Third person's POV
George walked out of the locker room with messy thoughts. He had heard things like that before. From coaches. From his father. From people who framed everything in terms of performance, discipline, and control. It wasn’t new, and that was exactly why it bothered him more than it should have. Because it wasn’t just advice. It was expectation dressed up as guidance.
And he didn’t like where it was pointing.
He dragged a hand through his damp hair as he turned a corner, his mind still running through the conversation, picking apart every word whether he wanted to or not. “She’s not a distraction.” he mumbled to himself.
If anything, it was the opposite. Still, the implication lingered, and he couldn’t shake it completely before he was stopped again.
“George.” he heard
