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I make it to the school and find the other coaches without issue.Just find the guys in visors with polo shirts tucked into their shorts under their beer guts.That’s what Tom told me in his email, and he was spot on. They’re all in a line together. Tom’s the only one without a round gut hanging over his pants.
“Lucas Kennedy,” he smiles. “It’s nice to put a face to the name.”
“Hey, Tom.” Tom shakes my whole arm rather than just my hand. Compared to the other coaches, there is about a thirty-year difference between myself and everyone else. To parents, I must look like some guy standing with the coaches, rather than a coach.
“Here.” Tom hands me one of the team hats with the mascot on it. “Sun’s gonna be beating down on us today. This might help a bit.”
“Thanks, Tom.” I take the hat and am glad to at least look like I have some actual association here. “So, is that your grandson over there?” There’s a small boy standing close to a water jug, talking to a few players while dressed in shorts and a shirt that readsCoach Jadon. He’s holding a clipboard and a water bottle.
“Yeah, that’s Jadon. You’ll get to know him.” Tom nods and we get to talking until we’re interrupted.
“Grampa! Mom said I need to wear sun-creen!” He’s small, around four years old, and is adorable for a little kid out with his grandpa. He’s wearing an old team hat and red little kid sunglasses. From what I can tell, Tom will make sure this kid is in football or basketball by the time he comes to this school.
Tom releases a heavy sigh. “Hold that thought. If Jadon tells my daughter I didn’t do this, she’ll have my head.”
Snorting, I watch him spray Jadon with sunscreen.
Players and parents fill the field and bleachers. Fondly, I remember going out with my dad to try out for varsity. It was nerve-wracking, but was the best feeling to see my name on the camp roster for the quarterback slot. At the top, even. It’s the hope and excitement I can see in these guys that I live for. I probably wouldn’t have made it at the professional level, but even if I had, I’d always wind up doing this. The normal life with a normal job in a sport I’ve loved since my dad got me my first ball.
Tom has the players run drills all morning, and we make notes on each player’s strengths and weaknesses. He asks my opinion of them along with the other two coaches, Don and Barry. Don and Barry are older, looking to retire soon, but want to help get a new coaching staff before calling it. The three of them have really taken this team to a new level. They were national champions three times, and state champions for nine of the last ten years, with the one loss against my team my senior year.
Don explains how Tom had multiple offers from some universities over his career, but turned them down so he didn’t have to move his daughter. After she got pregnant, Tom made it his mission to be there for the kid since the father was absent.
Guys are dicks. I don’t know the full story, but what sort of asshole gets a girl pregnant and then leaves?
By 3pm, I’m drained from the heat, and the players are barely walking. The four of us, plus Jadon, are dragging, and Tom has some decisions to make about some athletes. After the last of the students and their parents are gone, we start for the locker room so Don and Barry can go over their notes with Tom. Tom leads the way while carrying his sleeping grandson in his arms.
“Tom, I thought Allie was going to pick him up after lunch,” Barry asks.
“Yeah, that was her plan, but Ted was taking her to see a mountain or something and she wasn’t aware of how far away it was. I think he just wanted more time with just the two of them.”
“You think they’re gonna get married soon?” Don asks. “I mean, it’s been a year already.”
Tom shrugs. “I don’t know. She doesn’t seem to want to rush things. I mean, I get it. She has a kid, but he’s known Jadon his whole life. But I’ve already learned my lesson in pushing and trying to manage her life. I’m going to let her make her own decisions.”
“Dad!” A rushed voice calls from a distance.
“Ah, speaking of,” Don smiles. “There she is.”
Turning my head toward the voice, I find her and walk right into Barry, forgetting where I am apparently. “Shit. Sorry, man.”
The rumors I’d heard were true. She is beautiful. I mean, she has sunglasses on, but she’s something else. Is the sun shining perfectly in this spot or am I dehydrated? It’s like she has a halo around her head.
Damn.
Whoever this guy is she was with today is one lucky son of a bitch.
“Close your mouth, Kennedy,” Barry whispers and pats my shoulder. “She’s sweet, but off limits.”
We’re stopped outside the gym where the locker room is, while Tom’s daughter sprints toward us.
“So sorry I’m late. We didn’t realize how long the drive was, and he kept having to take work calls. Ted just dropped me back at my car and I came as fast as I could.”
“It’s fine, honey. He was very helpful today,” Tom gestures down at Jadon in his arms.
She smiles and something about the way she watches her son with her hand to her chest is so damnmotherly. “Oh good. I hope he wasn’t too much.”
“Allie, he was fine. Don’t worry. Oh!” he turns, nodding toward me. “Allie, this is the new assistant coach, Lucas.”
