Maggie: You don’t want one. Trust me. They’re trouble.
Etta Jo: Does that mean you have one?
Maggie: No! That’s not what I meant.
But Etta Jo drops from the conversation.
Everything that isn’t on my hate list is on my...no. It isn’t a love list. I don’t love anything about Declan Printz except platonic love as a friend.
In Etta Jo’s words, it’s simply aswoon list.Nothing more. It could apply to anyone. The other guys on the team, probably. There was a cute guy at the airport, so maybe him too. Who knows, maybe coming to Concordia is a big blessing in disguise and I’ll meet my future husband here.
As for Declan and me, there can never be anything between us, especially since he’s a celebrity and even more so since I didn’t tell him everything that was in that voicemail. I didn’t want to be the one to deliver the message that has the potential to crush him.
Can’t do that. Won’t.
But the lie through omission eats at me all week and trust me, it does not taste anywhere close to chips and chocolate frosting, which I could go for to ease the ‘ole nerves. And boy, are they rattled.
Even though Declan can slip into what I’ve dubbed hisfamous-facewhen he pulls out the bravado and charm, he passes the remainder of his lessons this week with flying colors. He transformed into a great student, cleaned up, and is ready for the next phase of coaching.
But am I?
21
MAGGIE
After church on Sunday morning, Cateline calls all the etiquette coaches and football players into the parlor room with lace curtains, pink pastel wallpaper, and silk floral sofas with scalloped wooden frames.
The Boston Bruisers look like a bunch of grizzly bears at Grandma’s house. It’s quite a contrast and could be a good place for a photo shoot for an avant-garde magazine.
Big guys versus delicate, antique furniture. Let the games begin!
In the span of a week, I’ve been busy, but I’ve also gotten to know the other women on the Blancbourg team and the guys assigned to them.
Cateline has Wolf, who has a reputation as a player, off the field, especially. However, if anyone can handle him, it would be her. The woman lords over this place with iron in her eyes...and fists.
A British woman named Pippa coaches Chase—the quarterback. They seem amiable enough, which is good matchmaking for coach and client on Cateline’s part.
Everly, who is as sweet and sunny as can be, is paired up with Grey, whose name is very fitting. It’s like he stepped out of a black-and-white photograph. Everly has worn a look of concern on her face all week, but whether it’s because Grey is difficult or for some other reason, I’m not entirely sure.
Not only do the guys take up a lot of physical space, but when they’re together, they command attention. It’s hard not to look at them, listen to them, and feel like something exciting is going on, even if we’re all just seated in a room.
They’re boisterous and brazen, confident like titans, and always messing around like a bunch of schoolboys.
Cateline calls for their attention and when they don’t quiet down, I half expect her to whistle like their coach.
“Gentlemen, I want to remind you why you’re here.” That shuts them up.
“Because we’re a bunch of studs, on the field and off.” Wolf chuckles at his joke.
Cateline’s smile is slim and that’s being generous. “I think you mean you pulled astuntoff the field that was not appreciated. You humiliated yourselves publicly, bringing shame to your commissioner and his family.”
“On the upside, we made a lot of people laugh,” Declan adds.
“More concerningly, some very important people did not think your stunt was amusing. That’s where Blancbourg comes in. We want to teach you to think before you think, speak, and act. I expect progress has been made on that front this week.”
I hear Chase whisper, “Did she say think before we think? I know cows have multiple stomachs, but I think we only have one brain.”
Cateline makes a sharpahemsound. “As you’re aware by now, we started with coaching lessons here at the academy. Hopefully, you had plenty of practice. Now you will move on tothe real-world application of being civilized human beings and not cavemen.”
