Page 113 of The Play

“Good,” Darcy said and skirted back around the desk. “I’ll go grab Coach K.”

When Jonathan Kelley walked in, Grant’s heartbeat had not quite returned to normal. He was still frustrated that Darcy wouldn’t stop pushing. Still mad and pissed off that the whole world wouldn’t quit it either.

“Mr. Green,” Jonathan said, settling down on the chair in front of Grant’s desk. The one Darcy had refused to sit in. Yeah, that was going to fucking sting for awhile.

“I’ve told you to call me Grant more times than I can even remember,” Grant reminded him.

Jonathan cracked a smile. He looked a little older, a lot more worn than when Grant had hired him earlier this year. “Right then, Grant.”

“I’m not going to pretend either of us are stupid, and I don’t know why you’re here,” Grant said, leaning forward and putting his elbows on the desk.

“Good,” Jonathan said with a nod. “You see practice today?”

“No,” Grant said, and he didn’t even have to lie. He’d forced himself to stay away, after all.

But no doubt, much later, when he and Deac talked, he’d hear about it.

Not that Deacon was much of a talker, but even the few words he’d say would be enough for Grant to parse what had happened.

“Everything okay?” Grant asked when Jonathan didn’t continue.

“We’re distracted. We’re distracted, at the worst time, when we should be zeroing on what really matters: a playoff spot.”

“I know,” Grant said. Forced himself not to apologize.

“We’re going to take care of Nate. I’ll talk to the rest of the team, too.” Jonathan sighed. “I just don’t want this to undo everything we’ve been building.”

“And,” Grant guessed, “you’re here to ask me if all of this is worth it.”

The other man settled back into his chair. His light blue eyes were keen. Maybe as keen as Grant’s. He’d liked the coach from the very beginning, even though he hadn’t been his first choice. “No, I’m not. You’re not a stupid man. You’ve been everything this team needed. Everything it didn’t get last year—or for too many years before that. What I am asking is how the fuck did you let everyone find out about it? It’s not so hard to carry on something under everyone’s nose, without them finding out.”

Grant was not often surprised. He was shocked now.

“From personal experience?” he asked, his eyebrows creeping upwards.

Jonathan nodded succinctly. “Who I was dating wasn’t—isn’t—anyone’s business.” Including yours, was his unspoken addition.

Grant could hardly argue with that, not when he’d been lamenting the loss of his own privacy.

“There was a leak in the commissioner’s office. A leak I’m working on plugging.” A leak he was working on eliminating. But getting his plan to come together was taking time. He had about a third of the other owners on board but he needed a bit more pull, considering he was their newest member. Then he would still have to take everything he’d learned, all his proof, to the commissioner himself.

“If it wasn’t for that,” Grant continued, “nobody would know a thing about this. In fact, I’m not sure anything would’ve happened worth reporting.”

It was the coach’s turn to look shocked. “You’re saying before this, you weren’t—”

“Yes, that’s exactly what I’m saying,” Grant said firmly.

“Guess I don’t need to give you the shovel talk then,” Jonathan said, in a darkly amused voice. “You wanted the best for him.”

“It’s all I’ve tried to do.” He wouldn’t tell Jonathan just how painfully accurate that leaked email had been. That would only make him look ridiculous. Like a grown man with a crush he couldn’t let go of, long after he should’ve.

Accurate, a voice that sounded suspiciously like Darcy’s echoed in his mind.

“Alright, I’m sorry, I’ve misjudged you.”

“Doesn’t matter,” Grant said ruthlessly. “Your judgment doesn’t change a damn thing. Doesn’t change the media that’s hounding your players. Or camped out outside the locker room. Or focusing on me instead of what matters: the game we’re playing.”

“What are you gonna do about it?” Jonathan didn’t say you can’t change what other people are doing, but he didn’t have to. By now, Grant was painfully familiar with that.

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