Gym Rats - Jackson Olson x OC

32

Jackson's POV

I know Cecelia was watching me the entire time we were practicing. She was definitely chatting it up with some of our staff members in the dugout, but I always felt her eyes on me. When I would glance over at her, it felt like her pupils were heart-shaped. This girl is head over heels, and she looks gorgeous doing it too. The way her blue eyes sparkle as the sun is just starting to set, it's the best sight around.

After we get done with the baseball side of things, we start learning new dances to do. As it's just the infielders practicing the dances right now, I see Cecelia talking to a lot of the guys in the dugout. I have to focus on learning this, so I turn back to watch one of our entertainment coordinators.

Once we get a break, I head over to the dugout to make sure Cecelia is okay. Judging by the smile on her face as she's talking to Archer, I think she's having a really good time. I place my hand on her upper back so she knows I'm there. She leans back into my shoulder, not breaking her eye contact as she talks about swimming with him. Once Archer is called to the field, she looks over at me, "Everyone is so nice. They didn't ask about us at all. They just wanted to know about me."

"What can I say? This is the best work environment ever."

"You're lucky. Very lucky."

I rub her back a bit before I'm called back to the field. Cecelia sits down on the bench to watch me learn another TikTok dance.

————

Once our practice is over, I collect my things (and my girlfriend), and start heading back to my car. Cecelia had wrapped her arms around my bicep, which is shocking to me because I am very sweaty and gross at the current moment.

"Cava for dinner?" She suggests. My mouth waters at the word 'Cava'.

"Yes please," I say, before opening the trunk of my car and putting my bag in, before closing it and going over to open Cecelia's door. She plants a kiss on my cheek again before she gets in.

I quickly get into my seat and hit the road towards Cava. Cecelia is humming the words to the song I'm currently playing, which is 'Espresso' by Sabrina Carpenter.

"Sing it," I say to her, giving a quick glance over at her.

"You wish," she responds, before going back to humming the song.

I pull into the Cava parking lot and do my usual gentleman routine. Once I have Cecelia's hand in mine, she comes close to me yet again, almost like she's a magnet. We walk in, order our bowls, I pay, and we sit down to eat.

"All of the finals are on at 2:30," she says, "So hopefully you'll be able to watch both of my events."

"I wouldn't miss them for the world. Who's going to be there with you?"

"Everyone except you. Sean will be on the deck, my parents and Lola in the stands."

"Sean gets deck privileges?"

"Yes... and I'm so excited. So is he. He won't shut up about it."

"I'm jealous that you're going to meet so many great athletes and celebrities."

"Micheal Phelps, LeBron James, Simone Biles, Snoop Dogg... I'm so nervous to meet them. Micheal Phelps is my idol. He's who taught me how to love butterfly."

I smile at her excitement over Paris. If only I could go with her, but I have a job here. She understands that, and I can't let my fans down. I watch as she takes a couple bites of her bowl.

"Do you want to go back to my apartment after this?" I offer, "More so for me to take a shower."

"Yeah, you need to take a shower," she says, wrinkling her nose with a smile on her face.

I chuckle at her expression, "Thanks, as if I hadn't noticed." I pause, watching her eat happily. I don't mind the moments where we eat in silence, and my mind goes back to watching that little girl jump into her arms. "Those girls from earlier really do love you."

Cecelia looks back up at me and smiles, "Yeah. They do."

"Tell me more about the swim team."

"So, our team is ages 4 to 18. I've always been really good with the little kids, so I get put with all the first year swimmers. I was Eliza's first swim coach, and she was my first swimmer, so we have a really good bond."

"What about the other families? What are they like?"

"We have a lot of good families, I honestly have not had a time where I've had to be hard on a parent. They're all sweet. The kids are usually good, but they're kids too."

"So you usually teach like, really little kids?"

"The way practice is set up, I technically teach every age group. But I start with the 8 and unders, then the 9 through 12 year olds, then 13 through 18. I always teach the lower extremes of those age groups. Unless I beg Sean not to."

I smile at her, "That's really cool. I'm sure it's a lot of fun for you."

"Absolutely. It's my favorite thing to do. I love working on technique and seeing kids change how they swim. And I love teaching the little kids how to dive. They're so cute."

I smile at her swooning over her job, "Not everyone can say they've been coached by an Olympian. But I can!"

She chuckles a bit, having finished her bowl before me. She extends her hand out, wanting to hold mine. I give her my hand.

"I'm enjoying every moment I can with you, Jackson."

"Do you want to sleep over at my apartment tonight?"

"Do you have clothes I can steal?"

"You can have anything you want."