True began tapping her foot against the hardwood floor. “Only if you’re one hundred percent sure about it. Can you confirm that you’re committed?” She folded her arms across her chest.
“Yes, I can,” he said. “And I’m a tad insulted that you’re doubting my intentions. Not to mention my integrity. I would never dangle a carrot like that in Jaylen’s face if I didn’t plan to follow through.” He was getting a little heated now and feeling the need to defend his honor. It was hurtful knowing she didn’t trust him.
For a few beats they stared at each other with neither speaking. Xavier wasn’t used to having his honesty questioned.
“I’m sorry that I doubted you.” True’s shoulders slumped a little. “It’s just that I’m very protective of Jaylen. He’s faced a lot of disappointments in his life. And it’s my job to watch over him, to make sure he doesn’t get hurt. By anyone or anything.”
Xavier could see the stress and anguish on her face. Her feelings were genuine. His anger quickly dissipated. He couldn’t imagine how tough True’s road had been. Raising her younger brother had been thrust upon her at a young age. It seemed that her entire world revolved around Jaylen. Could Xavier really blame her for wanting to make sure he didn’t pull the rug out from under the kid?
He moved toward her, reaching out and brushing his knuckles against her cheek. “I’ve coached kids back home in Arizona. It’s always been really rewarding for me. So much of my football career was about building my profile. It wasall centered around me. Working with kids is as pure as it gets.”
True nodded. “So you’re all in?”
“One thousand percent,” he said emphatically. “I think it’s best if I recruit another person, maybe a parent, to work with me. I’m going to have to work around my hours at Yukon Cider, but my weekends are wide open.”
True nodded. “I think that I might know just the person. She might be open to it, since you’ll be the lead and her daughter really wants to play.”
The lead? What had he gotten himself into? He wasn’t even sure how football was played here in these wintry elements. Flag football? Nine-person teams? He would need to figure this all out so the kids would have a rewarding experience.
“Are you guys done talking?” Jaylen called out from the kitchen. “I’d love some company in here.”
Both Xavier and True chuckled. “Yes, here we come,” True called back to him.
“So we’re good?” Xavier asked. He made a peace sign with his fingers.
“We’re good,” True said. “Just don’t let him down. That’s all I ask.”
As they headed back into the kitchen, True’s parting words nagged at him. Ever since his injury, that was all he had managed to do. Letting folks down was his superpower. His teammates. His management team. His family.
“So you’re going to be my coach?” Jaylen asked as soon as he saw Xavier. “For real?”
Xavier grinned at Jaylen’s over-the-top excitement. “I need to work out the details, but yeah, I’m going to be your coach.”
“Sweeeeeeeet!” Jaylen shouted, doing a little celebratorydance that resembled the one Xavier and his teammates often did in the end zone. Xavier got a kick out of seeing Jaylen copying their moves.
“Would you like to stay for dinner?” True asked. “We’re having salmon chowder and bison burgers on sourdough buns. You too, Annie.”
“My favorites,” Annie said. “Count me in.”
“Can’t say no to that invitation,” Xavier said, his stomach grumbling at the sound of her delicious dinner menu. He hadn’t realized how hungry he was after touring around town and skating. He’d worked up quite an appetite.
“Hey! Come to my room. I want to show you my football card collection and my posters,” Jaylen said, tugging on his arm.
“So you like football, huh?” Xavier asked, allowing himself to be tugged along.
“Oh, you don’t know the half of it,” True said. “I’ll get dinner started while the two of you hang out.” She made a shooing motion with her hands.
Xavier cast a look over his shoulder at True before he left the kitchen with Jaylen.
At that exact moment, he realized how much he wanted to prove to True that he was a man of his word. Doing so mattered to him.Shemattered to him. And he knew pretty soon that Jaylen would matter to him as well.
Despite his best intentions not to dive headlong into any romantic entanglements, he was now swimming in the deep end of the pool.
After dinner Annie drove Xavier back to the Northern Exposure lot on her way home so he could pick up his vehicle. True’sthoughts were full of Xavier as she washed the dishes and cleaned up the kitchen.He’s a good guy. The thought popped into her head without warning, surprising her. It had been a long time since she had felt that way about anyone. Most people who were close to her would say she was jaded and reluctant to trust. The more time she spent with Xavier, the more she was opening up to the possibility of being with someone new.
Now, after a fun day hanging out with Xavier, she had to tackle something difficult. She hadn’t yet mentioned anything to Jaylen about her meeting with the principal or the school’s belief that he was academically gifted. Honestly, she didn’t know where to start. And she had no idea how Jaylen would react.
She headed toward her brother’s room, gently knocking on the door before pushing her way inside. As usual, he was surfing on his computer with his headphones on, no doubt checking out sports clips and stats. True sat down beside him on his bed. His bedroom was decorated in sports paraphernalia and Marvel comic figures. She felt a smile tugging at her lips as a poster of Xavier gazed at her with brooding intensity in his Cardinals uniform.
