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“We don’t need to get into a conversation about your…” Shawn trails off, and his eyes flick to June. “Can she spell?”
“She’s barely mastered the whole alphabet. Pretty sure she’s not entering the National Spelling Bee anytime soon.”
“Right. We don’t need to talk about your s-e-x life. I don’t want my ears to bleed, and I feel bad for you.”
“Lack of s-e-x life. My right hand wants nothing to do with me anymore.”
“Thanks for that visual, Lansfield. I need to wash my eyes out with soap now. Okay. Let’s figure out a solution. When do you need someone to watch June? On game days? During the week?”
“Game days I have covered. She goes to the nursery when I’m in the stadium. It’s all the other times that have me stressed out. I don’t want her to have to sit on the sidelines and watch practice every afternoon. She should be playing with dolls and coloring books, not kicking tees.”
“Let me do some digging,” he says. “I’ll see if anyone has any connections. Are there any personality traits to avoid? Certain kinds of people you want to stay away from?”
“Someone who doesn’t want to sleep with me is literally the only criteria.”
“Great. That’s going to eliminate ninety-nine percent of the eligible population. This won’t be difficult at all.”
I smirk and wink at him. “I think Mr. Shawn likes me, June Bug.”
“Alright. You’re done here.” He gestures to the door. “I have something else I need to get to.”
“During our scheduled conference time? You’re making me feel like a middle child.”
“This isn’t our scheduled time. That’s tomorrow. It’s always on Thursdays, and today is Wednesday.”
“Oh.” I frown. “Shoot. I guess I got my days mixed up. Sorry. I’m only getting a few hours of sleep a night.”
Shawn’s face softens in understanding, and he pinches the bridge of his nose. “I’m sorry for giving you crap. This is important, and I’m being a di—jerk. Give me a few days to try and see what I can do on my end, okay? Let’s postpone our meeting tomorrow. Go home after practice, and we’ll get together next week. Hopefully I’ll have some answers by then.”
“Thanks, Coach.” I reach across the table to shake his hand. “I appreciate you.”
“Thanks, Coach,” June repeats, and I laugh, standing up and setting her on the floor.
“Ready to head home, JB?” I ask.
She nods and wraps her fingers around my thumb, waving to Shawn. “Bye, Mr. Shawn,” she says, and he cracks a smile.
“Bye, June. Thank you for coming to visit today. You be good for your dad, okay? He’s doing a really good job, even if he doesn’t feel like he is all the time.”
“That’s the nicest thing you’ve ever said to me.” I grab June’s pink backpack and sling it over my shoulder. “See you at practice tomorrow.”
“Chin up, Lansfield. We’ll get through this,” Shawn says, and he gives me an encouraging nod.
June and I leave his office and head down the hall to the player’s parking garage. I sigh and throw up an offering, a prayer, a fucking smoke signal to the universe, hoping I find the help I desperately need soon.
TWO
MAVEN
I’ve been comingto UPS Field for years. I’m usually sitting up in the stands with my dad and his girlfriend, Maggie, as we watch his best friend and my godfather, Shawn, coach the Titans from the sidelines.
It’s different today.
I walk down the tunnel as a member of the team. A recent addition to the organization and experiencing the stadium in new light with Shawn by my side.
Players pass us in their practice gear as they head to the athletic trainers’ offices for stretching and an ice bath. Someone from the ticket sales department stops Shawn for a quick autograph on a framed photo from the Super Bowl being given to a loyal season ticket holder who’s been around for thirty years.
We’re still weeks away from the season starting, but it’s busy and hectic. There are dozens of people who need to be in dozens of places, and I love seeing things from this side.
