Page 3 of Loving the Coach

“You just need to pack your bags and come to Hurtsboro next weekend. I’ll make the travel arrangements, on the team of course, and then we will get someone to collect you and take you to your new home. We are very happy to have you on board, Katie. See you next weekend.”

“Holy fuck,” I say, double checking I turned off his call. “Shitballs.” I lay on the bed, with a big smile on my face and pick up the picture of my brother. I kiss him and tell him all about my move to Hurtsboro and how great it is going to be to get away from Mom and her drinking habits. I can’t believe it. I really can't.

I fall asleep with Dean’s picture on my chest.

Hurtsboro here I come. Y’all better be ready for me!

CHAPTER 3

GARRET

“Look after her man, I know you love her, she loves you. Be the man she needs, the one to protect her, to love her. God knows she’s going to need you. I’m sorry Garret, I really am. But I’m worthless, no one is going to miss me.”

I jerk awake, my body slick with sweat. Fuck. These dreams, they just won’t leave me alone. Every day for three years I’ve had them. The memories of Dean have me in a vice grip, there’s no way I’m ever escaping. Watching my best friend, my brother, jump off a fucking bridge and getting hit by a truck was the worst thing I’ve ever dealt with.

Since that day, I’ve become someone else. Gone is the fun Garret, instead, I’m an asshole. I took the girl I loved’s virginity and never called. I know I hurt her, I hurt too. I’d do anything for Katie, I’m an asshole, there’s absolutely no doubt about that but I didn’t have it in me to stay around. Dean’s death affected me in ways I can’t describe. It took a while to even function without the use of alcohol, once I did, I finally started to breathe again.

My parents helped, they realized pretty soon that any mention of Dean or Katie would send me spiralling, so they stopped, since that day, they haven’t mentioned them, and neither have I. I went to college, playing football, it was something that took my mind off everything. It’s taken me four years of college to get here, but I’m done. I’ve finished and now, it’s time to look for a job. This is where the hard part comes in. Someone who has no experience in coaching, other than the degree I have will have trouble finding a good job. But I’m not giving up. Not ever.

My cell rings and I groan, Jesus. It’s not even nine am, who the hell is calling? I reach for my phone. “Hello?”

“Mr Micheals?”

I sit up, “Yes, this is Garret Micheals.”

“Garret, this is Julius Haynes.” My heart pounds in my chest, he’s the director of Hurtsboro Hummingbirds. Fuck. “I’m wondering if you’re still interested in our coaching position?”

Is he for real? “Yes, sir, I’m definitely still interested.”

“I’d like it if you’d come down to our offices and have an interview. Are you free tomorrow?”

“Yes, sir, what time?”

“Eleven.”

“Okay, I’ll be there. Thank you Mr Haynes.”

“See you tomorrow, Garret.” He hangs up and I’m left with dead air.

Fuck. I can’t believe this is happening. I applied for the Hurtsboro Hummingbirds coaching position, never thinking I’d have a chance but shit. I have an interview.

I hadn’t planned on being a coach, but while I was playing football, I loved the mechanics of coaching and doing a bachelors in sports medicine helped understand the mechanics even more. While I loved playing the game, I knew that I wasn’t as good as those that I played with, but being a coach is something I knew I wanted and something Dean said to me that final day stuck. “You’ve got one life Garret, use it. Do what you love, be with who you love and don’t worry about making mistakes. Those we can learn from. Never give up.”

So I didn’t give up, I’ve gone for what I love, and I applied for a hell of a lot of open coaching positions. It’s been said over and over that to become a coach for the NFL, you’ll have to be a high school coach, college coach before you’re even approached. Although, there are some who are approached by NFL teams as they see something in them. Getting this call from Julius has given me the determination to go for it.

* * *

“It’s been a week man, have you not heard anything?” Caleb, my roommate asks and I shake my head.

The interview went well, they seemed impressed. Being in a room with four of the most influential people in the history of the NFL was intimidating, but fuck, I need this job, it’s a dream, one I didn’t realize I wanted until Dean’s death but one that I’ve poured everything into since then.

With each passing day, the opportunity slips through my fingers. There’s nothing I can do but wait. Instead, I’ve applied for endless jobs. Scrolling through my phone, my thumb stops at a name, my heart, the traitor, stops for a second, but I keep scrolling, until I hit James’ number, I send him a text, letting him know that we’re going out tonight. I need a fucking drink.

I turn my attention back to Caleb when James replies, “We’re going to the bar tonight. Are you coming?”

He smirks, Caleb will never turn down the chance to drink. “Of course. But I’m starving, I’m ordering pizza, want anything?”

My phone starts ringing and it’s an unknown number, “Yeah, meat lovers. I’ll be back in a minute.”

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