Page 1 of Love Story
1
Cody Coleman took the football field alone, the way he did most things these days. The Southern California sunshine landed on his shoulders and worked its way through the winter in his heart. It was the first day of spring training for his Oaks Christian High School team and Cody was ready.
Ready for something new.
Even if it was only another season on the gridiron.
He adjusted his baseball cap, slung the bag of footballs over his shoulder, and walked to the coaches’ bench. Along the way he lifted his face to the sun.What’s next for me, God? Is this really where You want me?
Cody waited. Sometimes when he talked to God, he heard an answer. Or felt one. Words would appear on the screen of his soul and he would know deeply, intimately, that he had received an actual response from God.
Not this time.
Cody sighed and dropped the bag to the ground. He grabbed a stack of orange cones and walked toward the twenty-yard line. His football coaching days had been extraordinarily successful. God had blessed his professional endeavors at every turn. His time at Lyle High School, an hour outside of Indianapolis, had seen him take a losing team and turn it into a winning program.
Sports Illustratedhad even covered the story and for a short time everyone knew Cody Coleman. They called him America’s favorite high school football coach. But then he felt God calling him away from Lyle. He took the job here at Oaks Christian for a lot of reasons. But the one that was most compelling was a blue-eyed girl with long blond hair and a laugh that stayed with him still.
Andi Ellison.
He pictured her, months ago, standing in front of him saying goodbye. He could hear her voice and feel the way he had been lost in her eyes. Cody straightened and drew a slow breath. He couldn’t think about her here. Not Andi.
Not today.
Four cones along the twenty-yard line, four more at the thirty. Cody made his way up the field. His assistant coaches would be here in an hour. The players, an hour after that. Spring training lasted just five weeks—right up till the end of the school year. He had to take every minute seriously. Otherwise the team would pay come fall. After spring training, they’d take a month off and in July they’d start summer two-a-days. Just like last year and the year before.
The difference between Lyle and Oaks Christian was something Cody had figured out this past weekend. The thing that set them apart was purpose. The Lyle High football team had needed him. Before he showed up no one wanted to work with those kids. And Cody had seen a little of himself in the Lyle players.
A potential that took some work to find.
Whatever the reason, Cody felt like he was walking in the center of God’s will at Lyle High. Here, though, he was starting to have a sense that the Oaks Christian football team didn’t really need him. They were a powerhouse in the Santa Clarita Valley before he took the job, and they would remain a powerhouse long after he left.
Which might be soon.
He finished placing the cones, returned to the bench and opened the gear bag. His clipboard was at the bottom of the bag of footballs. He grabbed it, sat down and studied the list of names. Blake Miller, Hawk Austin, Sam Knell, John Vaught. The seniors had come a long way playing for him, no doubt.
Ten of the players met every Monday night for Bible study with Cody, a time where the focus was on faith in God and friendship off the field. That had been his prayer from the beginning. He smiled. Okay, so maybe he had made a difference. Even still, most of the students wanted for nothing. If he moved on, someone else would fill his shoes. A coach or a parent. Oaks Christian had dozens of mentors.
Cody peered across the field. Yes, he definitely needed a change of pace. Another state, another school. A different challenge.
Or maybe he was only missing Andi.
He never imagined living in Southern California without her. But two broken engagements were too much. For both of them. Somehow like every other relationship Cody had been a part of, his love story with Andi had fallen apart. Crashed and burned. And some days his broken heart felt like it would never mend. Not ever.
She had moved away after the last breakup. These days she worked for a Christian aid organization that helped people in the midst of national tragedies. Andi was on the disaster relief team. Ironic, since she hadn’t done anything about the very personal disaster between the two of them.
Something moved near the fieldhouse. Cody lowered his cap and squinted. Aaron Baylor, junior wide receiver, was walking toward him. Cody watched the boy. Skinniest kid on the team. Baylor was still wearing his school uniform, khaki pants and a white button-down shirt. His hands were sunk deep in his pockets, his shoulders stooped.
The player looked the way Cody felt.
A minute later he reached Cody and took the seat beside him. “Coach.”
“Baylor.” Cody leaned over his knees and looked at the kid. “You all right?”
“Kind of.” Baylor ran his hand through his red hair. “Okay, not really. Not okay.”
This was easily Cody’s favorite part of the job. Being here for the guys. “You wanna talk?”
“If that’s okay.” Baylor’s eyes looked nervous.
