Page 178 of The Coach

I rub my jaw, letting that settle.

Then she drops the real bomb.

“Drew’s been in my ear.”

I frown. “About what?”

“He thinks he could do abetterjob than you.”

I sit up straighter. “Are youserious?”

She nods. “He’s beenchirping, Jackson. Saying you’re ‘distracted.’ That yourheart’s not in it.”

My jaw tightens.

I always knew Drew was someone who fought dirty.

But that is not happening.

I lean forward, resting my forearms on my desk.

“Reagan,” I say, my voice even. “You don’t have to worry about me. I’ve got my priorities straight.”

She studies me for a long moment.

Then, with a slight nod, she steps back toward the door.

“I sure as hell hope so, Jackson.”

She leaves, shutting the door behind her.

I exhale, dragging a hand through my hair.

Drew thinks he can do a better job?

Let him try.

I’veneverbeen more locked in.

The steakhouse is loud, the energy buzzing, but I’m barely paying attention. This dinner was mandatory—team bonding and all that—but I’ve got about a million other things I’d rather be doing. Like calling Ivy. Like catching a flight back to Riverbend and saying fuck it to everything else.

Instead, I’m stuck here, surrounded by a group of guys who are watching me way too closely.

“So, Coach,” Travis Carter says, leaning back in his chair with a cocky grin. “You got a secret family or what?”

The whole table erupts into laughter.

I lift my beer to my lips, taking a slow sip before answering. “You got a death wish, Carter?”

More laughter. More knowing looks.

Dallas Connelly shakes his head. “Come on, man. You gotta know people are talking. First, my boy here”—he claps Travis on the shoulder—“gets blasted for knocking someone up. And now? Our fearless leader’s got a mystery woman showing up in the VIP box?”

Travis leans in. “Kinda takes the heat off me, not gonna lie. Appreciate that, Coach.”

I shoot him a glare. “You can still run sprints at practice tomorrow.”

He holds up his hands, laughing. “Shutting up now.”

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