Page 19 of Shattered Dreams

Which is why when I saw an open position at the high school for a football coach, I applied. I go for an interview on Monday, and though I can’t be sure I’ll get it, I am pretty sure I’ll get it. A lot comes with my name. I’ve coached an NFL team for three years and assisted for four years before that. I’m young for a coach, and that’s what made me popular. It also helped that my team has done great the entire time, getting better with each year. I’ve built a name for myself, and right now… I’ll use it to get what I need because it’s going to benefit my daughter.

Maybe they’ll think I’m over-qualified, which of course I am. But they may also want the fame of having an NFL coach for their school. It could do good things for the team. They aren’t doing the worst, but they could improve in a lot of areas.

It’s the same team I played for in high school, and I can’t say that isn’t a little exciting to think about. But I’ll worry about that stuff later. Tonight, I’m having fun.

“Daddy, are you ready to go?” Rylee calls out as she walks down the stairs with her backpack on her back. She’s in a dark purple and white striped dress, her white sunhat and huge yellow sunglasses. I can’t help but smile—especially because she’s wearing her little heels. Of course she is. She’s such a little girls’ girl. Just like her mother.

“In about two minutes, pumpkin,” I tell her before heading into the bathroom to brush my teeth and check my hair.

Ten minutes later, we’re at my parents’. My father is out with his buddies, having a poker night, which is what he typically does on a Friday night. He’ll come home later a little tipsy and smelling like cigar smoke. He’s been doing this since I was a kid.

“Grandma!” Rylee calls out as she runs up the steps and leaps at my mother. I stay by the car, laughing.

“Have fun, girls!” I call out.

“We will,” my mother says.

“Love you, Daddy!”

“Love you too, pumpkin.”

They go inside, closing the door, and I get into my car and head to the bar where I’m going to meet Paul. I really need a drink.

“So, how does it feel to be out without your kid?” Paul teases, bringing the beer bottle to his lips.

“Weird,” I respond. “It’s been a while.”

He nods, setting down his beer. “When Amelia and I first split, it was weird as hell spending so much time without Maddox, but you get used to it. I mean, you never stop thinking about them or worrying about them, but you definitely get used to not having kids around. And then… you take advantage of it.”

I huff a laugh, picking up a buffalo chicken tender and dipping it into the blue cheese.

“I’ve spent plenty of time without Rylee, but it was normal then, and I was always so busy. You’d think I’ve never been away from her at all with the way I feel right now.”

“You’re protective of her. Makes sense after everything that’s happened, plus you’re her father and that’s what we do.”

I am so grateful to have a friend like Paul.

Yes, we have the other guys too, but they don’t have kids. They don’t understand all of this. They’re wrapped up in their own shit, which is fine. Good for them. They’re happy. It’s just nice that Paul and I are so close—both as friends and physically because if it weren’t for him, I’d have no one.

And not for nothing, but Maddox is older. He has a little more experience than me.

Kind of.

Girls are a whole different breed, I hear. Rylee is already a handful, but in a different way.

I get attitude and sass while Paul gets broken bones.

I think I’ll take the sass.

“How’s Maddox?” I ask.

“Tired of the cast and can’t wait for it to come off.”

“Think he learned his lesson?”He barks out a laugh. “Not a chance. Kid’s a daredevil and he doesn’t listen.”

“Dangerous mix.”

“No shit.”