Chapter 9
Preston
I felt fire in my veins. An irrational anger at the fact she wasn’t someone I could touch. The universe would dangle the most beautiful woman I’d ever seen in front of me, like it was fate or something, just to rip her away at the last second. Seemed to be a recurring theme in my life.
Trinity’s eyes widened slightly as I stepped onto the cement of her driveway. She didn’t cower. She squared her shoulders and held my gaze.
“Trinity.” I cleared my throat before stopping a safe distance from her.
“Coach.”
The single word had ice slithering through my veins with vengeance. It was a reminder. A bright red flag that this was Rodney’s daughter, a man I highly respected.
“Look.” I ran a hand over my damp hair. I had showered after my workout and then paced in front of my window until I saw her car. “We should talk.”
“About what?” She cocked her head to the side, those green eyes steady.
“I’m pretty sure you know what,” I deadpanned.
“We had three conversations.”
She was downplaying our connection. Which was probably a part of her self-preservation.
“I asked you on a date.”
She lifted a brow. “I thought it wasn’t a date.”
Blowing out a breath, I glanced around. Like just even speaking to the woman would have my boss firing me on the spot. Then I’d have my picture plastered in the press by morning. I was afraid that anyone in a ten-mile radius could read my thoughts.
“We both know it was more than just showing you around.” I slid my hands into my pockets. “If I had known…I would have never..”
“Spoken to me?” she fired back with a shake of her head. “Seriously. We exchanged some mundane facts and you asked to show me around a town I wasn’t familiar with. It wasn’t a marriage proposal, Preston. We are both adults.”
“I understand. But you are still a student even though you are in grad school. It’s not…”
“Smart,” she offered.
“Appropriate,” I added.
She held my eyes for a moment, an emotion flashing across them, brief and damning.
Like she was just as disappointed as I was. “Agreed.”
The uncomfortable silence stretched before Ms. Goldridge, the neighborhood den mother, drove by, honking her horn before she sent us a wave.
Trinity shifted on her feet. “I assume you need to cancel for Saturday.”
Fuck, I didn’t want to. But it wasn’t an option. Not anymore.
She was off-limits.
“I think it’s best if we move forward in a professional manner,” I said the words, but my body revolted at the suggestion.
She worked her lips between her teeth, only a slight nod to her head in acknowledgment. “I better get inside.”
“Yeah,” I rasped. “Of course.”
She hiked her bag on her shoulder, clearly ready to get the fuck away from me. The easy banter we shared in the middle of a busy grocery store was long gone at this point.
“I just wanted to clear the air. And if you need anything, I’m just over there.”
Her eyes drifted to my house as I motioned behind me.
She dipped her chin again. “Night, Coach.”
As she walked away, an unfamiliar feeling settled in my chest. The name Coach was something I took pride in.
A name earned through hard work, dedication, and loyalty.
But coming from her, it sounded more like a scarlet letter.
An ugly reminder. I already knew as I crossed the street back to my house…
Trinity Maxwell was going to be a problem.
“You look like shit.”
Wesley flipped me off before he dropped down in the chair across from my desk.
He looked hungover. But it wasn’t from alcohol. It was from two little girls who were his pride and joy but simultaneously had him hanging by a thread.
“Hazel woke me up at two this morning by projectile vomiting all over my bedroom floor.” He leaned his head back before placing his hat over his eyes.
“Stomach bug?” I asked.
“Possibly. But she was all smiles this morning after I spent two hours scrubbing chunks of chicken nuggets from the carpet. So I’m assuming she just overate.”
“How many did she eat?”
“Fuck if I know.” He slid his hat back on his head. “Kyndall was trying to show me her gymnastics routine and my attention was demanded, and you know Hazel is sneaky.”
“Is Lana still working? With the girls?” I closed my playbook and leaned back in my chair. “She’s been nannying for what? A year now?”
“Yeah. She’s fine. I put up with her shit because she’s one of Mom’s best friends and I’m just trying to keep my head above water.”
“So she’s stopped bringing over her friends?” I asked with hesitancy.
Last month, Wesley came home from work to find Lana in his hot tub with a male friend. In a very compromising position. Thank God the girls were asleep, but I mean, What the fuck?
“Yes. I made it clear. There is only room for one dick in my house and it’s mine.” He rights his hat before he meets my eyes. “I had the hot tub hauled off the next day.”
“What did you tell the girls?” I chuckled.
“That it was contaminated with a flesh-eating bacteria and we had to get a new one. Obviously.”
I barked out a laugh. “Didn’t want to keep soaking in middle-aged semen?”
“Seriously, dude,” he scoffed. “That’s morbid.”
“You clearly need someone else. Doesn’t she have cataracts?”
“She can see up close.” He waved me off. “I’m working on it.”
A knock sounded at my door before Rodney’s face appeared in the frame. “Field in ten.”
“You got it, Coach,” I called before pushing to my feet.
When I glanced up, I caught a flash of auburn hair passing my window.
I froze as Trinity ambled by, deep in a conversation with Julia.
I ignored the stir in my chest. The dip in my stomach like I was some pre-pubescent teenager who just saw a beautiful girl for the first time.
I had played in countless games. Been up against some of the top-ranking teams, and some of the NFL’s greatest talents.
But none of those things had my nerves on edge like the thought of watching her on my field today.
Wesley cleared his throat, his eyes darting from me to the open door. “You all right, man?”
I shook my head and stepped around my desk.
“Fine. Let’s go.”