The Assistant Coach (BOOK 1: OMEN KING SERIES)

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Leia Welsh

I can't believe I'm stuck in this situation.

Here I am, wedged between two hulking men who seem to have forgotten the concept of personal space.

Warren, with his perfectly tailored tuxedo that shows off every muscle on his body, sits to my left. I can feel my heart fluttering every time I steal a glance at him. His eyes are fixed on the passing scenery outside, but every now and then, he looks over at me, his gaze lingering on my collarbone.

And don't even get me started on his cologne – it's like a sweet, intoxicating cloud that surrounds me. Then there's Owen, sitting to my right. He's built like a brick house, all muscles and no sense of boundaries. I swear, he's practically squishing me into Warren just to make room for Ari, who's sitting next to him. I guess it's Fuck Leia.

We decided to take an Uber to get to our destination, and by "we," I mean the three of them. I didn't really have a say in the matter, but who cares how we get there anyway? All I can think about is how I ended up in this situation with these two clueless men squishing poor me. Oh, the things I do for Ari.

Ari explained the fundraiser to me earlier, about how Miranda invited us to this fundraiser. Oh, and she conveniently forgot to mention that she invited Owen, too. So, there I was, stuck in the guys' dorm room, and in walked Warren, because why not add more chaos to the mix?

Warren just has to go and spread his legs, making my legs collide with Owen's. And of course, Owen follows suit, spreading his legs wider and causing my dress to ride up a bit. Meanwhile, Ari's legs have enough room for two people.

I should have sat in the passenger seat.

Warren, always the charmer, leans in and asks, "What's this fundraiser for again?" His question is directed to me, but I stay silent because let's be real, I have no clue either.

Ari pipes up, "It's for the Wish program," and I find myself staring at the snail-paced Uber driver, wondering how I ended up in this mess.

I can feel my patience wearing thin as the guy behind the wheel seems to have a serious case of lead feet. My legs are starting to tingle from being stuck in this car for so long, and to top it off, he's missed not one, but two turns already.

I drum my fingers impatiently on my thigh while Owen and Warren fidget in the seats, their long legs encroaching on my personal space.

Owen breaks the silence, "Wish program?" His eyes never leaving Ari. Am I just here as the third wheel to Ari's apparent date with Owen?

And let's not forget about Warren, who's practically the fourth wheel in this situation because no one really wanted him here in the first place. He just invited himself along for the ride.

Before I can dwell on my third-wheel status any longer, the driver interrupts with a question about our destination.

"Is this the place?" he seems impressed by the grandeur of the venue, with its sleek, modern, white facade that reminds me of the White House. Tall pillars line the entrance, making it seem even more imposing– and I can't blame him.

I wonder why nobody is getting out. My legs are starting to go numb from sitting for so long. I lean over Warren, feeling his warm breath on my neck, and my heart starts to race. His lips brush against my skin, sending shivers down my spine.

His hand finds its way to my lower back to keep me steady, sending a jolt of electricity through my body.

"What are you doing?" Warren's shocked expression catches me off guard.