Page 10 of Coach’s Pass (Twin Cities #1)

Coach Schmidt

When Jackson plays at his finest, I know that no other team in the country could beat us.

His timing and placement are flawless. Awareness in and outside the pocket.

He sees the field in slow motion, always two plays ahead.

I’ve coached a lot of talent in my time.

But I’ve never seen anyone play the position with this kind of control.

The complete opposite of what he wanted from me. He ached for me to own him. Spread him out against the locker, while I took full control of him. What would happen if I cut things off with him? Would he spiral into a meltdown? God, I didn’t want that.

He made me feel alive for the first time in years. Back to before I married Maggie. But I have to think about reality. My family and my career. All of it is jeopardized every moment I’m alone with him in. I can’t control myself and neither can he.

We are the worst possible people for each other.

He’s a young stud with daddy issues, I’m a divorced dad with three kids.

He’s my quarterback and I’m his coach. He’s my son’s best friend, I’m twice his age.

This should never have started. I’ve broken every rule and ethical boundary I’m supposed to uphold.

And yet… when I’m with him everything feels perfect.

Like we were meant to be with each other.

I drift back to the present, pulled out of my inner spiral by the sound of Alicia and Kay shrieking with excitement.

They’re practically bouncing with joy at every storefront we pass, pointing at stuffed animals and anything with sugar.

We’ve made it to the Mall of America, the quintessential icon of American Consumerism.

Four floors stacked with every brand imaginable.

Roller coasters and water slides carrying screaming children through the center.

It’s loud and chaotic, everything two eleven-year-old girls could dream of.

For a second, I let myself enjoy it. Letting their laughter wash over me, a moment of normalcy to anchor me. To drown out the tension in my chest. Because as complicated as my work life has become… Here to Alicia and Kay, I’m just dad. Not a D1 Coach teetering on the edge of a scandal.

“Alright girls, should we get some food?”

“Burgers and milkshakes! Please dad!” They shriek together, their eyes already scanning for the nearest restaurant.

We make our way up to the food court, the scent of fried everything wafting through the air. After some predictable back-and-forth, we settle on Shake Barn. “Could I please get three burgers, three fries, and one peanut butter, chocolate swirl, and pina colada milkshake?”

“Coming right up, we’ll bring it over to your table once it’s ready.” The employee smiles, handing me our order number.

“Pick a table, you two.”

They squeal and dart toward a booth by the window, giggling like it’s the best day of their lives. I let myself breathe for a moment. Just a regular afternoon at the mall with my daughters.

Then my phone chirps, it a text message from Jackson. Just when I’d managed to tuck him out of my head for five damn minutes.

Jackson : Hey Coach, can’t stop thinking about my reward for the Iowa game…

My pulse kicks up. I glance across the food court to make sure no one's looking, thumb hovering over the keyboard.

Me: Don’t worry, I won’t let you down babe. Keep your weekend free.

I hit send. Immediately regret it. And also… don’t. While I obviously love being physical with Jackson, I felt there was something deeper between us. Some real chemistry. I can’t explain it, it’s as if we are drawn to each other in some fundamental way.

With no game this weekend, maybe it was the perfect window for a romantic getaway to Duluth for a couple of nights.

I start to imagine it. Speeding up I-35, stopping at a casino or two to test out our luck.

Enjoy the changing tree colors of the North Shore.

Strolling through Canal Park. Perhaps drive up to Split-Rock Lighthouse and stop at Gooseberry Falls.

Eat some famous pie up there with some fresh coffee.

Get out of Minneapolis for a few days. Take a break from watching film and calling recruits. Maybe we could get a glimpse of what we could be together.

My grandparents love watching the girls. Spoiling them rotten with chocolate chip pancakes and unlimited screen time. Taking them out to the movies. Truly blessed to have such wonderful parents.

Yeah, a weekend in Duluth might be exactly what we need. Slow down and strip away the secrecy. To find out if this thing between us is more than reckless touches and locker room fucking. If it’s something real. Because God help me, I want it to be.

Me : Pick you up at 4 on Friday?

Jackson : I’ll be ready Coach :)

Me : Make sure to pack an overnight bag.

Jackson : Yes sir!

I pull up to Jackson’s apartment building, easing my Tahoe into the loading zone. Definitely not legal, but it’ll do. Thank God for the tinted windows. Last thing I need is students wondering why the head coach is picking up his starting quarterback.

Me : Here! Parked illegally, please hurry lol.

Do the college kids still use lol? I hope so. A second later—

Jackson: Almost there. Don’t worry lol.

Well… that answers that. The lobby doors swing open and there he is. Effortlessly handsome. Jackson strides out blonde hair catching the breeze, cracking a wicked smile. He looks happy. Much happier than when I first met him. He flings open my door and landing his duffel in the back seat.

“Hey there Coach. What’s the plan this weekend?” He says, his piercing blue eyes locked onto mine. “Told Austin I’m going to be out of town for a few days. So, hope you don’t plan on kidnapping me.”

I laugh, shifting into drive. “Only for a few days,” I say with a grin. “Can’t have you miss the Dakota State game. I like winning too much.”

He chuckles, leaning back into the seat, making himself at home. “So, this is like a date?”

I smile, whole-heartedly, “I guess you could say that.”

I know I’m digging myself a deeper hole with every word I say to him. A hole that could suffocate me if it all comes crashing down. But somehow… that might be okay. Because if I go down, at least I’m not alone. I’d have Jackson by my side. And right now, in this moment, that feels worth everything.

We merge onto I-35 North, caught in the thick of rush hour traffic.

Christ, I think the Minnesota Lumberjacks have their first home game tonight.

The state’s professional football team. Their stadium, North Timber Field, is afloat with activity.

The exit ramp leading to the stadium is locked in a complete standstill.

A parking lot full of honking and cussing.

Minnesotans were pretty nice until they got stuck in traffic.

Everyone was hoping that this year, the Lumberjacks would finally be the one that they bring home a Superbowl.

But that’s what we hoped every year. No one is holding their breath quite yet.

“Would you want to be drafted to the Lumberjacks?” I ask, half-curious where his head is at.

Jackson looks up from his phone. “It all depends.” He smirks. “If that means I get to be with you, absolutely.”

His words hit me harder than I expected. My face blushes with heat. I’m not the kind of man to get smitten, but he’s starting to fill me with joy. He’s starting to think about a future with us together.

After sitting in traffic for way too long, we break free, cruising our way north.

Making our way through New Brighton, then Lino Lakes, escaping past the suburban sprawl once we exit Forest Lake.

The cookie cutter houses fall away, replaced by the gorgeous autumn colors.

Dark red and rich golden trees line the edges of the freeway. Autumn in full bloom.

I roll down the windows, letting the crisp air flood the Tahoe. “The clean smell of Up North,” I say, taking in a refreshing breath.

“Yeah?” Jackson chuckles beside me. “That big of a difference from the city?”

“When you get older, you start to appreciate the small things,” I say, then immediately smirk to myself. Wow, I sound ancient.

He catches it too, grinning wide. “You’re not that old, Coach.”

Jackson makes feel young again. Not just in body, but in spirit. To remember the man I used to be, before having the stress of three kids. When I’m with him, it’s like stepping into a different reality. Someone alive, that’s not on autopilot. One of the many things I love about him.

I blink, catching sight of glowing neon in the distance. “Oh there’s a casino coming up on the right!” I shout excitedly. “Used to stop here all the time when I was young. Dakota Sky Casino .”

Jackson perks up. “Yeah? Worth the stop?”

“Oh yeah. Great place to have fun and lose all your cash,” I chuckle.

“Let’s stop!” he says.

I veer off onto the exit ramp and into the massive parking lot. Neon signs blaze against the dark sky. It’s packed. Not a single empty spot in sight.

“Friday night,” I say knowingly. “That’s when they run their famous seafood buffet. You ever had king crab legs before?”

Jackson raises a brow. “Can’t say I have.”

“Oh, you’re in for a treat,” I laugh. “Me and the guys used to pile into my old F-150 and drive up just for these. Ate like kings, gambled like idiots.”

He chuckles. “Sounds like you were a wild one back in the day.”

I wink. “You have no idea.”

We find a parking spot, after waiting behind someone for twenty minutes. Make our way inside the casino. It’s buzzing with life, the smell of cigarette smoke hitting hard. Slot machines chime like church bells on overdrive. Full of nostalgia.

We make our way past the rows of blackjack tables and bright digital displays until a buffalo slot machine catches my eye. “Classic,” I murmur with a grin, pulling out my wallet. I peel off a crisp Benjamin and hold it out to Jackson.

“Why don’t you try your luck?”

He glances between the machine and the bill, arching a brow. “Are you sure?”