My breathing hitched as anxiety settled in, making my mouth dry. “Okay.”
“Let me start by saying your season has improved dramatically. You have more than lived up to my expectations and continue to make improvements.”
“Thank ya. That’s good to know.”
He tapped on the screen of his iPad, then turned it for me to look at. “You lead the league in interceptions. Your instincts for where the ball is going are unmatched. We’ve never had a playerto top that category, as well as return yardage. I dare say I could put you in as a running back, and you’d excel.”
“And as a punter,” Coach O’Neil added. “Have you seen him kick that ball, Craig? If Lundgren ever goes down, Colin’s our guy.”
I smiled, but looked at my hands. Being praised wasn’t something I was accustomed to. They usually only focused on what I mucked up.
“I think it was a stroke of genius to bring you onboard. You and Carson make an impervious secondary. And I have to give that credit to my little brother for hunting you down.”
My face was hot from all his good words. “Thank ya, Coach. It’s been better than I ever imagined. I expected to come here and give it my all, but I didn’t expect to like it as much as I do. It’s no secret my time in rugby was challenging. And now that I’ve been here, I have to agree with ya that football might be a better fit for me.”
Coach beamed. “That’s what I wanted to hear. You need to find an American agent because we’re gonna offer you a lucrative extension for next season.”
I was ready to explode! I held out my hand. “Thank ya, sir, for everything. And especially for taking a chance on me because I’ve never been happier.”
“You’re welcome, Colin. Find that agent, or get George to help you out. I’m going to ask Marilyn to set up an appointment with Issac Gutierrez. He’s the immigration attorney Jayse used. He’ll make sure you get everything taken care of.”
“I will, sir. Thank ya again.”
I stood and made my way back to my seat. Carson looked up at me and read my face.
“What happened?”
I grinned, needing to fuck with him. “They’re offering me a contract extension for next season.”
His eyes widened, and his smile reached all the way to his beautiful eyes. “That’s great. That’s what we’ve been waiting for.”
“Yeah, but I turned it down. I told him I was tired of you bossing me around.”
Carson’s face fell as he rolled his eyes. “Sure you did.”
“What? You don’t believe me?”
“Nope,” he said. “You wouldn’t do that to me.”
I smirked. “Oh, I’d take your job if they offered it.” I wouldn’t.
He shook his head. “Not what I meant, and you can have the job.”
“Then what did you mean?” My heart was in my throat.
“You wouldn’t leave me and break my heart like that.”
My eyes dampened, and I had to look down. Carson squeezed my thigh.
“Want me to back it up to what you missed?”
I shook my head. “No. I’m good. Let’s keep going.”
Carson handed me the earbud back, then took my hand to continue watching as I looked down at yet another public display. The fear of losing everything I’d gained in five months crept through me like a dull ache.
Hope for a future here, and with him, was a dangerous weapon that could destroy what was left of me. I’d had it once before when I started playing professionally. And I didn’t want to lose again.
Chapter 25
