Page 99 of The Coach

The way she fit against me when we fell asleep on her couch.

The way she looked up at me this morning when she asked,When will I see you again?

Fuck. Focus.

I rub a hand over my face and try again. First down. Minnesota’s offense is lined up in a shotgun formation. The ball snaps. The QB reads the defense, steps up?—

“Coach.”

I grit my teeth.

I don’t even have to look up to know who’s standing in the doorway.

Drew.

That nosy motherfucker.

I sigh. “What do you want, Drew?”

He steps inside like he owns the damn place. “You tell me. You were off the grid all Monday. No calls, no texts. All summer you never missed a single day in the film room. You give the guys the day off, but it was seven days a week for you. So where’d you go?”

I don’t take my eyes off the screen. “Nowhere.”

Drew snorts. “Bullshit.”

I exhale, pausing the film. “What do you need?”

He crosses his arms, smirking. “Just making sure my boss isn’t losing his mind this early in the season. We might have won our first three games but it’s a marathon, not a spring as we all know.”

I lean back in my chair. “I’m fine.”

“Yeah? Because you’ve been watching the same play for five minutes, and I don’t think you’ve actually seen it once.”

I stare at him. He’s been watching me through the glass. Spying.

He grins. “You’re different, man. When this season started, you’ve been sharp. Locked in. No distractions. And now?” He tilts his head. “You disappear for two days, come back looking like you found Jesus, and suddenly, you can’t watch film without zoning out?”

I roll my shoulders, keeping my voice even. “What’s your point?”

“My point, Coach, is that I know you. And I know when something—orsomeone—has you off your game.”

I lock my jaw.

I cannot let this be a distraction.

Not for the team. Not for the season.

At work, I need to be all business.

I stand up, facing him. “Drew, let me make something very clear.”

He raises an eyebrow.

“My personal life is my business. And it’snotgoing to interfere with this team.”

He studies me for a long moment.

Then—he smirks. “So thereissomething personal.”

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