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“I asked him to keep working with you. But um, also…” He trailed off and looked around again, making me uneasy. Something was wrong.
“I was already planning on practicing tomorrow,” I assured him. “Whatever keeps me on the field, Coach.”
“Yeah, I just…” he cleared his throat and then coughed into his fist before looking back up at me. “Hunter is taking over the team for a couple of weeks. There has been a family emergency and I need to tend to it.”
“Oh shit, is your wife okay? Anything I can do?” I realized his inability to talk had been coming from his will to keep from crying. Coach wasn’t a crier. Whatever had happened, it must have been new information and he was still processing everything.
“Yes actually,” his answer surprised me. “Justine is fine. It’s my sister. She was in an accident and I am her only living relative. I know it’s crunch time with the team, and I’ve been asking a lot from y’all. Leaving is not what I want to do, I promise. But she cannot make her own medical decisions right now and—”
“Family first. Always.” I assured him. “We got this, Coach. We will stay steady here so you have nothing to worry about.”
“Thank you.” His lips thinned out and he tried smiling, but I could see the pain in his eyes. “I will address the team before I leave, but I wanted to talk to you personally since I have been asking more from you. Keep in touch with Rhys, please. He needs these practices just as much as I think you need them, and I want them to continue until I get back.”
“Yes sir. No reason they wouldn't.”
“Hunter may tell you it's not necessary, but it is. Keep Rhys busy, and use him to help you focus on the game.”
I nodded, staying silent when he mentioned Hunter. Even Coach could see how Hunter was acting, and I bet it bothered him that he was leaving us in his hands. Hunter was in no shape to be making decisions about the team. But that decision was out of Coach’s hands. It was up to the university.
“Rachel will help Hunter unless the athletic director sends him an aide.”
“Yes, Coach.” I glanced down at the numbers again and then back to him. His eyes were on me, but I could tell his head was with his sister. “Rhys okay that you gave me his number?”
“Yeah I just got off the phone with him. I told him I would ask you if I could send him your number as well.”
“Of course.” I tried to placate him, even though inside all I could think of was,Rhys Peyton is about to have my phone number.“Take care Coach. You have my number, too, if you need anything.”
“Stay focused. That’s all I need.”
I nodded with a sad smile and turned to walk out the door. The entire walk home, all I could think about was Rhys, and the words that Coach said about him.
“He needs these practices just as much.”
Why?
Was that how this all came about? Coach was trying to fix both of us? Two birds with one stone?
It didn't matter, something was working. Even if it was just the thought of Rhys watching my game and judging me, it kept me focused and playing the way I used to. That was all Coach wanted from me.
What did he want from Rhys?
By the time I got home, had another shower, and slipped into my comfortable clothes, I could barely keep my eyes open. All I had to sit on in my studio apartment was a bed, but I feared once I sat on it, I would be asleep before I could feed myself, and do a little school work. Grabbing a banana, I slid down against my wall to settle on my floor.
For a few minutes, I mindlessly flipped through my phone, checking social media. Rachel had a post from the day before that bragged about how she had met Rhys Peyton. In fact, it was an entire dossier on what good friends they now were.
Lord, Rachel. Have some dignity.
I read a few more posts from girls on the team, a couple of classmates, and checked in with my favorite celebrities.
I started to set my phone down and open my computer when a new text came through from an unknown number.
Guess it's just me and you.
Um, who is this?
My mind immediately went to Hunter. I wouldn’t put it past his ego to start boasting about being the new head coach, even if it was temporary.
Your new coach.
