When nobody’s calling out to Luca any longer because they’re all heading for the exits, Luca turns to me. “Hey, are you coming to dinner this time, Coach? If so, I’ll save you a seat.” He’s asking because I skipped out on our first dinner last night, opting instead to study film on Luca in my hotel room over a microwaved cup of noodles.
I open my mouth to tell him,sure, why not, but I’m cut off by a male voice calling my name. To my shock, it’s Bellamy, and he’s now walking toward me.
“Go on ahead,” I say to Luca. “I’ll meet you there.”
“It’s okay. I’ll wait for you in the hallway.”
I can’t help glancing at Luca’s gorgeous ass as he bounds away, even as I’m heading toward Bellamy. Ultimately, we meet in the middle in the aisleway.
“Hey, Chelsea. That was quite the performance from Luca, huh?”
“Yeah, he’s definitely not lacking in the personality department, that’s for sure.”
Bellamy shifts his weight. “I came in before dawn today to get through some paperwork and I noticed you putting Luca through some drills on the practice field, bright and early.”
“Yeah, he worked his tail off for me today. I’m super excited to help him progress and grow as a player.”
“So that’s going to be a regular thing? He’s agreed to that?”
“Yep. I’m going to do everything in my power to turn him around, so when he starts showing drastic improvement by all standards and metrics of his position, you’ll know the improvement was thanks to me.”
Bellamy smirks. “I must admit, after Luca’s performancejust now, I’ve acquired an increased interest in getting him across the line.”
My heart rate increases.
“As you know,” he continues, “thanks to the contract terms my aunt agreed to with your father, he’s got full control over the names that make it onto his final roster. So I don’t have the ability to get Luca over the line myself.”
Oh no.“Mr. Bellamy, if you’re asking me to try to persuade my father to—”
“No, no. I know that wouldn’t be effective. Your father clearly adores you, but he’s not going to put any player onto his roster who hasn’t earned the spot.”
I exhale with relief. “I’d never ask him to do otherwise.”
“Yeah, I know. But still, he did personally ask you to coach Maguire, and you’ve already got him listening to you, right? So, I’ve got an idea. A proposal, if you will. Something that would be a win-win-win for you, me, and Luca if you’re able to pull it off.”
I shift my weight, feeling increasingly stressed out. Where’s Bellamy going with this? If given ten guesses, I don’t think I’d get it.
“You still want that job that’ll be opening up in my department soon?”
My heart stops. “Yes, sir. Very much.” It’s an understatement. As far as I’m concerned, that job could be the key that eventually unlocks the door to all my biggest dreams.
“Okay, then get Luca Maguire onto the active fifty-three-man roster in six weeks, through any means necessary, and the job is yours.”
My heart stops. My jaw drops. I’m so flabbergasted, I can’t speak.
“On the flip side, however,” Bellamy continues, “if Luca doesn’t make the cut, then you’ll agree I’ll never be bothered again by you and your bright-eyed, bushy-tailed, data-analyzing, wide-eyed ambition ever again. No more presentations. No morepulling me aside to give me elevator pitches. You’ll keep your head down and help your father doing whatever he keeps you busy with, and you’ll dutifully stay completely out of my way.”
I’m equal parts humiliated, infuriated, and enthralled in this moment. Yes, he’s being condescending and dismissive of me. Clearly, he doesn’t actually believe I can deliver on my end of the bet. But what he doesn’t know and I do is that nobody should ever underestimate a Parker.
“If I agree to these terms, would I have your solemn vow that Peter’s job would be mine?”
“If Luca makes the fifty-three-man roster, then yes, you have my word. As long as you agree not to blame me if things don’t work out for Luca as you’re hoping. Let’s face it, he’s a dark horse here. A real long shot. And with the extreme lack of respect he’s got for your coaching abilities—”
“No, Luca respects my coaching abilities now. Our drill session this morning completely changed his mind about me.”
Bellamy looks deeply surprised.
“It’s true,” I insist, flushing hot. “Luca told me so himself this morning. He said I’m ‘damned impressive.’”
