“That is not why I called you in.”
That gets my attention.
“Then why?”
He taps the pen on the desk again.Once.Twice.Then, he sets it down and folds his arms.
“There’s a scout coming.”
My pulse skips.Chest tightens.I force a breath.
“He’s coming to check out West.Wants to see if he’s got the toughness for their defense.But while he’s here, he’ll be watching.”
“That’s… not for me.”
“Bullshit,” Coach snorts.“You think I didn’t see what you did out there today?Your footwork’s cleaner than it’s ever been.Your vision’s sharp.You’re reading the field better than half the damn league.”
“I had my shot, Coach.I quit,” I say, voice low.“I threw it all away.”
“You think that’s how this works?”he leans forward, forearms braced on the desk.“You think one mistake writes off the rest of your life?”
I glance away.
“Reece.”His voice hardens.“You could go all the way.You’ve got that thing.The thing you can’t coach.The shit that sets you apart when everything’s on the line.”
I blink hard.My palms sweat.My heart pounds oddly, not from running but from remembering what it felt like to be a kid watching those matches, dreaming of being on the field.Cleats cut into real grass.Lights.Roaring crowds.My name on the back of a jersey.
That dream got buried under fights, fuckups and fists slammed into lockers.Under girls who meant nothing and nights I still can’t remember.
Now, it’s no longer buried.It’s clawing its way back to the surface.
“Play the way you did today,” Coach tells me.“And this Mayfair scout won’t miss you.He won’t be able to keep his eyes off you.”
The name alone hits me deep.Mayfair.
Top-tier.Full ride.Out of this town and every messed-up part of it.Away from my old man’s bullshit, away from the memory of every time I got close to something good just to see it ripped away from me.
Mayfair means I get to choose who I am.It means I don’t have to become him.
That means I get to be with Sam without this place looming over us.Noah and Aubrey will be there too.
Coach leans forward, voice low.“Think about it, Reece.You’ve got the talent.Don’t waste this shot.”
I push to my feet, heart slamming against my ribs.“Thanks, Coach.”
He watches me for a moment longer, mouth set in that half-smile he saves for when he’s proud, but not too obvious about it.
I nod once, then swing my bag over my shoulder and leave before that pride can slip away.
The hallway is quiet except for the hum of the vending machine and the sound of my boots hitting the tile.I pull out my phone, knowing there’s only one person I want to tell.
Reece: Hey.Can we meet up?There’s something I need to tell you.
I stare at the screen, thumb hovering, before I hit send.
A second later, the screen lights up.
Sam: Yeah.I’ll meet you at your place usual time.We’ll work on the assessment.And no, that is not code.Assessment only.
