36. Chapter 35
Chapter 35
SHYLOH
Today felt good. We were getting in the swing of things for the season, getting comfortable working with each other. I’d been taking home the playbooks and videos to watch to ensure that I was giving our quarterbacks the best option.
I’d found that I really enjoyed coaching and being part of the team again. It was the sense of family that I loved. Just like every Wednesday, Lenna and Conrad invited me over for dinner along with the other coaches. They canceled this last Wednesday, said Asher wasn’t feeling well and that made me sad because he was my favorite part about visiting.
“Hey, Shy!” Conrad yelled, entering my office. “Ready for today? ”
I raised my brows. “Ready as I’ll ever be.”
We had a home game today.
I’d kept myself distracted, falling completely into my work and trying not to think about Becca, but I just couldn’t find the strength to change my background on my phone. It was as if I needed to see her face. Her smile. Her eyes.
I missed them. I missed her.
The crowd is exceptionally large today. I took in the sounds, the cheers, the atmosphere. It was electric, making my heart beat a little bit faster. I hyped up my quarterbacks, encouraging them and watching as they took the field. I turned to look at the crowd one final time, searching for a familiar face, but she wasn’t there.
The seat I reserved for her every game was empty.
A whistle pulled my attention to the field. The game was underway.
***
“You’ve gotta be shitting me, stripes. That was intentional and you fucking know it,” I shouted.
The ref pointed at me and yelled, “Get off the field, Coach. That’s a warning.”
“Oh, give me a damn break. Ninety-Six pancaked my quarterback well after the ball was thrown. That’s a missed fucking call and you know it.”
I felt a pull from my back. Turning around, I found Conrad was pulling my shirt towards the sideline. “It's alright. Take a breath. ”
“He could have gotten hurt,” I replied with a frog in my throat. That’s what fucking happened to me.
“Yes, he could have, but he didn’t. The league will look at that hit again, and they’ll take care of it,” Conrad insisted.
I rolled my eyes and made my way to the bench, throwing my headset off.
Pissed off was an understatement. I looked up at the screen, watching the next play and my heart stopped. Ninety-Six hit my QB again, and this time there was a late flag against him.
Sometimes we can hear fans yelling specifics, but this fan in particular was heated.
“Fuck you, Ninety-Six! Go suck a dick!” My head whipped around to see a very angry and extremely beautiful, Becca.
She was sitting in the seat I had reserved. She came.
She didn’t see that I noticed her, and I watched briefly as the crowd around her high-fived and chest bumped her. That woman was a goddess and now everyone knew she was too.
I turned my attention back to the game, grabbing my head seat and getting ready to coach the best fucking game of my life.
Blowing out a team that you hate is always the best feeling. Even being a coach, the feeling is exactly the same. Once I got back home from California, I stayed at Lenna’s and Conrad’s house with them, and I cried. Cried like a baby. Actually, I might have cried more than Asher.
No, I was positive I did .
Before going back into the locker room, I looked back into the crowd one final time, and my heart sank into my ass. Becca was looking right at me.
Do I go talk to her? Do I-
“C’mon, Mendoza, let’s go.” Conrad said, patting me on the back and I followed him. I’d have to talk to her later.
***
The ceiling fan wasn’t that nice to stare at. I’d watched it spin about a million times trying to distract myself. I was going out of my mind thinking about her and the fact that she came. I wanted to text her, but I was freaking out that maybe I shouldn't.
We had one final game before our bye week. I’d stalked Becca’s socials and the only post she had was of her holding Asher. She hadn’t tried to text me, so maybe she was just here to visit them, and she’d be going back to California.
I didn’t dare say anything to Conrad about seeing her because I didn’t want to be let down again. I just stayed hopeful she’d show up this weekend.