Team Mates Read Free Page B

Claudia Schumaker said, and a few girls giggled.
     
    Alan's light blue eyes grew cold as ice. “One more remark like that, Claudia, and you're going home early.” He watched the sophomore girl until she dropped her eyes. “Twenty laps around the gym. Now.”
     
    Claudia gasped and looked around, but found no support from her teammates. “But Mr. Walton-”
     
    “Mr. Walton isn't your coach anymore. I am. Twenty laps. Now.” He waited until Claudia slouched to the side of the gym and started running.
     
    “All right, let's get these mats out by the net,” Alan said. “Lindsey, get up on that ladder.” When everything was arranged to his satisfaction, he turned to the team.

“The problem, girls, is that you're afraid of hurting yourself. I understand. It isn't easy throwing yourself down on a hard gym floor to try to save a point. But that's what we're going to do. And I'm going to show you.
     
    “Lindsey is going to throw the ball down towards the mat. My job is to save it.” Moving gracefully, he flexed his knees and moved into position. He nodded up at the ladder. “Whenever you're ready, Lindsey.”
     
    The small girl raised her arm and threw the ball as hard as she could at the mat in front of Mr. Glassman. Instantly he exploded into motion, diving to the floor, his arms locked in front of him. Before the ball could touch the mat, he knocked it upward in a slow, gentle arc, an easy ball for anyone to play.
     
    “Again.” The result was the same.
     
    And again.
     
    Standing beside Tabby, Stacie could barely contain her lust. First Mr. Glassman punished someone who had mocked her girlfriend. Now he was showing off his gorgeous body right in front of her! Her teeth bit her lower lip as she watched his sexy ass flex inside his loose sweatpants. With fiery eyes, she drank in his corded arms, his strong legs. After a few minutes, his brown hair was stuck to his forehead in sweaty spikes, and she wanted nothing more than to peel off his clothes and drag him into the showers with her.
     
    “Calm down, girl,” came a soft, sultry voice from her side. Glancing over, she saw Tabby eying her with amusement. “If you don't slow down your breathing you're going to hyperventilate and pass right out.”
     
    “Is it that obvious?”
     
    “What do you think?” Tabby smirked, dropping her eyes to look at Stacie's breasts. Even through her sports bra and her practice jersey, the outlines of her erect nipples could be easily seen.
     
    “Shit,” she breathed. Luckily for her, Mr. Glassman chose to end the demonstration at that moment.
     
    “That was with no knee or elbow-pads,” he said, breathing deeply. “And you girls know technique way better than I do. If I can do this, so can you. You're not going to get hurt.
     
    “All right,” he continued. “Split into two groups. Lindsey will run one side, I'll do the other. Everyone gets ten tries, then go shag balls so the next person in line can go.” He tweeted his whistle and clapped his hands. “Let's go!”
     
    *****
     
    “Mr. Glassman?”
     
    He looked up from his notes in the small coach's office next to the locker room. The practice had gone well, and he was thinking about making another change to the starting lineup. Consuela Barton, a tiny Filipina girl who had been adopted and brought to America by her childless parents, had thrown her body around with reckless abandon. Alan thought she might replace one of the girls on the back line.
     
    Tabitha Harrington stood in the doorway, Stacie Reynolds looking over her shoulder.
     
    “What can I do for you, Tabby?” He stood up, then frowned. “I thought everyone had left.”
     
    Tabby nodded. “We waited until everyone else was gone,” she said. “I didn't want anyone to hear what I had to say to you.
     
    “I wanted to thank you,” she said, voice trembling a little. “No teacher has ever stood up for me like you did today. Mr. Walton certainly wouldn't have.”
     
    Alan sat on the