Coach Jennings was going to kick my ass.
Last night, Dant and the guys thought it would be a good idea to hit AJ's. I would've passed like I do most of the time considering the killer practice we had today, but the guys were very insistent. Two burgers and four club soda's later I found a bed to stumble onto. Not my bed though. The jackasses I call friends left me at AJ's with a very teasing and flirty Savannah James, not that I'm complaining though. I ended up riding her more than a few times or rather she ended up riding me after we crashed at her place.
The memory of her small figure grinding on top of me is blurry at best but the trail of hickeys on my neck and collarbone speak for themselves. I could've easily snatched another round when I woke up to find her on top of me once again fully undressed, but I was already running late to practice and I barely knew where I was. So the only solution to my problem that I could come up with was to call O'Connor. He was probably five minutes away from the pavilion but he was the only one who would turn around and come save my ass.
"Connery, give me one good reason why I shouldn't just kick your ass. I was in the parking lot when you called." A very pissed O'Connor greets once I sit in the passenger seat of his royal blue Mustang Shelby GT500.
"I'll easily give you two. First, you're part of the reason as to why I'm late, you know better than to leave me alone at the pub to fend for myself with Savannah James. And secondly but least relevant in this matter, I'm your best friend."
"I can see you had no trouble in finding a place to crash last night," O'Connor says pointing to the very visible hickey on the left side of my neck. I chuckle to myself, there was no point in trying to hide the events that occurred last night. God knows bronzer or whatever it is girls use to cover their hickeys wasn't in the list of things I was going to do to try and cover it up. I had more important matters at hand like the excuse we were going to come with for running late. "Before you ask I already talked with Jennings about the reason as to why you were running late."
"What did you tell him?" I ask O'Connor with a worried expression. Coach always called our bluff and O'Connor wasn't the greatest liar (he was the worst one out of the four of us).
"It doesn't matter what I told him, he read right through me. He called my bluff. Like he always does." Fuck. Guess who is going to end up having to swim three thousand meters for warm-up today? You guessed it right. Remind me to call Becker next time. "Before you lose your shit, the only thing he said was that you owed him a favor for letting this one slide."
A favor? What kind of favor does Coach need? I just hope I don't end up regretting one of the best one night stands I've had so far. My phone buzzed in the front pocket of my jeans revealing a text message from Savannah.
[Savannah James]
I had fun last night
[Savannah James]
My roommates will be gone for the weekend if you're interested in round 4 x
I replied to her very much tempting text messages with an I'll let you know. As tempting as that offer sounded I was just not interested. Last night was what it was, a one night stand, period. I don't get involved with girls more than once, that's my rule for sleeping with girls. If they can't go through with it my way, I just don't let it happen. And before you think I'm an ass for blowing them off, the reason I do is that things get messy after the first time. Even when you both agree to the no strings attached relationship, eventually strings do get attached. I have already gone through it once and I'm not letting it happen again.
I had enough pressure already to deal with, we were chasing the gold this season. The noise coming from ESPN segments and the mouth of every single person on campus that thought they even had the slightest idea of what it took to be a swimmer was more than I could bear. And with the Olympic trials taking place in Nebraska in a few months didn't help either. I was busting my ass off both in the pool and the gym every day.
A complicated relationship was something I didn't need and I honestly didn't want. My one and only focus ever since I started swimming were the Olympics and now that I'm closer than ever of reaching my goal I couldn't deal with distractions.
Savannah's apartment was only ten minutes away from campus, we arrived fifteen minutes after five but by the time we walked inside everyone was just waiting for Coach to give the instructions of what we were going to do to start off practice. He was still inside his office which meant I had more than enough time to change my clothes. Thankfully, I always keep a pair of jammers in my locker in case of emergencies so I had something to change into.
By the time I had made my way to the pool Coach was walking out of his office. Perfect timing. "Listen up everyone, we will start practice off with an 800-meter warm-up. Those 800 meters will be divided into the following: 200 free, 150 breast-stroke, 100 back 50 butterfly, 6x50 kick (odd: freestyle, even: breaststroke)."
That wasn't as bad compared to the warm-ups we've been doing lately. We all got into the freezing water and we began to swim our warm-up. After thirty minutes the guys and I finished off our warm up pretty fast like we always do. Everest and Regan always followed up (not that I pay that much attention to them) though I have to say Everest left me pretty impressed by the way she beat Dant at practice during the simulation meets. She's a pretty good swimmer, but she needs to correct her technique. That's pretty much what's holding her back.
"So Connery, rumor has it you left AJ's last night with Savannah James," Dant smirks. "I hear she's pretty good in bed."
"I bet you would like to know Dant," I say in a serious tone. "If you're so eager to know you'll have to find out yourself or you can ask your other friends. They would love to share details with you, but not me."
"You don't have to get so defensive about it Connery, it was just a question," Dant says defending himself. Just a question? Well, it was a stupid one. I might sleep around with girls, but I never share the details with any of my friends. Not even O'Connor and he's my best friend. They might disagree with me on the matter but that is just plain disrespectful. I'm not the one to kiss and tell, not like him anyways.
After everyone wrapped up the warm-up, Coach walked up to us with his clipboard in hand. "For the main set of today's practice, you will be swimming 4x100 with 15-second rest. The first 25 meters will be butterfly and the remaining meters will be easy breaststroke. The list is long so I suggest you get started if you want to make it out if here earlier than usual."
And it was, Coach wasn't joking. After the first set we ended up swimming 3x100 with 10-second rest (first 25 butterfly) then the remaining meters backstroke, 2x100 with 5-second rest (first 25 butterfly) then easy breaststroke again and to finish off the main set we swam 8x50 freestyle at a fast pace. For the cool-down part of the practice, we swam 400 meters freestyle at our own pace to finish off the am practice of the day. We ended up swimming 2,800 meters in total.
"That was a good practice everyone," Coach praised as we all got out of the pool. That was weird. Coach never hands out compliments, at least not to the whole team. "I have some news to share with you that I think you'll enjoy hearing. We won't be having our afternoon practice of the day. They will be doing some work on the pavilion for the start of the season so we won't be able to practice."
Nobody cheered for obvious reasons, but deep down inside we were both screaming with joy. "With that being said, that doesn't mean you are allowed to spend the rest of your day partying. I suggest you rest because we will be compensating on Monday for our missed practice."
Of course, that didn't surprise me. I gathered my things and I put them all inside my swimming backpack. "Connery, Jennings wants to see you in his office." Coach Tanner said and I nodded as I finished putting away my things.
The only thing that was running through my head was the fact of how screwed I was. What happened today was such a rookie mistake and something told me I wasn't going to like what Coach had to say to me. "Coach, Tanner told me you wanted to speak to me."
"Ah yes son, I have a favor to ask you." Coach said taking off his glasses. I approached his desk and I sat down in the chair in front of his desk.
"Anything, whatever you need," I replied.
"I'm glad to hear you say that because something tells me you're not going to like what I have to ask you." Coach said and I started to worry. What kind of favor was it?
"I'm sure you recall what happened in last week's practice during our simulation meets, I was pretty impressed with Everest's performance. I have never seen her swim breathe-stroke the way she did. Dant had a full-body advantage over her and somehow she managed to pull it off." I have never seen Coach this impressed not since freshman year when the guys and I broke the medley record to take home the gold.
"It was pretty impressive, she would've had the lead since the first 25 meters but her technique was holding her back. If she can find a way to correct it, I bet she could be taking some medals home this season."
"Exactly, Coach Tanner and I have thought the same. That's why we agreed that you should be the one to help her out. She will be competing on the breathe-stroke events this season and she needs the best to help her out if we want to win some medals." My mouth dropped. He wants me to help her out? If this was at another time I wouldn't mind, but I have my plate full. I don't have time to help her out.
"I have my plate full Coach, I can't. There are other more important things I have to focus on, no offense."
"Well, you have to Matt, because I already told her you would do it." Coach smiles and I take a deep breath.
"You already told her I would? Without even asking first?" I complain.
"Yes," Coach spits, and I run my hands through my hair in frustration. "Every Saturday leading up to the start of the season at least. I did my research and Everest is a pre-law major and she can help you out with your political science class."
"How do you know I need help with that class?" I ask.
"Your professor contacted me, Connery, you can't swim if you're failing a class. You know the rules." I was aware of that. It was just a stupid elective class, it had nothing to do with my major yet I still had to take it. "Look, all I am saying is you help her and she helps you. It's a win-win situation."
He wasn't wrong about it, I'll give him that.
I ended up agreeing to help Everest. There wasn't any harm with helping her out and out of most of the girls I've met on campus she seems cool and treats me like a normal person. She was actually interested in what I had to say last week at the keg party. So that left me with no choice but to text Stensby and ask him for her number.
.
I had been putting off texting Everest all day until now, it was getting late and I would be an ass if I texted her at eleven to meet up in the morning for our first day of training. The reason why I hesitated was that I didn't know if she would mind that I asked Stensby for her number (which he didn't have a problem in sharing it with me) but there was no other way. Everest didn't seem like the party kind of girl. I rarely see her at the parties at the frat house or any party for that matter so there was no way that we would agree on a time that worked out for the both of us.
"Connery, are you coming? The game starts in a few and we don't want to miss it." O'Connor asked walking into my room and I nodded my head.
"I'll be right out, give me a few minutes." We were all going out to AJ's again tonight. No one night stands were planned for today. I was just going to watch the game with the guys and have a good night. I typed on my phone and without giving it a second thought I texted Everest, which to my surprise she replied quickly.
[Matt Connery]
hey everest! it's connery. stensby gave me your number I hope you don't mind.
[Matt Connery]
at what time are you available to train tomorrow?
[Everest Green]
don't worry, it's fine. after 11. is that okay with you?
[Matt Connery]
yes, I'll meet you at the pavilion at 11:30
[Everest Green]
perfect. I'll see you then.
That went better than I thought. After texting Everest and setting up the time for our training tomorrow morning I slid my phone into the front pocket of my blue washed jeans and I walked out of my room to the front of the house where the guys were waiting for me. "What took you so long Connery?" Becker asked.
"It was nothing important, now let's go or we're going to be late."
AJ's was packed by the time we got there, we arrived just in time. The game kicked off a few minutes after. "Connery, I'm going to order some beers. Do you want one?" Becker asked but I declined by shaking my head.
"It's a Friday night man," Dant complains. "Have one at least."
I shake my head once again. "A club soda will be just fine Becker." I look towards Dant and I replied to his insistence. "You know I don't drink during the season."
I'm not the biggest fan of alcohol at all, especially during the season. And for good reason. I've seen what these idiots do when they get drunk and I'd rather stay out of it. Like I said before, I have my goals set, and getting drunk at every party I go to isn't one I'm eager to check off of my list.
I began to watch the game and talk with the guys. The conversation they were having about Abby Miller slowly started to fade away when something more interesting caught my eye. Was that Everest? She was wearing a floral green crop top that revealed a little bit of her toned stomach, the most attractive thing about what she was wearing was the way the denim skirt hugged her small waist. And don't get me started on her toned long legs.
Everest is not like most girls here at BGU, she's different, a good kind of different. You can tell that she feels uncomfortable with her revealing outfit. Which let me know that she didn't have enough confidence in herself. She usually dresses up in jeans and sweaters to class from what I've noticed so far. She likes to leave a lot to one's imagination and I liked that about her. The guy she was talking with wasn't helping, she was definitely not interested and she kept trying to end the conversation but he was very persistent.
"Bro, what are you staring at? Better yet, who are you staring at?" O'Connor asks.
I laugh at O'Conner's tease. "No one, I was just lost in my own thoughts."
I took one last glance at Everest before I turned my attention back to the conversation my friends were having. I didn't know what it was, but I had a feeling that training with Everest would only bring trouble. Now the kind of trouble that it was, was something I wasn't as eager to find out.