AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Aren’t you the athletic director?”
“Yes.”
“So can’t you just say she’s allowed to play with them?”
He rubbed the back of his neck. “I can’t just change school rules whenever I want.”
“Yeah, but the winter league isn’t through the school, is it? It’s extra. Practice. And from what Sage told me, the team she’d play on could use a little practice.”
He exhaled slowly. “They’re … learning.”
“So why not let her learn with them? She’s not going to get tackled, and if the coach is the one who sets the standard of how the kids treat each other,” I paused meaningfully, letting that hang in the air, “then I’m sure all those boys will treat her with respect.”
His jaw clenched. “That’s not what I’m worried about. They’re all good kids.”
“Give her a fucking chance, man,” I said. “She’s a great kid with a hell of an arm. And if she plays, maybe there’s enough girls that they can have their own team.”
Coach Collins studied me for a long moment. “Your brother Parker is a local hero.”
At the abrupt subject change, I blinked. “Yeah, I guess so.”
“He’s great. Love watching him play in Portland. All the kids around here do. Makes them think they can have a shot at the pros because he did it. It’s the best motivation there is, don’t you think?”
Something in his tone had me narrowing my eyes. “What do you want?”
“You have your brother and a couple of Portland players come do a practice with the kids, I’ll let her on the winter team. No promises about a girls’ league, because that’s a much bigger undertaking, but I’ll give her a spot.”
The laugh I exhaled was short and shocked. “You’re extorting me so she can have a spot on the team?”
His stare was unwavering. “No. I’m asking a favor. You want me to do a favor for Sage, right? Make an exception for her that we’ve never made before.”
“Fucking hell,” I muttered. “My brother’s in the middle of a season. I can’t just force him to drag half the team here for a kids’ flag football practice.”
“I didn’t say half the team. I said a couple of the players.” He spread his arms out. “They’d help these kids, and you can’t tell me it won’t.”
Damn if I wasn’t about to grind my molars to dust staring at this guy. “Maybe you could give her a spot on the team because it’s the right thing to do, and you fucking know it.”
Even with my cursing, he didn’t flinch.
Maybe the handshake wasn’t worth it. I scrubbed a hand over my mouth. “I need a promise from you.”
He held a hand out again. “She gets a guaranteed spot on the team.”
“She starts on that team,” I told him. “I’m not making any calls just to have you sit her on the bench so you can make her some showpiece of your own virtue.”
The coach whistled low. “Most parents who come in here have a bit more of a verbal filter than you do, Mr. Wilder. We play nice, at least for a while.”
“Yeah, well, maybe that’s why I’m not a parent. I don’t have time for bullshit, and I don’t like seeing an adult brush aside a little kid who’s got a big idea.” From my slightly taller height, I stared him down. “I’ll call my brother, but until I hear from Sage’s mom that she’s going to start, I’m not promising you anything.”
He was cornered, and he knew it. Finally, he nodded. “Fine. I’m not promising anything beyond this winter season, though.”
“Believe me, I’m aware.”
“First practice is next week, by the way,” he said. “I’d love to start this season off with all that motivation.”
I snorted. “I bet.” Grudgingly, I shook his hand, only slightly reducing the strength of my grip this time.
When I got back to my truck, I sank back in the seat and sighed heavily.
