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The way her eyes shine with mischief nearly undoes me. I grip her cheeks, pulling her in for a kiss. It’s short, but I savor the feel of her lips on mine. She’s everything to me. “I’m so proud of you.” What I saw earlier was a girl turning into a woman. Someone who is taking the reins of her life. Bailey has really stepped into her own.
“I was pretty awesome, wasn’t I?”
“I think that’s my line.”
“Maybe your conceit is running off on me.”
I tilt her head down to kiss her forehead. “I know you say it’s okay, but I feel like I should be there for you at lunch.”
She blinks up at me. “The team is important to you. They’re family. I know you would do anything for them.”
Her words carve their way into my heart.
When I started telling her about my past last night, it was difficult to explain how I feel about football. I was so inarticulate, but she nailed everything, understanding me in ways I never knew she could.
Family has let me down before. My birth mom never fought for me. But the guys I go out on the field with every practice? Every game? They fight for me every time.
If that’s not family, I don’t know what is.
“You’re going to go, and you’re not going to think about me at all,” she says, lifting her chin as if I’ll just follow her command.
“I’m going to go, but good luck getting me not to think about you.”
I kiss her one last time and then lead her out of the room. Darrin and Mrs. Covington are standing near the front door. I give him a bro hug and then shake their mother’s hand before excusing myself.
And as for my real family? My parents who took me in when I was left with no one? I’m still trying to navigate the guards I put around my heart so I don’t push them away. I have to find a happy medium there somewhere, to deal with the separation in ways other than just not thinking about them. But one thing I know, is that my parents won’t give up on me either. They certainly haven’t yet.
Considering what we thought could happen today, things couldn’t have gone any better. I’m riding out on a high as I exit the house and search the driveway for my car.Shit, it’s at Kenna’s.For a split second, I think about asking Darrin to give me a ride, but I don’t want to intrude on their family time. It seems like in the end, Mrs. Covington was only worried about their future and her time with them, so I’m not going to take that away now.
I walk toward Kenna’s house, picking up the pace so I don’t make Coach wait. When I get there, I slide into the driver’s seat of my Charger, start the engine, and take off.
As predicted, I can’t keep my mind off Bailey. Even throughout the meeting with Coach, it drifts until I have to make myself focus on what he’s saying.
He peers over from behind his desk in his home office. “I’ve seen great improvement in you, Aidan. You’ve really turned yourself around.”
I take a deep breath and let it out. “That means a lot to me, Coach. I’m sorry I ever disappointed you in the first place. I just got off track.”
“I understand being young and dumb. I’m not interested in turning boys into partying NFL players. I’m interested in turning boys into responsible men. You understand?”
I nod.
“I was happy to see your growth and your recommitment to your team and your play over the last couple of weeks. The performance you gave at the last game was beyond stellar.”
My heart beats like crazy. “Thank you, Coach. That means so much to me.”
“Which is why I’m going to honor you in the midseason awards with Most Improved Player. You saw your faults, you improved them. I know it’s not the award most players want to receive, but this is special. I hope it lights a fire under your ass so you never win most improved again. You deserve all the accolades, son. Your behavior off the field in the fundraiser has been exemplary. Your attitude in front of the other players is second to none. So, I’m also awarding you the midseason Teammate Award.”
My heart lurches, and I have to set my jaw so I don’t react.Two awards?“Coach, I’m honored.” My phone starts to vibrate, and I silence it through my jeans, hoping to shut it off before Coach notices.
“I’m glad to be the one to tell you. We’re going to give out the midseason awards at the Halloween Ball this year. Let the public see something special.” He clears his throat and sets his glasses down. “I hear you and your girlfriend are in a bit of a friendly battle with Kenna and West.”
He smirks, and I match it with one of my own. “Yes, sir. We’re looking to start dominating soon.”
Coach chuckles. “Attaboy. I have no skin in the game other than my wife needs to be completely satisfied with the way everything is going. I’m sure you understand. Happy wife, happy life.”
“Completely, sir.” My mind drifts to Bails again. I itch to look at my phone to see if it was her.
“Excellent,” he says, peering over at his computer. “You can get out of here. I’ve got other players to see.”