Howls and Home Runs (Mascot Matchups #1)

5. Lainey

Chapter five

Lainey

S tepping into the locker room, I replay the strange dream I had last night. A dark furry figure chases me through the stadium. I weave through the plastic folding seats, down the stairs and across the field. It’s terrifying, yet thrilling. The sound of something dripping in the distance and a light breeze reaches my ears before I spot a flash of red fur…

I shake my head to clear the dream from my thoughts and set my bag down. I’m the only one in the stadium today. Here to “get to know Wilder” like Coach Reynar suggested.

A smile tugs at my lips as I open Wilder’s locker. “It’s just you and me today, big guy.”

Carefully taking him out of the locker I notice a weird texture to the fur on his paws. “What happened here?”

There I go talking to myself again. Loony Lainey, they called me. Is it really so bad I find humans a terrible source of companionship? My luck with men has been dismal at best, so I gave up dating and turned my attention to romance books instead. At least the monsters in my books don’t disappoint me.

Smirking to myself, I lay Wilder on the bench. Placing his head next to him, I step away to grab my bike shorts out of my bag. Jeans were not going to be comfortable but were unfortunately what I mindlessly chose to wear when I woke up and rushed out of my house this morning, eager to spend the day at Westland Stadium.

Stepping out of my jeans, one leg at a time with my back towards the bench, I hear that familiar sound. Another high pitched whine. Fumbling with the second leg of my jeans, my braid flies over my shoulder as I quickly turn around. I look at Wilder’s head, squinting my eyes suspiciously as a self-deprecating laugh escapes me.

“It’s just your imagination… there’s no one here.” I look away from Wilder and scan the room once more, thankful no one is here to see me in this state. With one pant leg still on and my green floral granny panties out in the open. It’s laundry day ok? I sigh and kick the remaining pant leg off, reaching for my bike shorts.

More of my dream comes back to me. I was pinned in the dirt, face down, by the furry figure. A warm body hovering over mine, large paws on either side of my head. The damp, rich earth cooling my cheek. A low growl bounces around the empty stadium and drops of spit drip down onto my bare shoulder.

Another whine drags me from my dirty daydream . “WHAT THE FUCK?” I yell, snapping my head up, eyes flying around the room. “Who’s there? Come on out now!”

Nothing. Dead silence. Shaking, I slowly turn around, scanning the rows of lockers for any sign of an intruder. No one is here, just me and Wilder. I look down at his head.

“Well, it’s certainly not you making the sounds,” Joking to myself before his foam ear twitches.

HIS EAR FUCKING TWITCHED. That’s it. I’m going insane. Just like my mother said I would. A loud gasp escapes me before I slap a hand over my mouth, taking a few steps back.

“Don’t go.” A deep rumbling voice echoes in the locker room.

I scream, clumsily tugging my bike shorts on. When I reach down to grab my bag from the floor next to the bench where Wilder was, I see the suit is no longer there.

“What–” A soft padding sound comes from behind me, cutting me off. I spin around and slam into a very solid, furry body.

“Wilder?!”