It still hurts to put weight on my knee, so Coach has me put an arm over her shoulder and half carries me towards the finish line. Before we even get there, Alex comes running back.
Coach scowls at him, “Alex, I told you to go stretch!”
“And I did!” He says cheerfully. “And, I thought that, as team captain, it was important for me to be here for injuries.”
Winston looks at the distance we still have to cover before we get to the medics tent and lets Alex take her spot supporting my weight. He’s too tall for me to put my arm over his shoulder comfortably so he slouches down for me. His arm slips around my waist and I feel his hand grip my side through the thin fabric of my jersey. Each of his fingertips feel like a tiny flame, dancing on my skin, and I shudder comfortably, leaning into h
