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As Josh observed them, his mind wandered back to Tyler, wondering what had brought him back to their hometown. He knew about the heart attack, of course. The whole world had watched it happen in real time. The hit, the fall, and the rush to the hospital. Just last month, ESPN had spent a week theorizing that Tyler planned to retire.

Was this trip home just a visit, or something more permanent? Josh found himself imagining a chance to reconnect with the guy who’d occupied so much of his teenage daydreams. Talk about ancient history….

Nah. They’d been strangers. Tyler had never even noticed him and certainly wouldn’t recognize him after all this time. Josh barely recognized himself.

“All right, gang,” Josh called out as the lunch break came to an end. “Great work today. Remember to respect each other and everyone else on campus—even famous football players.”

“Got it, Coach,” they chorused, and he watched them file out of the weight room, their Fantana chatter fading into the hallway.

Josh allowed himself a tiny smile, hoping that maybe, just maybe, he might get the chance to see Tyler again. Even just to say hi. And this time he wouldn’t be the skinny, awkward nerd he’d been in high school. Who knew—he might be someone Tyler would actually notice.

After lunch, Josh tried to act nonchalant as he meandered through the school’s corridors toward the principal’s office. The mob had dispersed, but the kids still seemed keyed up and chatty about their infamous visitor. A lot of texting and gossip seemed to be happening in Tyler’s wake.

Tyler Fantana had always had that effect on crowds. Josh hesitated against the wall a moment, second-guessing this dumb impulse.

The memories of his teenage fantasies came surging back: stolen glances in the halls, Tyler goofing around with his buddies, muscle straining beneath his jersey, his big laugh, teasing smile, and that insane rush the few times their eyes happened to meet by accident.

“Get a grip, Joshua,” he muttered under his breath, shaking his head to clear away the lingering images. “Be cool.”

The door to the college counselor’s office opened ahead, and Myra Waxman stepped out to sniff the air, no doubt lured out by the hubbub.

As subtly as possible, Josh angled to the other side of the hall, out of her grab radius.

Myra didn’t usually get handsy in front of the students, but she clutched at him at the most awkward moments under the camouflage of motherly affection. No, thanks. Unlike Elise and her friendly flirting, Myra could get aggressive and seemed a little too serious for comfort, mothering him about the oddest things. Groping and scolding seemed to be her only modes with him. Probably, she just kept herself too lonely for her own good.

As he turned the corner, he spotted Principal Carver’s door slightly ajar. He could hear faint voices from within, and his pulse quickened. With every step closer, he felt the pressure of his own advice to the students in the weight room earlier: respect Tyler’s privacy. Yet here he was, teetering on the edge of hypocrisy.

Am I really going to do this? Josh felt queasy and emboldened. It’s hardly fair to barge in and slobber over him. I just finished lecturing the kids about space and courtesy.

He flexed his shoulders and back, mustering the strength and confidence he’d worked so hard for over the years.

He has no idea who I am. He hesitated in front of the door, biting his lip as he weighed his pitiful options. Torn between satisfying his own urges and respecting the person who had unwittingly inspired him to transform himself into the man he was today.

A long shot, but even the chance of a glimpse of Tyler or a quick hello made trying seem important. Both thrilling and terrifying, the idea that they could meet again as equals.

“Coach Ayres!” Carver’s voice called from inside, tugging Josh out of his dilemma. “Come on in. I was just talking to someone about you.”

Josh took a breath, a small smile playing at the corners of his mouth, as though he was walking to the end of a high diving board. He hesitated another moment before pressing the door open and plunging in.

“Hey, Principal Carver.” Josh stepped into the office, doing his best to keep his voice level. Tyler was gone. He couldn’t help the surge of irritation, however irrational. “Word has it we had a famous visitor today.”

“Indeed. Tyler Fantana!” the principal gushed, his eyes lighting up. “Can you believe it? Crazy. Our very own hometown hero, right in that very seat.”

It was still warm. “Yeah. Some of the students were talking about it. What brings him back?”

“Recovery from that heart thing. You know. Terrible.” Carver frowned and glanced out at the quad. “But get this—he came to ask you a favor. Well, us.”

Josh sat up. “What favor?” His hands tightened on the arms of the chair.

“Working out. Well, if you’d feel okay if he used our gym for his rehab. Can you imagine? I told him he’s more than welcome. An alum? A big-deal alum?”

“Obviously.” Josh nodded. His heart pounded at the thought of Tyler working out in his gym. With him. “That’s cool. Terrific, actually.”

“I thought so. Sorry I didn’t ask you beforehand.” Carver looked sheepish. “You don’t have an AP history class this year. I just figured it wouldn’t be a problem.”

“An NFL celebrity in and out of this place? Get serious.” Josh waved away the apology. Then he’d see Tyler more than once, maybe hang out some. “No problem at all.”

“Fantastic! I told him to swing by your office to discuss it.”