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Pocketing my cell,I drew in a shuddering breath, and slipped into the locker room. Coach’s door was ajar.
“Get in here, Thatcher,” he called.
“What’s up, Coach?” I asked.
“I just got off the phone with Coach Forrester and he’s been in discussions with the scouts up at Alabama. They’re interested, son.”
“They are?” I sat up straighter. I’d been waiting for this call after they showed interest last season. But communication had gone quiet and then I’d been transferred here, and it had seemed like my dream of playing for the Crimson Tide was moving further and further out of reach.
“They’ll be at the game Friday.”
“Fuck, okay.” I ran a hand over my jaw.
“Look, Kaiden, I know we had a rocky start. But this is your time now, son. I want you to know that I take the future of my players very seriously, and if you want Bama, I’ll do everything in my power to make it happen.”
“Thanks, Coach, I appreciate that.” I could barely look him in the eye, the sticky trail of regret snaking through me.
“The team seems to be working well with you at the helm,” he added, relaxing back in his chair.
“I guess.”
“I’m sorry, about before. I knew what they were doing, freezing you out and giving you shit, and I stood by and let it happen.”
“It’s nothing I didn’t expect,” I said, honestly.
“Maybe.” Coach grimaced. “But it shouldn’t have gone down like that.” He regarded me for a long second and then added, “You’re not at all what I expected.”
“I’m not perfect.”
“No, you’re not. And I should have known that one incident didn’t define you. We all make mistakes. God only knows I made enough back in high school.”
I gave him a curt nod, not trusting myself to answer. A beat passed between us and he let out a steady breath.
“What did happen that night?” he asked.
“I wasn’t in a good place and let my anger get the better of me.”
Coach snorted at that. “Humor me.”
“I’d had a fight with my dad and one of their players kept pushing and pushing, and I snapped.” I’d beaten him pretty good before I was hauled off the field.
“Does that happen a lot?”
My spine stiffened. “Does what happen?” I played dumb.
“Kaiden, come on…”
“I appreciate the pep talk, Coach. I do. But if I want therapy, I’ll go talk to Mrs. Bennet.”
“Fair enough.” He held up his hands. “I guess I’m just trying to say if you ever need to talk, about anything, my door is always open.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
“Okay. Get out of here. It’s a big night Friday, you have a lot of preparation to do.”
“I’m ready,” I said with a hint of cockiness.
“Oh, I don’t doubt it, son.”
