Page 8 of Loving the Coach

I throw the covers off me and jump out of bed, reaching for my jeans as I do and quickly pull them on me, zipping them up and prowling toward the door. Where the hell did she go? It’s then that I realize what she was saying, “Just one night.” Well fuck that, that’s not what I want and I know it’s not what she wants. She’s scared I’m going to hurt her again, that I’m going to up and leave. I was an asshole, but I wouldn’t do that to her again.

Once I’m out of my room, I’m met by a sympathetic looking Caleb. Shit. “I’m sorry man,” what the hell is that supposed to mean?

I’m angrier than I’ve ever been, I’m ready to tear down the city to find her. “Where is she?” The growl rattles in my throat and I try and bite it back, but can’t.

Caleb’s eyes widen, he’s never seen me like this. For some reason where Katie’s concerned I’m a bastard. “Garret, you’ve got to calm down.”

I shake my head, “Calm? This is me fucking calm, now where is she?” I need to see her, make her see that what happened last night wasn't a one time thing. She’s my forever, she always has been. I just need to show her that.

He sighs, “she left around four this morning.” He gazes at the coffee mug that’s in his hand, “I know you had hoped that things would have been different. I know how much she means to you, but I think it’s time to move on.”

I ball my hands into fists and take a step toward him, a red haze forms and I take a deep breath, not wanting to pummel my friend. “Why would you say that shit?” Out of everyone, he knows what Katie means to me.

“I spoke to her when she left.” His voice is small but I hear it, I wait for him to continue. “Man, she’s hurt, that type of hurt takes a long time to heal, if ever.”

I relax my stance and wave my hand for him to continue, “explain,” I demand. “From the beginning.”

“I got home and saw her sneaking out. She gave me a smile and that’s when it hit me who she was. Man, I had no idea you even knew where she was, let alone you were in contact with her. I mumbled some shit about true love wins and she lost it.” He shakes his head, “Said that it didn’t win the last time and that last night was a one time thing and she won’t be seeing you again. I’m sorry, but she sounded pretty certain.”

“Last night changed everything,” I tell him, “Katie has been mine since she was fifteen, fuck, since she was ten and she punched her brother for calling me a dork.” I smile at the memory, Katie is fiercely protective of those she loves. “Last night proved that Katie is the only woman I’ll ever love.”

He’s quiet for a moment, and I just wait. He takes a sip of coffee and turns to me, “So what are you going to do about it?”

A slow smirk forms, “I’m going to make sure that Katie knows that I’m never leaving her again.”

He nods, “that means opening up a hell of a lot of wounds, wounds that both of you have hidden. Are you prepared to do that?”

I give him a look that says is he stupid, “for her, I’ll bleed wide open.”

Now it’s his turn to smirk, “so it’s time to get a plan together.”

I nod, “yep, and you’re going to help.”

“Of course I am,” he says immediately, “what am I helping with?”

“Right now, I have the end zone in sight. I never fail to score and I’m not about to now.”

He smiles, “End zone huh?”

I nod. “Yep, so now I have to find her so I can get into the End Zone.”

“And how on earth do you expect to do that? The woman hates you.”

He’s not seeing the bigger picture, “there’s a fine line between love and hate.” And I need to show Katie that the hate she has for me is actually love.

“There’s also a fine line between murder and manslaughter. She’s going to cut your dick off and feed it to you.” He’s actually enjoying this shit.

I can’t contain the chuckle that escapes me. “She’s not going to murder me.”

He gives me a look that tells me he doesn’t believe me, “so how on earth are you going to get her back?”

“It’s quite simple really.”

He frowns, “It is?”

I nod, “Yeah, I’m going to remind her why she fell in love with me in the first place.”

His frown disappears and he slowly grins at me. “First we’ve got to find her.”

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