Page 46 of Not My Coach

I’m not going to make them repeat themselves. Standing up, I button my suit and grab my things. “Thank you.”

I lead the way out of the room, and I debate on waiting for Brett to thank him for speaking on my behalf, but I’m also torn. I know he spoke up for me, but there’s a good chance he might still be very upset with me and specifically chose not to say the negative things in the meeting.

A cute little brunette that won’t leave my mind alone tells me exactly what I need to do. I care about Brett a lot as a player, and I value his opinion even if it’s not what I want to hear.

“Brett?” I ask as he emerges out of the boardroom. “Can we talk for a minute in my office?”

I would speak with him in this hallway; however, I don’t need any eavesdroppers to overhear.

He studies me nervously before nodding. “Sure.”

“Great.”

We walk in silence to my office. I consider asking how he is enjoying the warm morning we’re having, but opt out of trying to force small talk on him.

Unlocking my office, I hold the door open for him to step inside before closing it behind us.

He takes a seat in the chairs that face my desk, and I join him in the other one, not wanting it to feel like he’s sitting down with his coach. By no means will I be friends with my players. I just don’t want a power dynamic on clear display as we talk.

“What’s up?” he asks casually, like we didn’t both wake up this morning to sit in on a meeting about me being with his sister.

Taking a deep breath, I say, “Thank you for what you said in there even if you didn’t completely mean it.” I chuckle, and he smiles. “I know this must be really awkward for you. I know it is for me …”

“Can I stop you there?” All humor has disappeared from his face. “I stood up for you because I really do like having you as a coach and I do want Evie to be happy. But I’m still pissed the fuck off that you snuck behind my back, doing it.”

His chest is rising and falling fast, his cheeks flushed with nerves as he says, “Evie likes you and sees a future with you, but I swear to God, Carrington, if you break my sister’s heart, I will kick your fucking ass.”

A smile breaks across my lips at his threat.

His brows furrow. “Is there a reason you look so happy about that?”

Shrugging, I grin. “For one, I have no intention of ever hurting Evie. And two, I think it’s ballsy of you to threaten me at all, and I respect it.”

He smirks. “Thank you.”

He stands up and holds his hand out for me to shake. I take it, firmly gripping it and shaking, releasing a second later.

“I meant every word, Coach.”

“Then, we agree that no one will ever hurt her.”

Brett leaves my office, seemingly satisfied with our conversation. Now, I have to go home because I left a sleeping Evie in my bed, and I am dying to see that image again.

My phone buzzes, and I see a text from my girl.

Sweetheart: Thank you. Come home soon. I miss you.

My heart fucking flutters at her text. When I left this morning, I left a note and my credit card on my kitchen counter, telling her when I thought I’d be back and to order whatever she wanted for breakfast for delivery. I just don’t want her to leave my house. Fuck, I want to come home to her every day.

On my drive home, I get an email from Susan, the HR team, and team owner. They have decided to keep me on as head coach with no deductions in salary and no suspensions. I have some paperwork to file when I return to the office that will need to be signed by all parties involved, but I’m happy to do it. It’s probably the most excited I will ever be to fill out documents.

I really do owe that all to Brett. If he had come in, demanding to have me fired for violating the privacy rules in our club, they would have really had a tough decision on their hands. There are guidelines and rules in place that forbade coaches, players, and staff from inappropriately fraternizing with each other and/or families. There are exceptions of course, like Alec and Reed’s relationships. But that is because they were discussed properly with HR and they took the right steps to ensure there wouldn’t be any issues. They didn’t bang against the glass in the middle of a game because a stranger was touching their girlfriend/player’s sister.

Now that nothing is standing in the way of Evie and me really truly being together, there is one last thing I need to do—or do over. It’s time to take my sweetheart on a real date, one that I don’t hijack.

But first, I have some things to pick up.

I never knew hearing a garage door open could bring me so many damn butterflies. Nate’s home. I don’t know whether to rush into the living room to greet him or stay in bed and pretend I’m sleeping. I decide on something between the two—sitting down on the couch and playing on my phone.

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