AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Chapter 31
Izzie
Work is especially awkward today. I do my best to avoid Brady when I pass him on his way to the locker room, but I’m about as effective at being invisible as Liam is when he’s playing hide-and-seek.
When he sees me, Brady stops in his tracks and gawks. I mouth a half-hearted ‘Hey’, and he nods at me stiffly. As we stand there in silence, he looks behind his shoulder and then up ahead of me, like he’s waiting for someone else to show up. It seems like he’s forming a question in his mind, but whatever it is, he doesn’t say it out loud.
“Excuse me,” he finally says, and I step out of the way to let him pass, watching his beautiful rear end disappearing into the locker room. I’m going to miss that body of his.
Once he’s out of sight, I slump down on a bench and take a deep breath. No matter how much it bothers me to see him here, he’s just one person on the team, and I need to be professional. When the other players start to trickle in, I ask them how they’re feeling and what they need.
It’s what I do.
If only Brady knows what it truly means to take care of another person. Liam might not be my son, but I’m the only parent he’s had for the last eight years.
He needs a grown-up he can trust. What kind of guardian would I be if I didn’t stop to make sure he felt comfortable with Brady before I offered him visitation rights?
What if he hadn’t been comfortable, and Brady had demanded full custody? What if Liam had decided he loved his father and then Brady rejected him?
I’m trying not to dwell on what could have been, but I feel justified in my actions—and yet I don’t have anyone in my life who can tell me that they know I’m doing my best and that they believe in me. It’s like I have to be my own coach right now.Go, Team Izzie!
And speaking of coaches, Coach McGoy has entered the building and is heading right toward me. I don’t know how much he’s heard about what’s been going on with Brady and me, but I can’t let him know how much I’m hurting.
After all, I’m not the one risking my life every night to wrestle a ball away from a bunch of angry beefcakes like Brady is. In many ways, things could be worse.
“Izzie, may I speak to you for a moment?”
Uh-oh. This can’t be good. “Um, sure. What’s up?”
Coach lowers his voice. “Let’s go into my office.”
I glance at the entrance to the locker room, where I can see the men trickling in and out.
“Do you want me to finish making my rounds first? I still need to check in with a few of the players.”
“That won’t be necessary.”
Like a naughty schoolgirl on her way to the principal’s office, I reluctantly follow Coach McGoy down the hall.
Once we’re inside his office, he offers me a seat. Coach McGoy looks troubled, and the knot in my stomach is getting even tighter.
“You know I think you’re an exceptional nutritionist, right?”
“Thank you.” So why isn’t he smiling?
“One of the best we’ve ever had.”
“I appreciate the kind words.” Although a better way to show it would be to offer me a bonus or something.
“But the thing is…”
I’ve often heard the players complain about the way their coach delivers bad news, and now I can see what they mean.
Coach is sweating now. He takes a tissue from his desk and mops off his forehead while I sit there, waiting for him to finish his sentence.
“No matter how talented or qualified someone is, sometimes he—orshe—isn’t the best, uh, fit for the team.”
It’s time to rip off the Band-Aid, coach. “Are you trying to tell me I’m fired?”
