Page 48 of Crossing the Lines for Love

“Because of unwritten rules, our relationship would have been frowned upon. That’s really all I can say without giving too much away.”

“I understand. Can I share something with you?”

“Sure.”

“This is my fourteenth year coaching the men’s lacrosse team, but I started as an assistant women’s tennis coach.”

“Really? I didn’t know that.”

“Most people don’t. I only coached tennis for one year before an assistant men’s lacrosse position opened. After three years, the head coach moved on, and I got the head coaching job.”

“Nice, but what does that have to do with my relationship problems?”

“When I met my wife, she was on the tennis team I was coaching.”

I gasped for more than one reason, covering my mouth with my hand.Coach Crawford’s wife was one of his athletes? Did he know about me and Niko?

“Oh, umm, that’s interesting. I’m sure that was the talk of the campus.”

“It was. I was a few years older than her, and our attraction to each other was immediate. It was wrong, and we fought it, but it was pointless. Nothing major happened until she graduated, but I was still the tennis coach.”

My palms were sweating, and my mouth was dry.Was this his way of telling me he knew about me and Niko?

“I’m surprised you didn’t get fired.”

“The only reason I didn’t was because the school wanted to keep everything under wraps.”

“You know, don’t you?”

“I wasn’t sure until just now.”

“What made you suspect something?”

“Honestly, it was the way he looked at you. At first, I could tell it was just infatuation, but as the weeks passed, the look became deeper and more intense. Eventually, I realized that nigga was in love with you and too far gone for me to warn him about the risks. You hid your feelings better than he did, but you had a few slipups, and it was apparent your feelings were mutual.”

“Coach, I’m sorry. I didn’t?—”

“There’s no need to apologize. I’ve gone through it, and you can’t help who you fall in love with. It’s too late because you’re both too far gone. However, I need a small favor.”

“What’s that?”

“Keep things on ice until the season is over. I’ve never seen him more focused. He’s been playing his ass off, and I want to keep him in this mindset.”

I laughed. “He has, hasn’t he? That won’t be a problem, though. He’s already moved on.”

“What? I doubt that.”

“I saw him with my own eyes. Two weeks ago, he was having dinner with another woman. We made eye contact, so he knows I saw him, and he didn’t reach out to try to explain or anything.”

“Two weeks ago? That was probably Deuce’s mother. He came to me a few weeks ago to ask for my brother’s phone number. He’s a family law attorney. I’ll let him give you all the details when you reunite, but I assure you he hasn’t moved on with Deuce’s mother.”

“I must say, this wasn’t the direction I expected this conversation to take. Thank you for your candor.”

“You’re welcome. There might be some rumbles about you two throughout the campus once the news breaks, but summer break will keep all the talk to a minimum. If Richards gives you any problems, let me know. I have enough dirt on him to write a book. Don’t worry. I got your back.”

“I really appreciate you, Coach, not just for this conversation but for everything. You didn’t have to give me this opportunity and?—”

“You are more than qualified, Randi. You earned this opportunity.”

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