ONE YEAR LATER
“Ready for the big game, coach?” Adam asks.
I smile. My boys have played hard all season and now we’re heading into playoffs. I never want to say we have an easy win, but they’ve earned this, and they’ve worked hard. If they do what they have done all year, we’re going to walk out of this game heading for States.
For the third time.
Hat trick anyone?
“The boys are ready. This town is ready.”
That gets a whoop from Billy.
“And coach of the year is ready!” He punches me in the shoulder.
“Let’s not get ahead of ourselves. I don’t care about that, this is about the team, the kids and the school.”
After our second State win and our outstanding record for this season, I was nominated for Coach of the Year. There are ten different coaches nominated, all from surrounding counties. Once States are over, there will be an awards night where they will name one of us Coach of the Year. It’s exciting and I’m honored to be nominated and all that jazz, but I’ve learned I don’t need to be front and center, I don’t need to have a fancy title to be happy anymore. I don’t need anymorethan what I already have gained by just being me.
“So modest and humble.” Billy stands and grabs his beer like a microphone. “I’d like to thank the little people I’ve stepped on while climbing to the top…”
I jump up and wrestle him to the ground.
“Shut the fuck up, bro,” Adam laughs as we climb off each other and stand from the ground. “If anyone deserves recognition, it’s this guy.”
Billy just can’t help himself and in a higher pitched voice continues with his speech. “And most of all I’d like to thank my boyfriend, Adam, who continues to let me score touchdown after touchdown and never causes me to fumble.” I go after him again, but this time Adam trips him as he runs by and gives him a kick in the ribs while he’s down there.
“Asshole.” I toe him too for good measure and grab my seat again as Billy pulls himself up.
“Does Grace know you’re in love with your best friend?” Billy just has to keep pushing buttons.
Adam replies, “Fuck off,” and flips the bird.
“When is she coming in?” I ask. I thought she would have been here by now. Adam asked her to be here for the game.
“She got delayed, said she’d drive out first thing in the morning. I didn’t want her driving at night.”
He keeps his eyes down. Something isn’t right but I won’t push it in front of his brothers.
He’s had a hard go at women lately. Chelsea basically ghosted him, and it took him a long while to admit to himself it was over. I know they talked but he never got the closure he was looking for. Not that he told me anyway.
He’s still coming to terms with his sister and I being engaged. The wedding talk is a bit much for him, especially when he was dealing with the fall out after Chelsea left.
Then he crossed paths with Grace. We know her from high school. I don’t want to say she doesn’t fit in our group, she’s nice enough, I just don’t see her and him together for the long run. She’s too easy going. Adam, whether he knows it or not, needs someone who’s going to fight him a little. Not let him get away with working himself to death.
I won’t tell him that though. Not yet anyway.
“Here comes the number one agent!” Tommy says. I snag her around the waist and pull her onto my lap as she attempts to walk by.
“Hey beautiful,” I say as she leans down to kiss me. We keep it PG because Adam is already stirred up.
“Speaking of agents,” she gives me a raised brow. “We have a signing tomorrow morning at the school, Coach.”
“He got in?” I ask excitedly.
Her smile spreads across her face. “He did!”
“Who? Jameson?” Adam asks.
