Page 39 of Every Move You Make

“Are we getting the rainbow kits?” Khaos beams.

“No,” Bob sighs. “That’s not what I’m here to talk about.”

“It’s June, Bob! Honestly, it’s homophobic for the Valor brand to not give us rainbow jerseys.”

“I’ll take it up with the board again,” he grumbles. “In the meantime,” he emphasizes, trying to get us all to focus, “the search is officially over. Please welcome your new head coach… Isaiah Johanssen.”

All at once, the air vanishes from my lungs, and I can’t feel my face. Isaiah walks onto the field with Coach Laura—well, former Head Coach Laura—and his eyes lock right onto mine. He’s wearing a team athletic polo, which does nothing to hide his broad, muscular shoulders and thick arms. Isaiah has always had a prop’s body—which is to say, he clearly works out but clearly likes to eat. Big and strong, he’s a boulder of a man. The kind of man that could toss you around like a rag doll. The kind of man that bear hugs were named for.

Why does he look so at peace? Why is he not squirming away like he’s done around me for the last few years? What is happening right now?

Serwaa leans in to whisper, “Babe, did you know aboutthis?”

“No,” I whisper back. Serwaa knows about my long-standing feelings for him. She and I became fast friends when we joined the team the same year, and within just a few months of meeting, we had told each other our whole life stories. She’s never met Isaiah, but oh boy, has she seen pictures and heard me talk about him.

“Oh my god,” she drawls.

“Ladies and gentlethems,” Laura says, “I’d like you to meet your new head coach, Isaiah. Coach Johanssen here played rugby in high school and college, played Premier League for the London Hornets for three years, and has been playing Division 1 with Philadelphia up until this last spring. He’s gone through a rigorous interview process and background check. Needless to say, I’m very pleased with this placement. Give it up for Coach Johanssen!”

Like a sheep, I clap along with the rest of the team, but I’m so rocked to my core that I can’t hear it.

He looks damn good. I mean, he always does, but he’s so polished today. Even his dark beard is shiny and well-groomed.

“Hello, everyone,” he waves.

Laura continues, “We’ve been watching you all from the press box, and I’ve been running him through your positions, though,” she says with a smile, eyeing him, “he already knew all your names and positions, so that was helpful.”

Of course he does. Isaiah takes rugby seriously when he needs to. I may have met him as a carefree college rugger singing about titties, but he’s driven and educated. Oh god, he’s going to make an excellent coach.

My coach… fuck. There’s no way I can pursue him now. This isn’t some club team where there are no restrictions around players and coaches dating. This is his job. This ismyjob. Even a whisper of something brewing between uscould dissolve brand deals and ignite media backlash. If we were together, we’d both lose our jobs.

Why didn’t he tell me he was applying?

“I know practice is almost over,” Laura says, pulling me out of my spiral. “But I’d like you all to take some time to get to know him. We’ll leave you to it.” She leaves with Coach Bob and everyone swarms Isaiah.

Serwaa is the first to speak up. “You’re friends with Birdie, aren’t you?” she asks knowingly, and my heart rate speeds up. I pinch her butt in response, but she swats at me.

“Yes,” he says. “Robyn and I met in college. We’ve been friends for a long time.”

“How many siblings do you have?” Khaos asks next, and I’m grateful for the redirection.

“Um,” his brows furrow. “Four…”

“What’s the order?”

“Why does that matter?”

“Oh, it matters,” Khaos replies, folding her arms over her chest.

“I’m the second born.”

“But what’s the order?” she repeats.

Isaiah looks to me for clarity, and I have to giggle. It’s not that he’s confused about what the order is; he’s confused about why we’re even asking. I give him a shrug.

“I have an older sister, Angie, then me, then my brother Dane, Jonah, and little sister Ivy.”

“Ohhh,” a few players hum.

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