Chapter Nine
Harte
Athletes have always believed in silly superstitions, and I could admit to being one of those people. After my first win in the NFL, I listened to the same playlist before every game and ate the same breakfast. Other players had their own routines they followed.
Later that morning, I was as nervous as a rookie stepping out on the field for his first game day.
Dev had texted and said to call Coach, but he wouldn’t say anything more.
Phone in hand, I sat staring at the black screen.
Somehow, I’d become certain that my decision to stay in Appleton Falls with Jet and the Kings potentially hiring me as a scout were connected.
If the Kings said yes, we’d be together.
A no, and it would be a sign that we weren’t meant to be.
“I’m an idiot,” I scolded myself. “Coach specifically told me to reach out if I ever needed anything. He’ll give me the truth. And Jet? A yes or no with this job doesn’t mean squat. I can’t walk away from him now. I’ve never been happier than I am with him.”
Jaw set, I found Coach’s contact and listened as the call connected. Jet was napping, and then we were going to get Christmas trees—one for his house and one for mine.
“Harte? That you?” Coach’s smooth voice asked. “Been a long time. How the hell are you?”
“Doin’ good. Merry Christmas.”
“Same to you. How’s everything going? What’ve you been doin’ with yourself?”
“Not too much.” I laughed, a little restrained. “That’s why I’m calling. I had an idea and wanted to run it by you to see what you think.”
“Go on, shoot.”
I laid out the plan I’d talked over with Dev and Brody, with additional insight from Jet, who knew the area and had played in this division. When I finished, I held my breath.
“Hmm.” Coach not instantly thinking it was a great idea sent my stomach plummeting to my knees, but I kept quiet.
Waiting. “Dev and Brody spoke to Armi, and Armi said you’d be calling with something fresh for us to pay attention to.
I gotta tell you, I kinda like it. We’ve always concentrated on the South and Midwest, even with Armi’s protocol of giving a leg up to lesser-known teams. Thinking on it, we might’ve been giving the North Atlantic short shrift.
Certainly with the smaller schools, I know that to be true. This could work to our advantage.”
Like fireworks on the Fourth, my adrenaline shot to the sky.
“Yeah, exactly. I’m situated in a perfect position to travel to these teams and see what they’ve got going on.
Plus, the high school game is superstrong here—Keller Williams and Elijah Randolph have coached the state champions for three years in a row.
My thinking is that there’s a ton of raw talent we can start keeping track of even at that level.
If they stay in the area, I can do the recruiting.
If not, I’ll pass them along to whomever the Kings have in that division. ”
“Damn, Harte, you’ve got our whole scouting system targeted for the next five years. I can’t imagine why this isn’t gonna be a winner. Why don’t you come on down to the office tomorrow and make the pitch? We’ve got practice in the morning, but I can set up a meeting for the afternoon.”
“Great. Thanks, Coach.”
“No, thank you.” He paused. “I know it was hard for you to see Patrick Sloane come in and get the lead spot. But I’ve always thought you were a hell of a team player, Harte. And this proves it.”
My throat grew tight. “I loved being on the Kings, and I got my Super Bowl rings and memories for a lifetime. But most importantly, they gave me a family. I’d love to stay with them and build a new career off the field.”
“Then let’s make it happen. I’ll email you the calendar invite when I set it up with Hayden.”
“Can’t wait. Thanks.”
The call ended, and mindful of Jet sleeping, I ran out to the backyard. I ran to the farthest end, where the trees towered high, their branches filled with snow.
“Yes!” I yelled, pumping my fist. “Yes!” A flock of birds took off squawking, their wings black against the bright-blue sky.
Kicking my feet like a child, I fell on the ground and rolled in the snow.
It was wet and freezing, but I didn’t care.
A whole new future had opened up, and whether it was my proposal or something else that the Kings crafted, it didn’t matter.
I was creating my own destiny and moving forward.
Spinning my wheels out from that rut I’d sunk in ever since Maya had left me and I’d retired.
Thoroughly soaked and cold to the point of numbness, I retraced my footsteps and shook my sneakers off at the door, leaving them on the mat. My teeth chattered as I poured a cup of hot coffee. Jet appeared, bare-chested, his hair all messy, and I thought my heart would explode from happiness.
Damn, I was in love with him.
“What the hell was that racket outside?” he grumbled, and I chuckled.
“Me. I spoke to my old coach, and he thinks my idea is great. We’re going to have a meeting tomorrow. I have to go to the city.”
“Fan-fucking-tastic!” Jet whooped and grabbed my waist, picking me up and spinning me.
“I don’t have the job yet,” I protested, but it felt good to hold on to him and feel his excitement.
“You’re gonna nail it. And I’m gonna nail you.” He covered my mouth with his, and I wrapped my arms around his neck, meeting the thrust of his hungry tongue with mine.
“Mmm. I like the sound of that. Maybe we should practice.” I ground my hips into his. “I need to get out of these wet clothes anyway.”
Jet started to walk me backward toward the bedroom, when the doorbell rang. I jerked away from him, and his eyes widened.
“I’d better see who it is.”
“I’ll go into the bedroom. I really do have to change. Good that I still have some clothes here.”
“You’d better keep it that way too,” Jet growled, and I sprinted away but stopped in the doorway, hidden from view, and listened.
“Hey, what’s up?”
“Can we talk? Mom told me about what you told her.”
I inched forward, having no qualms about eavesdropping. It was Laura, Jet’s sister, and I was eager to hear if she was as open-minded as Jet had predicted.
“What exactly did she say?” Jet asked.
“That you’re gay and sleeping with some man you just met.”
I winced.
“Wow. I’m kind of annoyed she told you. Something like that should be for me to say, not her.”
“I agree, and I told her so. So why don’t we sit and talk about it now? I’d like to hear it from you.”
I heard a jacket unzip and them sitting.
“Typical Mom, in that she didn’t pull any punches.
First of all, I’m not gay. I’m bisexual.
Second, I’m not simply sleeping with some man.
That makes it sound…I dunno. Kinda seedy.
It isn’t like that. We have a connection I’ve never felt with anyone before.
Let’s have a cup of coffee, and I’ll tell you the whole story. ”
“Okay, but I just need to tell you right away that I don’t care who you’re with. I just want you to be happy, because I know you haven’t been for a really long time. You deserve to be loved because you’re wonderful.”
My eyes welled, and I had to brush my lashes. I was happy for Jet that he had someone in his corner.
“I don’t need anyone else to make me happy but myself,” Jet said, “but meeting him has made everything better, if that makes sense. Even the little things.”
“Sounds like you more than like him,” Laura teased, and I suddenly felt ashamed at my nosiness. I left and hustled into the bathroom to take a shower. When I came out to dress, Jet was sitting on the bed.
“Hey.” His serene face told me everything had worked out well with his sister.
“Hey, yourself.”
“That was my sister. She wants to meet you if you’re okay with it.”
Little by little, I’d have to let people into my new world, and Jet’s sister seemed like a good place to start.
“Okay, yeah, sure. You told her about us?” I slipped on my briefs, a pair of Kings sweats, and a hoodie.
“I didn’t mention you by name, no. But her reaction was exactly as I expected, so yeah, I think you’ll like her.”
“I’m sure I will.”
Jet took my hand, and I knew he could feel the waves of nerves rolling off me. I’d gotten so damn emotional telling Dev and Brody. I hoped I wouldn’t have another meltdown with Laura.
“This is Harte. Harte, my sister, Laura Gould.”
She was tall and slim with wavy brown hair and big blue-gray eyes so like Jet’s. Her face beamed warm and open, and I found myself responding. My heart, which moments ago had been banging like a tambourine, settled.
“Harte. So nice to meet you. Jet told me about your car crash. I hope you’re feeling better.”
“Nice to meet you too. And yeah, your brother helped me out immensely. I was a mess the first few days, but now I’m almost good as new.”
“How about we sit?” Jet urged, and Laura took the chair, leaving the couch for Jet and me. “Laura, Harte was on the Brooklyn Kings, playing quarterback. And on the Bisons and Stallions prior to that.”
“Wow. The NFL? Shane’s a huge fan. He’ll talk your ear off, just warning you.”
“Happy to listen. The last few years before I retired, I played backup to Dev Summers and Patrick Sloane.”
“Oh, even I’ve heard those names. And you’re here just for the winter, or what?” I could tell she was performing her due diligence, asking the questions any big sister would need to know.
“Well, I bought a house about ten minutes from here, but tomorrow I have a meeting with the Kings about working as a scout for the North Atlantic colleges.” I looked to Jet, who gave me an encouraging smile.
“I’d like to stay here permanently. I have former teammates who live close by and other players in neighboring towns.
It’s a beautiful area, and I grew up in a similar environment. Plus…there’s Jet, of course.”