Page 11 of Misbehaving With Minotaurs
I sigh as I stare past him at the empty, quiet hallway.
Stood up? Me??
Maybe Ihavelost my touch.
CHAPTER FOUR
MANORIN
“Nice job this afternoon.” I stare at the players as we wrap a short but effective game. I’ve seen what I need to see. “I don’t think we need regular practices, but I’d like to schedule one or two sessions over the next couple of weeks to help you get a feel for my leadership style, if nothing else. If anybody’s not down for that, let me know, alright?”
A few sideways glances between the players are my only answer. I suspect Arkan’s going to get a couple phone calls afterward from players who have no intention of coming to those. That’s fine. I’ve got a couple Hellions players in mind who aren’t doing anything during the break and would probably love to come here and fuck around on a gorgeous field. It might even do the current team some good to see my academy folks.
When no one says anything, I resist the urge to bark that they hit the showers. But, of course, these aren’t my protector kids, and they’re probably all heading home. I dismiss the team gruffly, mulling over if it would even be possible to salvage next year’s season with a team like this. Likely not. It’ll take a fewyears of building before the program’s in a good spot. Looking back to last year’s skyball finals, it was pure luck how well the Ever Misfits did, in my opinion.
As the team leaves, Arkan jogs over to me with Hana, a worried expression on his face. She’s all happy smiles, though, pumping her arms victoriously over her head when they halt in front of me.
“That wasamazing, Coach. It was so nice to play with people my own age for once.”
Oh mygawds.
I lift a brow at the beautiful centaur female. “Hana, you’re the only one even worth keeping on this team because you’re the only one with the right work ethic. Even then, do you have an intention of going pro? Because that’s the mentality this team would need to be successful long-term.”
She and Arkan share a glance. They’ve obviously discussed this.
I cross my arms. “Right. My job isn’t to pressure you into something you’re not dying to do. There are players who’ve worked their whole lives to get to the skyball pitch.” I move my focus to Arkan. “But you weren’t kidding when you said this is a rebuild. I don’t think there’s a single player here I’d keep.”
He shakes his head, crossing his arms to match my stance. “I truly was not. This team needs building from the ground up, which is why I want you to do it. I can’t attract pro talent the way you can, or any of the other things that need to happen to make the team successful.”
I suck at my teeth as I stare around the bright green pitch, lights overhead cutting on as the sun begins to set. After a moment, I look back at Arkan. “You have time to take me to dinner? I’ve got questions.”
Hana bumps her mate with an elbow. “Go. I’m headed to Shifter Hollow. Got a game with the kiddos down there.”
He laughs and slides his arm around her waist, rubbing hischeek against hers. When she turns, nuzzling at him for a kiss, I avert my eyes to give them a moment of privacy.
That easy-seeming, obvious love is something I’ve never had. Being famous makes it even harder, because it’s nigh impossible to figure out who wants you for you and who simply wants your fame. I found myself returning home to Pine Gulch for nearly all of my vacations, because the one thing I can count on the Gulch to do is treat me like Manorin the Longhorn, not Manorin the Coach.
“Come on, Coach,” Hana’s voice breaks through my thoughts.
When I return my focus to them, Arkan’s kissing her neck playfully even as she laughs and bats him away. She finally manages to stop him when he reaches for her hand and threads his fingers through hers. “I’ll walk you to Main.”
We leave the field, and I resist the urge to walk the stadium one more time. Realistically, I’m a poor sleeper, so when I wake up at two a.m., I’ll come back here and poke around a bit. I glance up at Arkan. “Stadium open all the time?”
He snorts out a laugh, swishing his tail against his dark sides. “Yeah. If you want to come get a three a.m. and get a workout in, you can.”
I crook a brow at him. “Oh, is there a weight room? I missed that on the tour.”
Arkan’s laugh grows louder. “Is there a weight room? Ofcoursethere’s a weight room. You’re right, we skipped that on the tour, but there’s a kickass weight room in the basement.”
“I brought weights in my bag,” I muse offhandedly, glancing to where I left my luggage at the side of the pitch. “Just in case.”
Arkan snorts. “Of course you did. Gods forbid you miss a workout.” He punches my arm. “Might lose all of this hard-earned muscle in a day or two, old man.”
We share a laugh at that. I couldn’t lose the muscle if I tried.Minotaurs are naturally strong. But I’m bigger and stronger than most due to my strict routine.
An hour later, we’re seated at Herschel’s Fine Dining, discussing the trial period, but my mind drifts back to Catherine. It’s been almost two hundred years since I’ve seen her, but damn, she looked better than ever. I’ve always brought out her sassy side, and that doesn’t seem to have changed.
I noticed she was on a date, but I never did see the centaur male return. Only an idiot would stand up a woman like her. I mull that over for a moment before returning my focus to Arkan, who chats animatedly about his vision for the skyball program.
