“I’m well aware, Krasinski.”
“Do the team a favor, man, and find someone else to hook up with?” he says. “At least until the season is out.”
I watch him head back into the gym, annoyed that he’d think I’d hook up with Annie. Not because I wouldn’t. I already have, to an extent. But it didn’t feel like a cheap thrill. Not to me.
Feeling Quinn’s focus on me, I glance his way and lift my chin. Reluctantly, I brace to go see him, even though my pulse rate has sky-rocketed at the thought of speaking to his sister. But Coach Roy comes into the lounge and calls Quinn, Omar and me to his office.
“Take a seat, boys. Close the door behind you.”
Coach has already set out three chairs, rather than the usual one, which tells me this isn’t a meeting we’re having on a whim and that makes me nervous.
“I’m not going to beat around the bush.”A pin drop could be heard in the room. “You know the trade deadline is coming up at the end of November and the GM has presented me with an opportunity that I want to sound out with you boys.”
I can sense Omar and Quinn looking at me. Coach has never run trades by the team first. Which means the rumors are true…
“It’s a straight position trade.” Coach rests back in his chair, which creaks under his weight. “Quarterback for quarterback.”
“Lamar for Rogers?” I ask.
He nods, short and repetitive.
Quinn jerks forward in his seat as if he wants to yellfuck, no.I also know that he won’t and that it must take him a ton of strength not to because my head is screamingno, too. But neither of us speaks. We know our place and respect our head coach. Even as my gut feels as if it’s fallen through my seat.
“Have we sought it out, Coach?” I ask.Or does Auston want Annie back?
“No. Nor was I aware it was coming down the line.”
“What’s the draw for us?” Omar asks.
Colton’s focus is fixed on Coach’s desk, his fists clenched.
“His character aside, Auston is one of the best quarterbacks in the league. He’s a big name and with Tommy gone, we have a question mark over whether Lamar’s ready.”
“We’re winning games,” Omar says.
“By the skin of our teeth,” Coach tells him. Fair.
“I don’t mean to speak out of turn, Coach, but our fans don’t like him either. In fact, they hate him, and mostly, I’d say that goes for the squad, too.”
I’m so fucking grateful for Omar being the objective voice of reason here andstilllanding where Quinn and I want him. I need to step up to the plate, too, and put the face that’s spinning through my mind like a hurricane out of it for a minute.
“What do the Archers want for him?” I ask. “Lamar for Rogers isn’t a good trade for them.”
“If it all checks out. And I sayifbecause I’m not sure how locked in Rogers is legally. They want Trent Daniels and our first round draft pick next year.”
“Trent?” Quinn asks, finally speaking. “He’s our best defenseman.”
Coach nods. “One of ’em. But, son, I watched a lot of your college games before drafting you. We already had Tommy and we were building a team around him but in different circumstances, my wish list for your draft year would have been you and Rogers.”
Quinn scratches his head in frustration. Everyone knows he and Auston were…
“The dream team,” Coach says. “Now it might be on offer, at a time when this team was primed and ready for silver wear. With Tommy fit, I thought this year would have been ours.” He shrugs. “I guess that’s football.”
Like it usually does, what Coach says makes sense. I see it in his calmness, and in the way Quinn and Omar seem to deflate. So maybe they’re better men than me for not letting their personal shit come to the forefront. Maybe I should want this trade for Annie.
For myself, though… “Listen, Coach, if the GM picks the team, you’ve got to coach it. If you pick us to play, we’ll play hard for you and for the man standing next to us,” I tell him, rubbing my beard, questioning whether I’m going to play this hand and whose best interests I have in mind. I glance to Quinn, then quickly look away.Fuck it.
“If I were the GM, I wouldn’t make this trade. Not because Rogers is a piece of— Yeah, you get it. Because I see potential in Lamar. He deserved more time on the bench learning from Tommy, we all know that, and we’ve not been playing to his strengths. But I see some natural brilliance when he gets outside the pocket – that’s why he was scouted, right?”
