Page 189 of Falling Offsides

“Thank you,” I say, swallowing hard.

Thank you. Thank you?

To my shock, he claps a hand on my shoulder in that assuring way of his before he plucks the paper out of my hand, folds it, and shoves it in his pocket.

We don’t speak for a while. Just get in the car and ride in silence with the radio rambling in the background. All the while, my insides are chewing themselves out.

We’re almost to the hotel, stuck in traffic, when Coach finally speaks. “Courtney okay?”

“Yeah. Yeah, she’s holding it together.”

He exhales. “She’s stubborn and resilient.”

I glance out the window. “Yeah, she is.”

Another silence. This one is different, heavier. I can hear his brain accelerate, and I know what’s coming when I look over and he’s got his hands laced together on his lap.

“So, this is your family emergency?”

I swallow. “Yes, sir.”

“Whatever is going on between you and Coutney?—”

“I’m in love with her,” I say before he can finish. “And I know that’s not convenient for anyone. I know it complicates a million things.”

His jaw tics.

“But I’d give up everything before I give her up.”

He shifts, still keeping his gaze out of the windshield. “What does everything mean to you, Broussard?”

“It means everything that is not your daughter. I will give it up to keep her.”

“And what about her plans, Bruce. What about her ambitions? Courtney’s bright and in the moment she may think she’ll be happy stepping away from the path she’s carved out for herself. But down the road when the novelty has worn off and?—”

“With all due respect, sir,” I chime in. “Courtneyissmart and I know that there is a part of me and her that wants us to give up everything we’ve worked for to be together in the here and now, but we know better. We’re building the foundations for our future right now and it’s not about the here and now, it’s about the big picture. The long term.”

Coach looks at me, blue eyes narrowed on mine as I stop at another light and turn to face him.

“I already mapped out the season schedule. Found all the overlaps with The Crescents. I can fly to her. She can come to me. We’ll make it work. No matter how messy it is. No matter how tired I get. Courtney’s worth it.”

Coach studies me like he’s trying to read through every layer of my skin and bones to the core of me and my intentions.

“It’s not going to be easy, son.”

“I don’t want easy,” I say, holding his stare. “I want her.”

He sighs, like he’s trying to figure out what to say. Then, finally he simply nods.

“Okay.”

“Okay.”

“Don’t fuck it up.”

“I won’t,” I promise, because I’d burn down the whole damn world before I let anyone take Courtney from me. Even myself.

THIRTY-EIGHT