Page 67 of Every Move You Make

“Thatguy wasn’t a professional coach. I’m trying to be like our old coach, John Porter.”

“The man’s a legend,” Dane nods, raising his glass. “Best coach I ever had, too.”

“Same,” Rafael adds.

“You guys went to different colleges,” Robyn states. “How did you all have him as a coach?”

“U22,” Rafael nods. “He was our head coach at UPenn, and in the summer we formed that traveling sevens team.”

“Oh that’s right,” she sighs.

“He’s coached championship teams all around the world,” I remind her. “And he was widely regarded as one of the best collegiate coaches before he retired last year.”

Her answering exhale tells me this isn’t going according to her plan. “I don’t know then, Zay,” she shrugs. “What you’re doing isn’t working. And I know you wanna see the Ws, and so do we, but it’s not just about winning. You need to think of the players' images too.”

I take a long drink and she continues.

“Most of us will be trying to make the Olympic team again or play in The World Rugby Cup. If we lose, that’s one thing. But if we look bad while playing, that’s going to hurt ourchances.”

Robyn takes a drink of her beer and gives me a shrug. She stands and quickly covers her mouth to burp away from us. I try to hide my smile when I catch her cheeks flush red.

“Excuse me. But I’m serious, Isaiah. Something needs to change because the team is frustrated, and it’s showing in our game. You have to do something different.”

Shit. I think she’s right. No, I know she’s right. Even if she was wrong, the look on her face would make me burn the world down if that meant she’d be happy with me.

“I gotta go,” she says, leaving her half-drank beer and giving a round of hugs. When she gets to me, she lingers a little longer. Or, okay, maybe I hold her a little longer.

“I’ll try,” I murmur into her hair. She replies with a sad little smile before heading for the front door.

Fuck. I’m going to lose her and our whole future if I don’t turn this around. Because here’s the thing: even if I did make her happy, if her teammates aren’t, she won’t be either.

When she swings open the front door of the bar, Jonah’s right there, and he immediately picks her up.

“Birdie!” he screams. “I saw that stiff arm you practically shoved down that bitch’s throat! Fudge yeah!”

“If you’re not careful, Zay,” Dane whispers, watching the same interaction I am, “Jonah will charm the literal pants off her.”

An image of Robyn writhing on her couch with no panties on flashes before my eyes. “Shut up.”

“Seriously, dude,” Raf says. “What’s your plan with her?”

Jonah sets her down and they catch up in the doorway. “I’m her coach and her friend,” I shrug. “That’s all I can be.”

Robyn gives Jonah her phone, and he types something into it and hands it back. She gives a wave and walks out. Before my little brother can get to us, I take her half-drank pint and down it—and maybe I take a second to imagineher lips and tongue caressing the same glass just minutes before.

When Jonah finally joins us, he’s beaming. “Well, it’s official.” He flops down on the stool across from me and grabs a new glass. “I’m in love with Robyn Cassidy. She’s my soulmate.”

“Do you have a death wish?” I ask.

Ignoring me, he guffaws. “Who orders Guinness in a pitcher?”

Chapter 29

The Best Laid Plans

Isaiah

Fall. Senior Year.

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