away, then placed his over her arm. “Are you in pain?” he asked, his voice growing softer.

  Tess shook her head. “I’m fine,” she answered, her breathing slowing down as the panic unleashed its grip.

  She looked up at Jack, at his sheer size, and she suddenly felt very protected. She almost wanted to hug him. His hand was still touching her arm, so they were halfway there already. Her heart started pounding again, but for a different reason this time. She also couldn’t help noticing the way his T-shirt sleeves were stretched over his biceps. Why was she checking out his biceps at a time like this? Or the way his slightly sweaty hair was curling around his ears? She felt the urge to coil some of it around her finger.

  “Guys,” Jack said, turning his head to talk to his team, who had gathered behind him. “Keep moving; I’ll catch up in a minute.”

  The boys in blue shirts obediently turned and trotted up the hill.

  “Is that the whole football team?” Tess asked, lifting a hand to wave good-bye to them. “How did you get them out here so early on a Mond—”

  “What the hell, Tess?” Jack growled, startling her. “The sun is barely up and this place isn’t lit. And you’re out here alone?”

  “I-I,” she stammered.

  “Seriously.” He exhaled in fury then tilted his chin, looking up at the morning sky. “What are you thinking being out here all alone? Huh?” He bent his head down to hers and put a heavy hand on each of her shoulders. His dark eyes were blazing. “This
could’ve been major trouble. Do you realize that?”

  “I run this trail all the time,” she said, feeling her own anger flare. “Alone. And let go of me.” She shook his hands off and stepped back, chagrined when she tripped, just a little. “This park is perfectly safe.”

  “Oh, obviously,” Jack snapped, wiping a patch of sweat off his forehead.

  “I come here every morning,” she snapped in return. “I live right across the street.” She gestured toward her red brick apartment building.

  “Don’t come out here alone,” Jack said. It sounded like an order.

  Tess couldn’t help laughing; maybe she was in shock. “Who are you to tell me what to do?”

  “If I’m not mistaken,” Jack said, “I’m the man who just saved you.”

  Tess scoffed resentfully. “Thank you, Jack, for saving me.” She hated how ungrateful she sounded, but his macho attitude was infuriating. “Better catch up with your team,” she said, pointing up the hill. “Before some ninety-pound freshman leaves another petrifying note on your car.”

  As she turned and began to jog home, Tess was surprised by how wobbly her legs felt. She really had just been through something terrifying. And yes, Jack had “saved” her. But…grrr! Why did he have to be such a pig about it afterward? Her hand was still trembling as she twisted the key in her front door.

  She turned around to look back at the park. She could just see the last of the blue shirts disappearing into the trees. Jack was last in line.

  …

  Ridiculous woman, Jack thought as he caught up to the back of the team. Maybe he shouldn’t have yelled at her like that, but when he’d seen what was happening, how that guy had her by the arms, and how she was screaming…

  It felt like a brick had fallen in Jack’s gut.

  And then she’d actually yelled at him. At him! After what he’d just done for her. Ridiculous, he repeated, running another frustrated hand through his hair. Okay, so maybe he shouldn’t have lectured her like that. His time might’ve been more productively spent by focusing on how cute she’d looked in her little running shorts and that tank top and— “Coach?”

  Jack had been zoning out as he ran behind his players, counting his paces and thinking about Tess’s short shorts. He looked up and found Andy trotting by his side.

  “Hi, Andy,” Jack said. “Are you keeping up okay? Only about two miles to go.”

  “Oh, sure. Fine, Coach,” the kid replied through huffs and puffs of labored breath.

  Jack couldn’t help chuckling. He was proud of the kid for keeping up.

  “Is your friend okay?” Andy asked.

  “Friend?” Jack looked at him, puzzled.

  “That lady from before?”

  “Oh.” Jack nodded and wiped his forehead with the back of his hand. He was relieved that at least Andy hadn’t recognized Tess as one of the teachers. He didn’t want what had just happened to get back to the school. “Yes, she’s fine, Andy. Thanks.”

  It had thrown Jack, hearing Tess being referred to as his “friend.” Were they friends? Could someone he used to be crazy about, but whom he hadn’t had a real conversation with in fifteen years, constitute a friend? Jack didn’t know. What he did know was that it wasn’t mere friendship he’d felt for her as he was sprinting down that path, her shouts for help echoing in his ears.

  He felt that brick in his gut again, causing him to stumble off the path for a second.

  “So, am I going to see you in the weight room later today?” Jack asked Andy, quickly downshifting subjects in his own brain.

  “Yeah,” Andy said, really starting to pant now.

  Jack grinned and slapped him on the back. “That’s great. Keep it up.” He took one more swipe at his forehead. “Well, I’m going to move up to the front of the line before whoever is leading takes us to McDonald’s instead of back to the school.”

  Andy laughed. “Good one, Coach.”

  Jack grinned and picked up the pace, shouting encouragement as he passed his players.

  Chapter Nine

  “Once more from the top,” Tess said, flipping back her sheet music to the first page. The choir was right on track and Penny sounded great; her case of nerves seemed to be history. Tess had a new song in mind after watching Penny at tonight’s rehearsal, one that was really going to challenge her. It would be perfect for the next halftime show.

  When they finished going through the song once more, Tess called it a night. They’d been practicing for three hours. Tess knew taking that much time after school cut into homework and studying. And she didn’t want the kids to burn out.

  She worked with Penny alone for another thirty minutes, tinkered with the arrangement of a piece for her beginning choir class, and was just gathering up her things when she walked past a window. She could see up the hill to the gym. There was only one car still parked there—in the football coach’s spot—and the light was still on in one of the offices. Jack’s.

  Tess dropped her bag and stared out the window. Had she really yelled at him yesterday? And for what? For saving her from being attacked and who knew what else? She looked down and ran a hand over her face, feeling utterly ashamed. Had she even thanked him properly? Sincerely?

  No, she’d been a royal hag and stormed off. She hadn’t even been angry at him, not really. The whole budget thing had come raging back, with Jack as its face. And that hadn’t been fair. After another glance out the window, she grabbed her purse and her bag, turned off the light in the music room, and headed up the hill.

  The main door to the gym was unlocked, but it was dead quiet. Tess couldn’t remember ever hearing such silence in the huge building before. It was a bit unnerving. Instead of turning to the right toward the girls’ locker room, she headed left. Though she hadn’t been there in years, she knew the coaches’ offices were about halfway down the hall. The first one she came to was open and the light was on, but it was empty. She saw a gym bag on the floor and a sweatshirt draped over the back of the chair behind the desk.

  “Hello?” she said, hearing her own echo. “Jack?” When there was no answer, she stepped through the next door, which led deeper into the office suites. But that room was empty, too, except for some long benches and lockers. Maybe this was the football locker room. Or maybe it was private, meant only for the coaching staff.

  “Jack?” she repeated. Again, no reply, but there was a stream of light coming from behind one last door. Tess had never been this far back in the gym offices and she felt a little like a trespasser in her own school. The second she pushed the next door open, however, she knew exactly where she was.

  The low ceiling of the previous room shot up fifty feet, and while the overhead lights were off, the lower lights were illuminated, causing wavy beams of yellow to reflect on the walls. The air smelled strongly of wet concrete and chlorine. When she heard a faint splash, she took a few steps forward, her eyes adjusting to the light.

  She could see a long figure under the water, taking smooth, sweeping strokes. He was swimming her way, toward the shallow end of the pool. When he came up for a breath at the wall, he spotted her.

  Tess opened her mouth to say something, but watching Jack pull himself out of the pool in one strong, easy movement made her suddenly tongue-tied. He wasn’t in a Speedo—thank goodness!—but the red swim trunks he wore hung low off his hips. She had taken special notice of his arms that morning at the park, but she had no idea such a body was hiding beneath his football T-shirts and khakis. His stomach was a ripped six-pack. Or was it an eight-pack? Wasn’t that what the kids were calling it these days?

  He was walking toward her, his bare feet leaving a wet trail behind him.

  “Tess?” he said. “What are you doing here?”

  “I…” She looked directly at his chest. It was muscular and sprinkled with dark hair. Tess couldn’t stop her gaze from following the arrow down. In the nick of time, she snapped her eyes away.

  Jack chuckled softly as he grabbed a towel off a nearby benc
h and wiped his face. The pool lights cast a wavy shadow across him, catching the cut of his jaw.

  What was he doing? He couldn’t just display his body like that for the world to see. This was a school; there were children present!

  No, there weren’t, she realized. Not right now, at least. Tess willed herself to stop blushing.

  “Hey,” Jack said, standing right before her now.

  “Hey,” she said, looking only at his eyes.

  “Anything wrong?” he asked.

  “No,” Tess said, finally waking up. “I came here to say thank you for yesterday.”

  Jack lowered his towel and looked at her.

  “And to apologize for my behavior afterward. You were right—you saved me, and then I was completely ungrateful. I’m sorry about that.”

  “You’re forgiven,” Jack said. And when he blinked, little drops of water clung to his long lashes. Tess swallowed. “And you’re welcome.” He draped the towel over one shoulder. “I’m sorry, too, for getting so upset with you.” He looked past her out the big windows. “I got caught up in the moment. But I had no business telling you what to do.”

  “That park was voted the safest the last three years,” Tess offered conversationally, making an attempt at lightening the mood.

  “I know. I looked it up online a few hours ago,” Jack admitted, lifting a tiny smile. “But shouldn’t you at least carry pepper spray or wear some kind of whistle?”

  Tess rolled her eyes. “I’ll remember that next time.”

  Jack’s smile faded and he took a step toward her. Tess could smell the chlorine on his skin. “You sure you’re okay, though?” he asked. “I mean, I got to you in time?”

  “Yes.” She nodded, fighting back the memory. “Only just.”

  “I’m going to say this one more time and then never again. You really shouldn’t be there alone.”