Total pages in book: 104
Estimated words: 97882 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 489(@200wpm)___ 392(@250wpm)___ 326(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 97882 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 489(@200wpm)___ 392(@250wpm)___ 326(@300wpm)
“I can’t do that.”
His eyes widened, like he was shocked I had the balls to say even that much. “Oh, you can, and you will. My daughter has been through more shit than you could ever fully comprehend.”
I wanted to argue that, too, but I let him continue.
“She’s finally living on her own, making friends, holding good grades, staying out of trouble. She’s finally doing okay. And I don’t need some hot shot athlete leaving for the NFL to come in, break her heart, and fuck all that up.”
“Did you ever stop to think that maybe I’m part of the reason she’s doing so good?”
He laughed. Not a subtle or amused laugh, but one that bellowed out of him loud and full of disdain. “The only thing you’re responsible for is putting her on edge, for putting temptation too close. I know about this place,” he said, gesturing to the house around us. “I know about the parties, the drugs. I know exactly what kind of influence you are,” he added, taking a step toward me with his finger pointed at my chest. “And how you think you’re better than everyone else, that you’re smarter than even your coaches, that you don’t need to follow directions or listen to anyone above you. You think you call your own shots, and that’s fine, but I’m here to knock you down a peg or two and remind you that you don’t know everything.”
“I never claimed to.”
“You’re as blind as you are stubborn.”
“Me? I’m the stubborn one?” I stood then, trying to keep my voice calm even as the level of it raised. “Coach, with all due respect, you have been on my ass all season long, ever since you showed up. It’s like you made up your mind about me before you even knew who I was.”
“I knew well enough after one practice.”
“You haven’t even given me a chance to—”
“What do you call this?” he interrupted, thrusting his hand toward me. “I gave you a chance to prove me wrong, Moore, and you didn’t. You proved I knew exactly who you were and that I had every reason to be wary of you — not only as a quarterback and a captain, but as someone with too much time around my daughter. I should have never let her watch over your recovery.”
I blew out a frustrated breath. “Look, I know I disobeyed your orders. But—”
“No, there shouldn’t be a but after that sentence.”
I ground my teeth, pissed off that he wouldn’t even let me finish a goddamn sentence.
“Again, you are the quarterback. You are the captain. I shouldn’t have to say anything more than those two facts for you to understand that out of all the players on the team, it’s you I expect the most from. It’s you who I don’t blink at before demanding greatness. It’s you I should be able to trust. And it’s not you who I should have to worry about going against my orders — on or off the field.”
I scrubbed a hand over my jaw, shaking my head and biting my tongue. Clearly, it was useless to even attempt to argue.
Coach stared at me a long moment, and then said, “You’re on probation.”
Fear sliced through me like an ice pick. “What does that mean?”
“It means leave her alone, or I play Russo in the playoffs and call every scout still interested in your sorry ass and tell them your shoulder injury flared up again.”
“You can’t be fucking serious.” I gaped at him, incredulous, unable to believe what I was hearing. “If you would just let me talk—”
“I don’t have to let you do anything, including play,” he roared, his face beet red. “Try me, Moore. I dare you. I dare you to call my bluff. If I so much as see you look at my daughter, your ass will be on that bench come bowl day.”
My nose flared, and I tongued the inside of my cheek as I shook my head in disbelief.
“Let. Her. Go,” Coach finished, swiping his jacket off the back of the couch. He shrugged one arm on and then the other as he headed for the door. “Or kiss your career goodbye.”
Julep
I was living my own worst nightmare.
Mary watched me like I was a wild animal as I paced the living room, hands tearing at my hair, thumbnails chewed to the nub, eyes constantly skating to the house across the street where I knew my father was ripping Holden a new asshole.
I wished with everything that I was that he would have talked to me first.
I wished I could explain. I wished I could take the heat, take the blame for everything and spare whatever discipline he was dishing out to his quarterback right now. Because I knew it would be severe. I knew this wasn’t a crime that would go unpunished.