Page 71 of Not that Impressed
I guess I’ll have to go and figure out what they’ve cooked up. It’s not the worst thing in the world that my boyfriend and my dad are up to something together.
I show up to the field ten minutes earlier than Dad said to. His assistant meets me out front and takes me to the field.
“The field?” I question.
She grins, and it makes me laugh. “Come on. I can’t wait for you to see this.”
My guesses have ranged from some kind of flash dance Will got his team to do, although that seems more like a Charlie move, to us doing some kind of social media video for the team. But why would the video be a secret? I coordinate with the team’s PR staff all the time to do stuff like that to cross over between the show and my personal brand.
I walk faster out onto the practice field, where groups of the team are working. When we get to about midfield, Will pops up from the defensive stance he was in and walks toward us. Then Dad comes off the sideline with a woman at his side. I don’t recognize her, but I don’t know everyone on the Pumas staff. Between the coaching and training staff and the front office, there are a lot of people involved in the organization.
She’s wearing joggers, a white tank top, and a Pumas hat over straight chestnut colored hair. I’d guess she’s middle-aged, maybe forties or fifties.
Will reaches me first, giving me a side hug and a kiss on the temple, which earns some cat calls from the teammates nearest us. Will ignores them, unsurprisingly. Dad and the woman step up to us a few seconds later.
“What’s up?” I ask, my gaze darting between the woman, Dad, and Will.
“Ellie,” Dad says, gesturing to the woman. “I wanted to introduce you to our new assistant quarterbacks coach, Dani Lawrence.”
It’s only with the poise that’s been drilled into me by growing up on television that I keep my jaw from dropping to the ground. The league has a few women on the coaching staff.The New York Liberty has a woman as the head of the strength and conditioning, but this is big. Like really big.
I put out my hand immediately. “It is a huge pleasure to meet you, Coach Lawrence.” I pump her hand enthusiastically.
She smiles back. “I have you to thank for getting this opportunity, Ellie,” she says.
“You have thirteen state championships and one of the winningest programs in Nevada history,” Will breaks in. “That’s where your opportunity comes from.”
Coach Lawrence reaches over and slaps Will on the shoulder, chuckling. “We both know if Ellie Bennet hadn’t put a bee in your bonnet, I wouldn’t be here.”
I turn to Will. His cheeks are red, and he shakes his head. “Okay, she’s not wrong about you making me pay attention,” he says in a gruff voice. “But Coach Lawrence earned the spot all the same.”
Dad beams as he watches all three of us.
I point at Will. “This is amazing.”
He scoops an arm around my waist and pulls me close. Ignoring more hoots and whistles, he drops a kiss on my lips and then whispers in my ear, “I’ll see you tonight.” He steps away and jogs back to his team.
I tear my gaze away to turn back to Coach Lawrence. “I’m putting together a football camp for girls through Girls Play. Would you be interested in speaking to them?”
“Absolutely. Let’s get together and chat more about it.” She squeezes my shoulder, a gentler version of her shoulder slap of encouragement to Will. I already get why all her players love her. There’s an aura of goodness around her, something that makes you feel amazing, and I’ve only known her a few minutes. Her expression holds joy and encouragement. “I’d better go now. Don’t want to be slacking on my first day.” She winks at me and jogs back to the huddle the offense is currently in, clasping her hands behind her back and leaning in to hearwhat the offensive coordinator is saying. It’s all I can do to stay put and not follow her around the rest of the day.
Then my gaze trails to Will, who’s also watching me from his own huddle. A smile spreads across his face, and I can’t help my matching one.
“We’d better get off the field before they run this next play,” Dad says, putting a hand on my back and nudging me sideways.
“Will did this?” I turn to Dad as we walk off.
He nods. “For the most part. Came to Jack after that flag football camp for girls you had the players teach at. Told him the Pumas needed to lead by example when it came to giving women the opportunities they deserved. Had a list of five women he wanted us to consider. Coach Lawrence was at the top.”
“There he goes, throwing his weight around again,” I murmur with a smirk. I can’t help glancing over my shoulder at him again, but he’s lined up now, crouched in a defensive stance and ready to pounce as soon as the ball snaps. All focus.
Dad chuckles. “For all the right reasons.”
A few weeks ago, I might not have believed that. Now, I believe more than ever what I told Libby in Mexico. Will Pemberton is the hero.
He’s absolutely my hero.
EPILOGUE
