Chapter 34
PACE – EARLY NOVEMBER
You’ve Been Making Eyes at Her All Day
Darcy
Have you heard from Annie yet?
Me
You mean since you gave me the worst advice ever and I spilled my guts to her and terrified her? No.
Darcy
The play was the right one, it was the execution that let you down.
Me
Football puns, really? I did exactly what you told me to do, I admitted how I feel about her.
Darcy
You took a punt. It might not have scored a goal but it moved you down the field.
Me
Annie made it clear that nothing can happen between us. Which I respect, by the way. She has more sense than you, and me for listening to you.
Darcy
Your advance was intercepted by Auston’s pretty darn big defense.
Me
Please stop with the puns.
Darcy
Okay. But I really think this timeout was well placed. An opportunity for you to regroup and come out stronger on the next drive.
Me
We’re done here.
Darcy
Love ya
Me
Yeah, you, too
I walk into the players’ area and almost trip over my big ass feet because Annie is set up with her laptop on a table in the corner of the lounge area. I arranged this, convinced Coach to let Annie interview some of the guys, but it still takes me by surprise. She does.
It hits me like a dime from the top of a skyscraper – I’ve missed her.
It’s been two clear days and somehow, she got even prettier.
She’s interviewing Max, giggling at something he says, cheeks rosy.
Sex complicates everything, even when you’re not having it, because I miss my roommate and friend as much as I miss the girl I’m falling for.
Who happens to be the very last girl I should be falling for, not least because even though she said my like is reciprocated, she hasn’t spoken to me since she said we wouldn’t be doing anything about it.
Since she decided to stay home and consider her next move with her ex instead of hanging out at home with me.
Why did I listen to my sister?
She hasn’t spotted me yet, so I give myself the treat of watching her work.
Hair tumbling down her back, lips turned up and welcoming, fingers typing on her laptop.
Her typical shirt is tucked behind a big belt buckle on her jeans and she’s wearing those scuffed cowboy boots on the legs I fantasize about being wrapped around my waist.
“Would you quit making eyes at Quinn’s sister?” Omar says, holding a free weight from the gym, sweat running down the veins of his forearms like a river.
“I’m not making anything,” I protest, quickly scanning the room and, unsurprisingly, finding Colton not far from his sister, in the lounge area. From what I can see, he’s drinking a protein shake but the rookies are tucking into one of Annie’s pecan pies.
Suddenly, I’m flashing back to kissing her up against the hotel room wall on Saturday, intoxicated by her taste, the sound of her groaning into my mouth.
“You know Quinn will kill you if you make a move on his sister?”
“I’m well aware, Krasinski.”
“Do the team a favor, man, and find someone else to hook up with?” he says. “At least until the season is out.”
I watch him head back into the gym, annoyed that he’d think I’d hook up with Annie. Not because I wouldn’t. I already have, to an extent. But it didn’t feel like a cheap thrill. Not to me.
Feeling Quinn’s focus on me, I glance his way and lift my chin. Reluctantly, I brace to go see him, even though my pulse rate has sky-rocketed at the thought of speaking to his sister. But Coach Roy comes into the lounge and calls Quinn, Omar and me to his office.
“Take a seat, boys. Close the door behind you.”
Coach has already set out three chairs, rather than the usual one, which tells me this isn’t a meeting we’re having on a whim and that makes me nervous.
“I’m not going to beat around the bush.” A pin drop could be heard in the room. “You know the trade deadline is coming up at the end of November and the GM has presented me with an opportunity that I want to sound out with you boys.”
I can sense Omar and Quinn looking at me. Coach has never run trades by the team first. Which means the rumors are true…
“It’s a straight position trade.” Coach rests back in his chair, which creaks under his weight. “Quarterback for quarterback.”
“Lamar for Rogers?” I ask.
He nods, short and repetitive.
Quinn jerks forward in his seat as if he wants to yell fuck, no.
I also know that he won’t and that it must take him a ton of strength not to because my head is screaming no, too.
But neither of us speaks. We know our place and respect our head coach.
Even as my gut feels as if it’s fallen through my seat.
“Have we sought it out, Coach?” I ask. Or does Auston want Annie back?
“No. Nor was I aware it was coming down the line.”
“What’s the draw for us?” Omar asks.
Colton’s focus is fixed on Coach’s desk, his fists clenched.
“His character aside, Auston is one of the best quarterbacks in the league. He’s a big name and with Tommy gone, we have a question mark over whether Lamar’s ready.”
“We’re winning games,” Omar says.
“By the skin of our teeth,” Coach tells him. Fair.
“I don’t mean to speak out of turn, Coach, but our fans don’t like him either. In fact, they hate him, and mostly, I’d say that goes for the squad, too.”
I’m so fucking grateful for Omar being the objective voice of reason here and still landing where Quinn and I want him. I need to step up to the plate, too, and put the face that’s spinning through my mind like a hurricane out of it for a minute.
“What do the Archers want for him?” I ask. “Lamar for Rogers isn’t a good trade for them.”
“If it all checks out. And I say if because I’m not sure how locked in Rogers is legally. They want Trent Daniels and our first round draft pick next year.”
“Trent?” Quinn asks, finally speaking. “He’s our best defenseman.”
Coach nods. “One of ’em. But, son, I watched a lot of your college games before drafting you. We already had Tommy and we were building a team around him but in different circumstances, my wish list for your draft year would have been you and Rogers.”
Quinn scratches his head in frustration. Everyone knows he and Auston were…
“The dream team,” Coach says. “Now it might be on offer, at a time when this team was primed and ready for silver wear. With Tommy fit, I thought this year would have been ours.” He shrugs. “I guess that’s football.”
Like it usually does, what Coach says makes sense. I see it in his calmness, and in the way Quinn and Omar seem to deflate. So maybe they’re better men than me for not letting their personal shit come to the forefront. Maybe I should want this trade for Annie.
For myself, though… “Listen, Coach, if the GM picks the team, you’ve got to coach it.
If you pick us to play, we’ll play hard for you and for the man standing next to us,” I tell him, rubbing my beard, questioning whether I’m going to play this hand and whose best interests I have in mind.
I glance to Quinn, then quickly look away. Fuck it.
“If I were the GM, I wouldn’t make this trade.
Not because Rogers is a piece of— Yeah, you get it.
Because I see potential in Lamar. He deserved more time on the bench learning from Tommy, we all know that, and we’ve not been playing to his strengths.
But I see some natural brilliance when he gets outside the pocket – that’s why he was scouted, right? ”
“I’m listening,” Coach says, folding his arms across his middle, resting back in his chair.
“He’s finding his voice with the guys, too.
” The boys back me up, both nodding. “We’ve been lucky so far this season, we’re scraping through these wins on the strength of our defense, but if we’re willing to adjust tactics and get the three of us in this room more time with Lamar in practice, we can get something good going.
We don’t need Rogers, Coach. I’ve got faith in this Bears squad as it is. ”
Coach rubs his eye and wiggles his nose. “It would take time. You might not see another ring in your career if we stick with the team, as is. Are you prepared for that, Pace?”
He knows me. Knows I’ve wanted another ring since I got the first. Football is my life.
Yet, I’m chewing over the fact I’d rather not have Auston in Texas and wondering who that benefits.
Me? Annie? Nelson? I’ve fallen for Annie.
But Auston is Nelson’s dad. And I see the way Annie still reacts to him.
They’re unfinished, I just don’t know in what way.
Coach is waiting for an answer I don’t have. Then he fixes on Quinn and I finally take a breath.
“You’re quiet over there, son, and I understand why, but I want all three of my starting receivers to know what’s on the table and that I might not be able to stop it, even if you don’t like it. I have a voice with the GM but you know that this is ultimately his call.”
“I know, Coach. I just— Why does Rogers want to come here?” Quinn asks.
“Speaking as a man not a coach, I don’t know where he’s at personally with your sister and your nephew, son, but judging by your demeanor and what my wife fills me in on from social media, I’d say not in a good place.
My best guess is, he thinks coming here rights some wrongs, portrays him in a different light, and whether it works out or not, he thinks John Q Public will see that he’s trying and cut him some slack. ”
Coach holds out his arms – what do I know? “Professionally, if he stops being hated by the Archers fans, maybe he plays the way we all know he can, in the pocket, like Tommy did.”
I hate how right Coach is. This move, if it came off, would have been a dream replacement for Tommy, if there was nothing personal involved.
I’m so far from feeling objective about this.
I’m terrified that Rogers is coming for Annie. Does he want her back? Does he want to be in Nelson’s life? Or is this all smoke and mirrors? How long would it be before he hurt her or them again?
Where does all that leave me and the fact I’m head over fucking boots for her?
My head is absolutely fried by the time we leave the office.
It’s as if Quinn and I are tuned into each other because we both turn off for the locker rooms rather than heading back to the players’ lounge. Annie is in there and we need to discuss this before we see her.
Omar doesn’t say anything but pats Quinn on the shoulder in a show of solidarity before leaving the two of us to slump down in our own stalls, legs spread, forearms to knees. I know I shouldn’t be feeling as beat up by this as Quinn but I think I am. For all the wrong reasons.
“Do you think she knows?” Quinn asks me.
I rag my hands over my face. “No, I don’t. I’m sure she would have told me. We talk. We’re confined in a car together for hours at a time. We live together half the week.”
“Not this week,” he shoots.
“Yeah, well…” I can’t explain that right now.
“What the hell is his game plan?” Quinn asks, agitated as he stands.
I shrug. “Coach could be spot on. Or he’s making a play for Annie and Nelson.” Quinn darts his attention to me. “Maybe this is his backassward way of showing Annie that he’s ready to make an effort for them, like he—” The thought of it wrecks me. “Like he said he would.”
I know I’m not with Annie and I can’t be but the thought of there being even a remote chance that Rogers could be with her again cuts me deep. If he was in their lives, would I be out? There’s an ache under my ribs and my eyes feel like someone’s struck a match behind them.
But this isn’t about me and I need to hold it together. It’s about the Quinns. Their family. It’s about Annie and her choices.
“We’ve got to tell her, Colton.”
“Isn’t she better off not knowing? It might not happen. If Auston wants to reach out to her, he will.”
I sigh. “What if it does happen? Then she finds out that we knew before her? Whether Rogers plays for this team is out of our hands but whether Annie has him back in her life, as much as I fucking hate it for all y’all, it’s her decision to make.
It’s her life. Hers and Nelson’s. She’s a grown woman with choices to make.
She needs space to work this out for herself without any of us getting in her head or putting pressure on her. ”
It strikes me, that’s exactly what she’s been trying to do these past days. Think without the pressure I didn’t mean to put on her.
He stands, hands on hips. “Fuck.”
“I think it would be better if she heard it from you but if you want me to tell her, I can.”
He drags his fingers through his damp hair. “I’ve got it.”
I nod, wondering whether I’m going to head home, or to the gym room, which would really be in the hope Annie wants to talk rather than because I need to work out more.
“Hey, Pace, what’s going on with you and Annie?”
I went down on her. “How’d you mean?”
“Why’s she staying at the ranch this week?”
Oh. “All this with Auston. She wants some space.”
“I’m pretty sure she has more time to herself when she’s staying with you.”
I scoff. Yep, there’s no mucking out stables, DIY projects, cooking, cleaning, commuting. But I’m here.
“What can I say? I’m not as cool as I thought.”
“Yeah, no shit,” he says, smiling. “I appreciate it, you know, everything you’ve been doing for Annie. She’s different around you. Back to her old self, before Auston.”
My chest tightens as the lining of my throat seems to thicken. “Yeah?”
“Yeah. You’re a good friend, man. To us both.”
Friend. “Back at you, Quinn.”