Chapter 7 Chelsea
Chelsea
IN THE DISTANCE, Luca pops up from the ground like a jack-in-the-box that’s just been freed.
“I’m fine!” he shouts to nobody in particular.
To emphasize his point, he yanks both arms up the same way Olympic gymnasts always do after sticking a landing, and all the players surrounding him, along with Ms. Williams and a whole lot of fans watching from the spectator areas, cheer and goad him on.
“So much for Maguire not being as much of a class clown anymore,” Dad mutters as he comes to a stop in front of Bellamy and me. He looks at Bellamy. “Did you see that stunt, Walker?”
“The tail end of it, yeah.”
“Did it change your mind about bringing Maguire here to make Moriarty question his negotiation stance?”
“Not at all,” Bellamy says smoothly. “In fact, I’m even more certain it’s a great strategy.
Listen to that crowd, Jack. They love him.
Surely, this story is going to get back to Moriarty somehow.
When it does, let him believe we might be stupid enough to pick a player with some potential marketing appeal over a Pro Bowler. ”
Dad runs a palm over his rugged features.
“Yeah, I figured you’d say that.” He turns to me.
“Which is why I called you over here, Chelsea. After that stunt, it’s now clear Luca the Manchild is going to be an even bigger pain in my ass than I originally thought.
So, I need you to do me a favor and babysit him for me.
Do whatever you have to do, as long as you keep him away from me, out of trouble, and off the uprights.
I don’t want to remember he exists till Moriarty returns and it’s time to cut his unserious ass. ”
I feel like barfing. It’s a complete catastrophe. Worst-case scenario.
My plan to survive training camp with Luca Maguire here was to stay under the radar and as far away from him as humanly possible during his short stint. And now Dad is commanding me to stick to Luca like glue? Fucking hell!
“And while you’re babysitting him,” Dad continues, “you might as well coach him, too, to prepare him for his next team, whoever the poor bastards might be.” He winks at me, clearly thinking he’s doing me a favor in front of Bellamy.
“I don’t know if it’s possible to get that wild card to fly right, but if anyone can work miracles with a player, and especially with a linebacker, it’s you, Pop-Tart.
” He turns to Bellamy. “Chelsea’s a fantastic coach.
A real whiz with linebackers, especially.
Both my sons wouldn’t be where they are today without her. ”
Oh, Dad. He knows all about my ultimate career goals, and he’s an extremely supportive and proud father.
Plus, he knows all about that upcoming job opening in operations, so he’s clearly now doing his part to convince Bellamy to give me a shot without realizing that ship has already sailed, as of a few moments ago.
No, actually, it’s sunk to the bottom of the sea.
“Don’t you think someone else would do a much better job with Luca?” I ask feebly, feeling sick to my stomach and determined to weasel myself out of this horrific predicament.
“Absolutely not. On the contrary, I think you’re exactly the right person for the job.”
“But why would Luca listen to me, Dad? You know what I can do, but to Luca, I’m nobody but the head coach’s daughter.” I glance at Bellamy. Like I am to you.
“Okay, so part of the challenge will be earning his respect,” Dad says.
“If anyone can do that, it’s you. And the truth is I want that motherfucker out of my hair, and everyone else will be too busy to babysit him full-time for me.
” He returns to Bellamy again. “You’d be curious to see what Chelsea could do with Luca as his personal coach, wouldn’t you, Walker? ”
“Sure,” Walker says. “Why not?” But the look he flashes me tells me he truly doesn’t give a shit what I can do with Luca Maguire or anyone else.
You know what? Fuck Bellamy. Suddenly, I feel invigorated and determined.
Hell-bent on proving him wrong. True, me being assigned to Luca of all people is going to present massive problems for me, in terms of keeping my secret under wraps.
But I’ll manage that somehow. Seeing as how my father’s mind appears to be made up about this, I might as well make the best of the situation and at least try to use it to my advantage.
Walker Bellamy thinks nothing and nobody could convince him to give me that job in operations?
Well, I’m going to change his mind. And I’m going to use Luca Maguire to do it.
“All right,” I say, straightening up with fierce determination. “I’ll babysit Luca and coach him while I’m at it, too.”
“Good girl.”
“And I’ll return that man to the glory of his college days. So much so, you’ll both want to keep him around, even after Moriarty comes to camp.”
Both Dad and Bellamy snicker at that last part, but I don’t care if they don’t believe me. I’m drinking my own Kool-Aid now.
“I have one tiny request, though,” I say, addressing my father. “Could you tell Luca you’ve personally assigned me to him? As his personal coach, I mean. Not as his babysitter. Otherwise, it’s going to take way too long to get him to listen to me, and I don’t have a lot of time here.”
Dad looks deeply sympathetic. “I tell you what. I promise I’ll talk to him after my opening remarks to let him know I’ve assigned you to watch over him—as his babysitter, thanks to that stunt he just pulled.”
“But Dad—”
“And during that conversation, I’ll also let him know you’re a phenomenal linebacker coach, so he’d be smart to use his time with you wisely.
But that’s all I can do for you, sweetheart, because, trust me, your head coach of a daddy telling one of his players to respect you ain’t gonna get you anywhere.
If you’re going to make this work, you’re going to have to earn that man’s respect the good old-fashioned way, all by yourself. ”