I chuckled. Poor Liv. Not only did she have me to keep the assholes away, but she had Wes too. I appreciated my friend for it. He had grown up right alongside both of us, and it helped me rest a little easier knowing she had someone else who held her best interest.
“He’s probably not.” I walked to the trash and dropped my empty bottle inside. “I’m going to check on Shaw.”
As I stepped out into the yard, Rodney caught my attention, motioning for me to talk near the gate. Kyndall had called Theo’s name, and he was heading in her direction while I made my way across the yard. Rodney shoved his hands in his pockets.
“Anything from Julia?” he asked.
“Possible mild tear in his rotator cuff. She wants him to rest it this week. Not that I want him out, but the timing is perfect since it’s our bye week.”
He nodded. “All right. Whatever we need to do to keep him healthy. We’re going to need him against the Stallions.”
“Agreed. Ross can step in this week,” I added with a sour taste in my mouth.
Trinity was freaked out after Saturday night. I did my best to take away her anxiety,three times,but I wasn’t exactly sure the little prick didn’t sense something.
Rodney glanced out across the yard. “How’s Trinity doing?”
“What do you mean?” His question caught me off guard.
“I mean at home. She okay over there?”
“Far as I know.” I cleared my throat. “I helped her one night with a tripped breaker, but other than that, she’s been fine.”
I didn’t mention the scuffle and the fact I still had the frozen vegetables she gave me to ice my dick in my freezer.
He shifted. “Any overnight visitors?”
I whipped my eyes to his.“Not that I’ve seen.”
He blew out a breath. “I worry about her. I feel like we’ve made progress.” He paused. “I messed up. I know that. I just want a relationship with her. One that’s not forced.”
His honesty was real. I could read it on his face that he loved her.
“Maybe you should start with telling her about the cancer. She deserves to know.”
He lifted his hand, scratching his five o’clock shadow. “I know. I just…things are finally starting to look brighter. I don’t want my illness to change it.”
I understood. The fact he was eventryingsaid everything. My parents never had a second thought to me or Liv once they tossed us aside.
“The longer you keep it from her, the worse it will be,” I offered.
Hell, look what a hypocrite I am.
“I just want to wait until I find out if the chemo is working.” He laid a palm on my shoulder. “I appreciate you stepping in for me. I asked you because I trust you. These men look up to you. You have the leadership skills that not only the team looks to, but the other coaches do. I wouldn’t have asked you to take my place if I didn’t think you were the right person for the job.”
I dipped my chin. “I appreciate it, Rodney.”
What else was there to say? He was asking for my help, and I guess part of me thought if I was helping him, in turn, I was helping Trinity. But that meant stepping down would be off the table. Something I’d thought about in the last month since I met her. I may have even scoured the Canyon University handbook, looking for any possible loopholes to our situation. I loved this job. Football had always been my first love. I just wasn’t prepared for something to come along and challenge its place.
I wasn’t prepared for Trinity Maxwell.
38
Trinity
I spent the last two hours pretending my mother and I had a normal, functioning relationship. Landry was my only friend here, and the last thing I wanted was for her to be trauma ambushed on our first girl bonding experience. So we sipped wine, watchedThe Proposal, and listened to my mom ramble on about her latest trip to Cabo.Probably on the money she stole from me.
Landry left about eight thirty, and as soon as the door closed, I braced myself.
