Page 74 of The Americana Playbook

“Isn’t that his job?” Coach laughs. “Making sure you—or yourgirlfriend—is safe?”

I don’t really think this is the time to correct him on a matter of semantics and redirect this conversation. “Right, yeah, it’s his job. But like every fifteen minutes at night? I hear him opening the door constantly, looking around, and closing it.”

This story is more of the opposite of what Parker is doing, but the behavior is the same.

“It’s like he can’t stop. Like it’s?—”

“Obsessive?”

“Maybe.” My shrug comes naturally because I didn’t have the word before, but that’s it. “I feel bad for the guy. Should I say something?”

Coach shrugs. “You said he was a marine?”

I nod because I think I did.

“Therapy.”

“That’s it?” I ask. “Therapy?”

Somehow, I get the feeling that Parker, who barely let me into her corner, is willing to talk to a therapist.

“Well, under normal circumstances, I’d suggest therapyandcards.”

That went in another direction. “Cards?”

“A game of solitaire might take his mind off it. Sounds like he’s got a little OCD. Might be related to some sort of trauma on the job.”

I tilt my head to the side. “Isn’t that when people are obsessed with being clean and organized?”

Coach waves a hand. “Not always the case. OCD is when obsessive or repetitive behaviors are used to compensate for stress in here.” He taps his temple. “Symptoms don’t always have to be severe. But I’d say if someone with that kind of background is repeating checks a dozen times at night, it’s a pretty extreme case related to some intense trauma. He’ll have to work on taking his mind off it when the intrusive thoughts kick in.”

“Only on bad nights.”

Coach isn’t interested in carrying this on any longer because he rises, moving back to his desk. The play on the screen resumes.

“Only way to beat a zone defense is with a quick arm”—I point at myself—“and fast as hell receivers. We’ve got that.”

With trades and contracts coming to an end, we’re not losing much in terms of offense. And with the new guys the Rebels have signed, we’restacked.

But they always say, defense wins championships. And we took a loss there.

My phone buzzes from inside my pocket, and I do my best to ignore it. This might be an informal meeting, but I know better than to show Coach my head is out of the game, even during offseason.

“I’ve got a newbie out of Michigan I want you to work out with.”

I nod. “We’ve already talked. Meeting next week.”

Coach turns back to his laptop, searching for another play.NowI check my phone.

Parker

You can come to the event next Tuesday. The only other thing I have before that is a luncheon down in Connecticut.

I eye Coach, whose eyes are still focused on his computer.

Why can’t I come to the lunch?

Parker

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