Chapter 47
Preston
“That was pass interference!” I bellowed before I slammed my headset into the grass.
It had been three weeks since Jagger Ross fucked everything up. Actually, scratch that, since I fucked everything up.
This was the third game I’d benched Krew and I was so sick at what I’d been doing I could barely look at myself in the mirror.
I held Trinity close to my chest every night, knowing I was hiding so many truths from her.
“Coach. That’s your first warning,” the ref said before he tucked his whistle back into his mouth.
My jaw clenched, but before I could bend down to pick up my headset, a pair of hands scooped it off the ground.
Wesley lifted a brow. “Get it together.”
“They ignored the penalty.” I snatched it from his hands, then dropped it back in place.
“They did. But you lose your cool, they’ll send you to the locker room,” he reminded me like I didn’t already know I was on the brink of a blow-up.
The worst part of tonight wasn’t even that we were losing. That sucked. But when I saw the scouts in the stands, here to watch Krew Kolson, my anger flared.
I felt trapped. My loyalty to too many people being spread from one side of the field to another. It was becoming impossible.
But fuck, I loved her.
Loved her so much I’d take the hit. Loved her so much that as I stood here on this field, I realized I couldn’t protect them all. But the one I still refused to let down was her.
I thought about walking straight up to Rodney, the man who was taking chemo treatments every week, and tell him that I couldn’t do what he asked of me anymore.
No matter what I did, someone suffered.
And I was spiraling.
The whistle blew, signaling the next play.
Their defense was on point. Our plays sloppy. Our leader was on the bench, and the team moral was jacked. And it’s all my fault.
When the final buzzer echoed through the stadium, I tore off my headset, the loss crushing me like a solid boulder. We lost. And I was fuming.
I didn’t even stay for the locker room speech. I let Rodney handle it and escaped to my office at the end of the building to lick my wounds in peace. But that peace didn’t last long. I glanced up from my desk when Trinity stepped inside, then closed the door behind her.
Her arms crossed over her Cougar’s polo. “Tough loss.”
I breathed in through my nose. “Yeah.”
“You want to tell me what’s going on?” She cocked a hip out.
Her tone had a hint of accusation, which caused my defenses to shoot up. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
She scoffed. “Come on, Preston. Krew?” She took a few steps toward me. “Why the hell isn’t he on the field?”
“Trinity, don’t push,” I warned.
But I knew this woman. I knew when she was determined to do something, she didn’t let up.
“Oh, I’m pushing.” She pointed at the door. “Your team is suffering. Not because they don’t have the talent, but because they don’t have their quarterback. Jagger? Seriously? He doesn’t have half of the talent that Krew does.”
I busied my hands, tugging a drawer open before I dropped my playbook inside. Her rush to defend him grated on my nerves, putting irrational thoughts in my head. Maybe she’d rather be with him. Someone she didn’t have to sneak around with.
“I’m just trying to understand…” Her voice softened.
I slammed the door shut, my anger rising.
Not at her, but at this entire situation.
“You don’t have to understand.” I rolled my shoulders back.
“That’s not your job. Your job is to help fix a sprained ankle.
If I have any questions on that, I’ll ask.
Otherwise, your opinion on how I choose to run this team isn’t needed.
And as far as Krew, if you feel so strongly about him, maybe it’s his bed you should be crawling into at night. ”
Her eyes flashed with hurt, and I immediately wanted to kick my own ass. I was lashing out at her because I was confused. A bit jealous and felt like everything was slipping from my control. If she knew why I was doing this, I knew what she’d do.
She’d end it.
I bent, pressing my palms to the top of my desk. “I didn’t…” I glanced up at her. “Baby, I’m sorry…I didn’t mean—”
She held her hand to halt my apology. “No need to explain. I heard you loud and clear.”
We stared at each other, the silence only lasting a few seconds before my office door flew open and Wes stepped in.
“Sorry to interrupt.” He cleared his throat.
“You didn’t. I was just leaving.” Trinity spun on her heels, bolting out of the room.
Wes closed the door behind her, and I picked up the first thing on my desk and hurled it against the wall. “Fuck!”
Wesley crossed his arms. “You’re welcome for the intervention. Half the locker room probably heard you arguing with your girlfriend.”
Falling back into my chair, I placed my hands on the top of my head, leaning back against the leather.
“You all right?” he asked.
Just peachy.
“I’m fine.”
He waited a beat. “You didn’t deny it.”
I frowned. “What?”
“I called her your girlfriend.”
I stared at him. What was I supposed to say at this point?
“Look.” He sighed. “You want to fuck around with a student, that’s your bus—”
“Stop right there.” I was up on my feet. “Don’t you ever talk about her like she’s some cheap hookup.”
His eyebrows nearly reached his hairline. “Holy shit.” He let out a strange laugh. “You’re in love with her.”
I could lie. But he was my best friend. Deep down, I knew he would have my back.
So I looked him straight in the eyes. “Yeah. I am.”
He blew out a slow breath before he eased down in the chair across from me. I sat back down in my own, the confession hovering between us.
He shook his head. “Out of all the women…”
“I know.” I pinched the bridge of my nose. “It’s complicated.”
“You think?” He barked out a laugh.
His laughter faded, then he sobered. “What are y’all going to do about it?”
I answered honestly. “I have no idea.”