Page 96 of Shattered Dreams

She’ll never forgive me.

What the actual fuck was I thinking?

Seriously, I don’t understand. It’s like I was a different person during those interviews. I knew I shouldn’t have done it, but part of me really wanted it. Maybe I just needed to know that I could do it…

No, that’s not it. I was caught up in the attention. That’s really all it is.

How pathetic.

I check my phone during my lunch break and see a text from my mother. That’s unusual, so I check it right away, worried that something is wrong. My mother always calls the old-shool way when she needs something. I open the text to find a link. I don’t click on it right away because maybe it’s a scam. This is so strange. But something tells me this isn’t a scam and that she sent it purposefully. So I take the chance and click on it.

It opens up to a job listing. One of the local colleges is looking for a football coach.

Something in my chest both tightens and loosens at the same time.

I love my mother.

I fill out the application before thinking about it, and every letter typed feels right. This is the right thing to do. I just know it. My fingers fly over the keyboard on my phone, hoping and praying that my resume will upload this way because I’ve only ever done it from the computer before. Thankfully, it does, and I hit submit. That’s when the bell rings and I need to get back to the gym for my next class.

I’m busy for the rest of the day and then have practice after. All I want to do is run to Paul and tell him the good news.

I don’t know where he is, but I can guess. Unfortunately, he doesn’t have a lot of options. He’s either in one of these crappy motels around here or staying with Amelia—and I’m voting on the latter.

The afternoon goes by way too slowly and practice drags. I let the kids off twenty minutes early just because I want to get out of here. A few of them even seem upset by it, but oh well, kids. You’ll be fine. Go home and eat dinner.

I call my mom and ask if she can keep Rylee for another couple of hours tonight. Of course she agrees, so I race over to Amelia’s and knock on the door.

It’s pulled open quickly, the door slamming against the wall. Then someone is leaping into my arms, hugging me tightly.

“Andre,” Maddox says as he squeezes me.

“Hey, buddy,” I say, hugging him back.

I missed this kid.

Amelia walks over, standing in the doorway and smiling softly.

Good. She’s not mad at me too.

“Okay, come on before you strangle him,” she says.

She pulls Maddox off me and puts him on his feet. He stands beside his mother, looking up at me with a smile.

“He’s not here,” she says. “Sorry. I don’t know where he is.”

I sigh, rubbing the back of my neck.

“Thanks,” I say. “If you hear from him, can you let him know I stopped by? It’s important I see him in person.”

“I’ll let him know.”

I hold my fist up to bump Maddox’s. “I’ll see you soon.” I look up at Amelia for approval. She nods her head. I ruffle his hair before taking off.

Where else could he be?

There are only two motels in this rinky-dink town. I drive by both of them and I don’t see his car in either. I park in one of the lots and think.

Where the hell could he be?