Chapter 14 #2
Each pair of eyes in the group was a hundred percent focused this time.
I pushed ahead, refusing to waver. “I can tell you all right now, sexuality, faith, race, none of it matters on the court. Ever. On the court, you’re players, a team.
And off the court, I can only hope you’re all educated, decent human beings. ”
My words were met with silence. Ignoring the golf-ball-sized lump in my throat, I focused on keeping my breathing steady and shoulders relaxed. I then looked at Milo. A soft smile formed on his mouth, directed my way. He nodded once, winked, and turned back to the group.
“Right,” Milo said, garnering the players’ attention and thankfully removing their intense stares from me. “You all have your one area of focus. Form pairs and one three and get your asses moving. You’ve got thirty minutes to prove you don’t want to be staying till midnight tonight working plays.”
When no one moved immediately, Milo looked to the ceiling and raised his hands in the air. “Sweet Jesus, Coach Sutton asked for educated, but all you gave me were these guys.”
My mouth twitched, appreciating the giant change in subject and the break in tension. My thundering heartbeat began to steady out a little.
With one look at the sitting team, complete with raised brows and a scowl, Milo’s expression did the trick. All seven guys were off their asses and racing to the court.
“What do you think?” he then said, moving to my side as we watched the group sort themselves and work on drills.
“About?” I asked.
“Think they’ve got what it takes?”
“Maybe ask me again in a month.”
Milo snorted. “Right. You should have seen them two weeks ago. And these guys are the cream of the crop. I swear, have you seen Parker, number fifteen, in a game?”
I nodded. I’d watched him a few times when I took in a televised game. “The kid was impressive.”
“Yeah, that’s what I thought, but who the hell knows what happened between those games and them getting their asses here. The first week was a shit show. My elderly grandmother could have wiped the floor with them.”
I chuckled.
“I’m serious. Be grateful you missed out.”
“In that case, I definitely am.”
We stayed on the sidelines watching the practice, exchanging a few observations along the way.
“It’s good you’re here,” Milo said after a few moments of quiet.
Confused, I angled a look at him.
“What you said to them was important. They all need to hear it. I hope you got that shit memorized.”
A little embarrassed, I cleared my throat. “Well, it wasn’t really rehearsed. It just seemed like the right time to start, you know?”
“I think it was better for it. That it wasn’t a prepared speech.
These kids are still in the thick of an environment filled with lectures at college.
It’s important they don’t get that here.
Sure, we’re coaches here, professionals, so there’s a clear division, but sharing our truths without the aid of a PowerPoint presentation means a hell of a lot more to them. ”
My tentative smile grew, relieved I’d followed my gut.
“Thanks.” I hesitated before saying, “This, everything is all so new….” When I trailed off, he side-eyed me and bobbed his head, letting me know he was listening.
“I don’t like screwing up at the best of times, but especially not this.
” Whether he knew I was talking about Jayden and the coaching position, I didn’t know.
It didn’t really matter either; it applied to both.
Thinking about Jayden, my gaze sought him out. It didn’t take long to find him, and when I did, I groaned.
The asshole was dribbling the ball and dashing around the place like he wasn’t still dealing with a concussion. I wasn’t concerned about his hand since he was limiting his moves to his uninjured right one, but bouncing around like that, he’d end up with a killer of a headache.
At my side, Milo chuckled. “From your reaction, I’m going to assume he shouldn’t be doing that.”
“The word ‘shouldn’t’ seems to mean something very different to Jayden.” I rolled my eyes. “He’s not meant to be doing anything super physical for another week at least.”
“He’s like one of those Energizer bunnies.”
“As annoying as one too,” I shot out, lips curving into a grin, because as much as I wanted to shake Jayden and get him to rest, I loved watching the man on the court.
He moved fluidly, almost gracefully. But in total juxtaposition, he had a raw, effortless strength. Every time he pressed on the balls on his feet or feinted a shift or a pass, control radiated from him. The ball became an extension of his hands.
He was fucking beautiful.
“Not bad for a guy with a broken bone and a concussion,” Milo said from my side.
I shook my head. “He’s fucking magnificent.” As soon as the words were out of my mouth, heat enflamed my cheeks. I cleared my throat, mortified. “Uhm, so, what about those Maple Leafs? You catch yesterday’s game?” I cringed. I was so damn lame.
Milo clapped me on the shoulder, his chuckle hearty and loud, catching the attention of several pairs of eyes. “I can’t say that I did, but if the game was magnificent, feel free to tell me all about it.”
He continued to laugh through my groans, which soon turned into a smirk.
This coaching gig wasn’t too bad at all, and after I told Jayden that Milo had become my new best pal, it’d top off the first day spectacularly.