Causo

 Everyone was just getting settled in the locker room when Coach Beechwood stormed in like a freight train, voice booming like always.

“Good day, Broncos! I’ve got news. You’re all getting a medical exam today. The doc needs to check your bodies, so in one hour, I want everyone here in just your underwear. If anyone shows up dressed, that’s 50 push-ups — naked!”

The whole room went quiet for a second… then exploded with groans and half-laughs.

“Oh man,” said Jason, already kicking off his cleats. “Guess it’s ‘briefs or bust,’ boys.”

“Speak for yourself,” Sam shot back, smirking. “I went with boxers today. I play loose on and off the field.”

“No one needed to know that,” chuckled Devon, flopping down on a bench in nothing but white briefs and socks. “You’re making me question my life choices.”

I was halfway through changing when I heard someone say, “Hey, if this new doc’s from New York, maybe he’ll offer us lattes after the exam.”

“You think I can request a back rub?” someone else joked.

By the time Dr. Ross arrived with Coach, the entire team was already lined up in underwear like it was just another team drill. Most of us in white briefs, a couple in black or gray. No one looked exactly comfortable, but guys like Jason and Sam were doing their best to keep things light.

“Alright Broncos!” Coach shouted. “The doc’s here. Get ready — he wants to hear you cough!”

Sam leaned toward Jason and muttered, “If I cough too hard, you better catch me.”

Jason grinned. “If you pass out in your tighty-whities, I’m never letting you live it down.”

When the doctor started the exams from the far end of the line, everyone got a little quieter. You could hear each guy step forward, lower their underwear, cough, and step back in line. No one made fun — it wasn’t that kind of moment — but a few of the guys couldn’t resist throwing around a little humor to cut the tension.

As the doctor moved closer, Jason elbowed Devon. “Bet he skips you, man. You’re too pretty. That’s not even regulation.”

Devon smirked. “What can I say? Genetics. Blame my parents.”

When the doctor finally got to them, they fell quiet, like the rest — respectful, focused. After each exam, they slipped back into line, a little red in the face, but still standing tall.

When it was all over, Coach clapped his hands and shouted, “Alright, everyone dressed now! Let’s play ball!”

Everyone scattered to grab their gear. Jason tugged his shorts back on and looked over at Sam. “Well, that was intimate.”

Sam laughed. “We’ve officially bonded, man. No turning back now.”

As we hit the field, the awkwardness faded. The jokes picked up again, helmets clacked, cleats dug into the turf, and just like that, we were back to being a team.

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Would you like to continue the story on the field or show how the team starts to warm up to Dr. Ross after this?