Chapter 35 Jackson
Jackson
I’m in my office at the school waiting for the team to show up so we can all get to staging together. I left Chess before the sun came up. I didn’t sleep a wink last night thinking of everything she said to me.
You’re amazing and people see it.
How long have I waited for someone to say that to me? And how long have I always wanted to hear it from her?
You’re going places.
Everything I’ve always wanted, turns out, is right here in Christmas. Or at least it is now that Francesca is back. I don’t need to go anywhere else.
She’s going to hate me once I tell her I got the head coaching job and that I’m leaving.
I wanted to do it last night but once she saw the tattoo, and then we fucked, I couldn’t.
Something was different last night between us.
I’ve never felt it before, and it scared me a little.
It didn’t feel like fucking, it felt like more.
More.
I’m always looking for more, right? I never had enough, never felt good enough.
My whole life has been spent looking for more of anything that would make me forget, even temporarily.
But how do you know when you’ve found the most?
That there is no more than what you have right in front of you.
That the girl you’re holding is the most you’ll ever need?
I finally got the job she worked so hard to help me get. If we’re honest with each other, I don’t think we ever thought this would work. I didn’t think I would get noticed enough to be offered a new coaching position, let alone, a head coaching position at a prestigious college.
It goes to show how great of a PR rep Chess really is. I think she’s great at everything she does.
I get a text to grab the team and make it down to staging where the floats are.
The parade kicks off at two in the afternoon.
Events have been planned all morning and will continue into the night.
But the parade breaks up the day and then gives the town a chance to spend time with the team and the Grand Marshall.
Me.
It’s the last thing I want to do. I want to talk with Chess.
Figure this out. Maybe she’ll come with me?
Maybe we can go together, and she can do PR from the new college.
Not only has she got me noticed, but she’s making a name for herself, despite the attempts by Nick and Ava to kill her reputation.
It makes me want to get my hands on Nick even more.
And while we’re at it, Tony too. I still haven’t confronted him about the contracts, but I’ve already decided to cut him loose.
I don’t need him to maintain my contracts.
Chess can do it. I hope she will anyway, once I ask her.
And if she doesn’t? I’m fine with that too. I know enough to get myself by.
There’s a big change of life happening right in front of me and I’m going to grab on with both hands and go along for the ride. It’s important that I prioritize all the important things in life. I need to make it right with Adam. I need to tell Chess how I feel about her.
I love her.
There.
I said it.
I’ve known it for a while but couldn’t admit it out loud, even if just to myself. Why? Because I’m scared as fuck. I’m a chicken, a coward, just like Adam said. I was in hiding. And looking back now, I have no idea why.
I’m stupid in love with her. So, if we’re going to do this, we’re going all the way. Chess is it for me.
We’re directed onto the float, the boys whooping it up with excitement.
“Coach! This is so cool! Are all these people here for us?” Connor asks.
I move towards the middle of the float, there’s a bench they took from our field, fake grass, mini goal posts and Christmas lights are strung all around it.
There’s even a scoreboard with a blowout score of our future hopeful win playoff game next week.
I grab a spot next to Jameson on the makeshift bench.
“They are,” I smile. “They’re as excited for the playoffs to advance just as much as we are.”
I hear the horn signaling the start of the parade, there’s music coming from the different floats, and we begin a slow crawl down main street. We’re the last float to arrive at the grandstand so we have a little bit of time.
I feel my phone buzz in my pocket, and I take it out to see a selfie of Chess with Billy. She’s blowing a kiss to me and he’s flipping me off.
Me: beauty and the Billy.
Chess: lol he insisted on the picture
Me: it’s cute. You look beautiful.
Chess: I’ll see you at the end of the line, Gage
Me: I wouldn’t miss it.
I pocket my phone and get back in the moment. These kids are like celebrities today and I want to focus on them. Let them have their time in the sun.
We make our way down main street, waving and smiling to everyone. There are signs made, cheering us on in our game next week and everyone is having a great time.
I hear the MC of the parade as we get closer. He’s introducing the float in front of us. I spot Chess in the crowd. She’s with her three brothers, standing in front of the grandstand. Tommy and Billy give me a wave and nod, but Adam just glowers at me.
The plan is to bring me on stage as the Grand Marshall, the team will circle around the front of the stage, I say a few words and then I choose my winter queen. Chess, of course, will join me on stage and then the night festivities will begin.
“And now, make way for your current state champs, Christmas’ very own... COMETS!” The crowd cheers and claps. I see Chess waving with a huge smile on her face.
It feels like I’ve already won, and we haven’t even played for the championship yet.
The MC continues, “Current state champs, led by Coach Jackson Gage, have done it once again and will be facing Sweetstown Cougars in next week’s semi-final. Once they win that game,” he pauses for dramatic effect and the crowd goes wild again. “The game for the title win will be the final stop!”
The boys are barking, and the crowd is answering. They start our chant, “Mindset. Heartset. 100 percent!” and the crowd is answering that, as well.
Our float pulls up to the front of the grandstand and I step off and onto the stage.
“Christmas has been so lucky to have Coach Gage training our boys. He’s brought the hometown feel back to our school and brought this town alive with wins.
And found himself a pretty special woman along the way, as well.
” The MC nudges my side. “I think it’s time you select your winter queen, Coach! ”
I smile and find Chess, who is already being led up the side steps.
I walk towards her, meeting her halfway then turn and lead her back to stand next to me at the podium.
The crowd is cheering, oohing and aahing as I place the crown on her head, and she places one on mine.
We’re laughing, because this is pretty corny, even for Christmas, but it’s still fun and I’m glad she’s here with me.
Still holding her hand, I take the mic as the music dies down.
“Thank you all for the recognition today. But today is not about me.” I point to the boys all lining the front of the stage.
“It’s about them and their hard work and how much dedication they’ve shown you, the town of Christmas, in wanting to bring home the state champ title once again!
I’ve never been prouder than I am today, of these young gentlemen who have had a huge impact on my life, as well.
I’m happiest when I’m on the field coaching these guys, and happiest when I’m off the field, living life with my girl.
” I give a quick kiss - keep it PG, people - and hand the mic back to the MC.
“Thank you, Coach Gage, we are happiest watching you do all those things. But ladies and gentlemen, I have some exciting news for our coach! I’m ecstatic to be the one to break this news!
” He eyes me with anticipation, like he’s about to spill a big secret.
“It seems another school has noticed just how special our coach really is.”
My heart drops to my stomach. My hands get clammy and my breathing stutters.
This MC is going to out me, isn’t he? Before I’ve even made time to speak to anyone, he’s going to let my news slip.
He can’t know. How does he know? Only Tony and I know, and obviously Eastern State University but there are contracts.
NDA’s have been signed to keep this under tight lock and key.
I’m supposed to release a statement. Not this guy. And certainly not here, in front of my team, my family, the town.
My Francesca.
The MC forcibly shakes my hand. “It is my great honor to announce that Coach Gage has been signed as the new head coach for Eastern State University!”
It all happens in slow motion. My hand that was being held by Francesca’s drops to my side as she abruptly lets it go.
I turn to her in a quick motion, so much so that my crown falls from my head.
I watch it roll towards the front of the stage where Jameson, Connor and the rest of my team are staring back at me.
Jameson steps aside as the crown rolls off the stage.
I swear I can hear it shatter as it hits the ground.
The crowd is not cheering or clapping. It’s so telling. My reign as king has fallen.
I find Adam's eyes in the crowd, and he has an absolute look of disappointment written across his face.
I look at Chess as she reaches across me, grabbing the mic which has now screeched through the crowd.
“Congratulations, Coach!” she booms into the crowd. “Come on, Christmas! Give it up for our one and only QB1!” She holds the mic as she claps.
Boom. Boom. Boom.
Is that her clapping? Or my heart breaking into pieces. No, my heart has already shattered like my crown.
“Coach Gage isn’t finished here yet so don’t get down. He’s still got a state title to win and bring back to us as his parting gift. Isn’t that right, Coach Gage?”
She sneers that last sentence at me.
Quietly I say, “Chess, I’m-I’m sorry. I didn’t want it to happ—”