Page 37

Amos

“Um, have they ever actually practiced?”

I looked at Jake and cocked my eyebrow.

He smiled and shrugged. “When’s the last time you motivated a bunch of high school boys to apply themselves?”

I looked back at the team that played like shit. Like, uber shit. The first day I’d come to practice, the boys had been intense. They had a hundred questions, and now we were on day five of summer practice, and my being there had lost most of its excitement.

Jake had forced each of the boys to sign a document saying they wouldn’t let anyone know I was there. The threat was that I’d leave if anyone did. I’m not sure any of these kids cared though. They just didn’t have the oomph necessary to win at the sport.

“Okay, well, if you’re willing to let me, I’d like to rip them a new one. But only if you don’t mind me stepping in,”

I said, causing Jake to smile.

“I’ll call them in now.”

I nodded and mentally pulled up lectures of coaches from my past. None of my coaches had been warm and fuzzy. They were the opposite and definitely not someone to expose to the public. They, however, knew how to play football.

As soon as the team was in front of me, I sat and stared at them for several long moments. “Who wants to play this game? Raise your hands. Who wants to be out here playing?”

They all raised their hands, and I smiled inwardly. Got you.

“That’s some raw bullshit right there. Not one of you wants to be here. Not one of you is even trying out there. You’re pretending to practice, pretending to play. My advice, Coach?”

I said, looking at Jake, wanting to draw him into the conversation. “My advice is that you resign and go find a team that wants to fucking play this game. I think I know a couple of teams that might be interested in a coach that puts so much into a team, and it’s obvious these guys couldn’t give a damn.”

Jake nodded sadly. “Yeah, it doesn’t seem worth it, does it?”

I shook my head. “Nope. Well, I guess that’s it. Thanks, Coach.”

I stood to go, and when I turned around, all their faces were somber. “What? You’re serious now? All of a sudden, you seem to care?”

None of the kids said anything. “Tony, you’re the quarterback; you’re supposed to be leading this team, motivating them, promoting their spirit. It seems to me all you do is moan about the heat. Yeah, it’s hot, but guess what? It’s always hot when you put the equipment on, and you all live in the freaking desert. Omar, you’re almost as big as me, yet you tackle like someone afraid he’s going to break. Logan, you could be one of the best wide receivers I’ve seen, but you don’t seem to care. None of you seem to care.”

I looked at Jake. “I’ll be in the clubhouse if you want to chat. I’m sorry, but if I’m going to dedicate this much time to a team, I want them to give a shit.”

I walked away. Jake was a great coach. He’d been a star of his football team back in his day and had returned to the area to coach because he loved the game. The problem was his team hadn’t won anything in a long time, and that’d created a negative cycle that he needed to break if it was going to get better.

I figured I could be the bad guy here, let him off the hook, let him motivate the guys to try to keep me on board. I didn’t have a clue if it’d work, but it was worth a shot.

I had only been in Jake’s office fifteen minutes before I heard the guys come in and head to the showers. I leaned back in Jake’s chair and waited for him to come in and tell me whether or not they took the bait.

Jake came in frowning. “I’m sorry, Mr. Clark,”

he said and shut the door behind him. His face bloomed into a smile a moment later. “Wow, you’re an amazing actor. They’re terrified you’re leaving,”

he said quietly so no one listening could hear.

I shrugged. “Hey, if it gets them motivated—”

“They are terrified. I think mostly it’s because they don’t want you to go back and tell the press they’re the lazy little fucks that they are.”

I had to force myself not to laugh out loud. We needed to keep the aura of frustration in place.

“Okay, I’ll skip tomorrow. You’re going to work the crap out of them, and if they meet my quota for reps on the field, I’ll consider coming back.”

“I’m skeptical this will work, at least long term, but hey, it’s worth a try.”

I nodded and smiled. Then I forced my expression into an angry scowl, stomped out of the office, and left without talking to any of the boys. That would drive the message home.

I drove to my B&B and turned on the television. I was so freaking bored. I went from working my ass off to being holed up in a small cottage on the edge of the desert. I didn’t want anyone to recognize me, so I didn’t go out, but damn, I was going to die if I didn’t figure something out.

Jake was handsome and rugged, in a way that athletes looked after years of using their bodies hard. If he wasn’t married, I’d have considered getting to know him better, but even if he was available, he wasn’t my type. I mean, my type was Tommy. I wish I’d figured out how to spend time with him. Oh well, too late now.

I turned the TV down, grabbed my e-reader, and opened my library to find something to read. I always had books I liked, knowing I could entertain myself between games. I’d been reading a lot lately, not having a job and not knowing what I wanted to do with the rest of my life.

Reading allowed me to put the pressure away for a little while, at least.

I thought about the team. The boys were just regular kids who had spent too many years playing with their phones and not enough time working together. They were far from what they’d need to be to win a game, but I strongly believed they had the ability to play somewhat better.

I fell asleep thinking about what I could talk with Jake about to get the boys ready for the season. Mostly, they needed to exercise and build up their stamina. But they also needed to learn to work with one another.

That might be a bit more of a challenge. As my mind drifted toward sleep, I thought about Tommy. What would he suggest? Probably some bullshit team-building exercises.

I sat up in bed and grabbed my phone.

Me: Jake, dude, I’ve got it. Change of plans. I’ll meet you tomorrow during your planning session.

Jake: Okay, should I be concerned?

Me: Oh yeah, but it’s going to be epic.

Jake: Cool, I guess.

I knew Jake wasn’t sure about me yet, and why would he be? I had just observed him and the guys the past week. But if I got it right, I might be able to motivate the team and have a hell of a lot of fun.