Page 61 of Look What You Made Me Do

Swallowing hard, Ella nodded. He was right. He was absolutely right. The last few days had been full of angst and stupid amounts of avoidance. They needed all their drive and energy to pull this thing off.

Not petty distractions.

“We should keep this strictly professional,” he continued. “You’re the principal. I’m the coach. Respect the line between us, concentrate on the team, the kids.”

His words rang true. The last thing the Demons needed was any spillover between Mom and Dad fighting.

“Okay.” Ella stood, determined to be as matter of fact as Jake. It was the only sensible way forward and she’d always aced sensible. “I agree.” She stuck out her hand. “Shake on it?”

Regarding her for a brief moment that made her insides swoop, he pushed off the windowsill, crossed to the other side of her desk and slid his hand into hers.

“Principal Lucas,” he murmured, his gaze hot on hers.

“Coach,” she said, his touch far cooler than his gaze but burning a swathe of heat up her arm anyway.

She gave two very firm, very business-like pumps to quell the sudden urge to tear his clothes off and do him on her desk.

Because, despite everything – the competition, the school and their newly minted professional boundaries – she really, really wanted to do him on her desk.

13

Ella couldn’t believe what a difference two months had made. The weather had turned along with the leaves, and jeans and sweaters had appeared as the evenings started to draw in. But that was nothing compared to the changes that had happened within the grounds of her beloved school.

Sitting in the crowd nervously awaiting the referee’s whistle for the kick-off, in her very own Demons jersey, she had to pinch herself.

The Deluca football field had undergone a complete facelift. The grass was now tended to lovingly by three volunteer grandparents of Deluca students who had been gardeners before they’d retired. New undercover bleachers sat on opposite sides of the field. The goalposts had been replaced and the score board had been repaired and repainted, towering pride of place over the proceedings.

All this was in large thanks to Jake’s generosity but also the hard work and fundraising efforts of the newly established PTA who had hit the ground running.

Two years ago when she’d had the principal’s job thrust upon her, Ella had tried to form a PTA, tried to engage parents. But nobody had been interested.

How things had changed.

With a team that had put some wins on the board as well as grit, determination, vision and the fairy dust of a star ex-football player, things were definitely looking up for Deluca.

She glanced at Jake who was already prowling up and down the sideline like a caged beast. In his regulation aviators and baseball cap, he was all hard muscle and sleek lines, something his dark Henley showed to perfection.

It was hard to believe, now their relationship had morphed into one of painstaking professionalism, that he’d ever pushed her onto a pool table and pounded into her until she’d had carpet burn on her ass. And while there’d been many a night she’d laid awake burning with those memories, it had been for the best, drawing a definitive line through their past, both distant and recent.

Channeling their energy into saving the school.

And tonight, everything was riding on the outcome of this game. The Demons were battling it out with the Sabers for a spot in the playoffs. Which was a remarkable feat considering they’d only made it to this point by the skin of their teeth.

A short, decisive trill pierced the electric hum and the crowd roared as the Sabers kicked the ball.

“I’m going to throw up,” Ella said to Rosie.

“You say that every time,” Rosie murmured, her gaze firmly glued to the action.

“Yeah, but this time I think I mean it.”

“They’re going to be fine, babe.” Rosie squeezed Ella’s hand. “They’re going to kick some Saber ass.”

“Come on the Demons!” someone yelled from behind.

Ella turned, viewing the crowded seats – another miraculous change. The Deluca supporters, a sea of black and red complete with their signature red horn headbands, had turned out in force. As the season had progressed and the Demons had won a few games, the bleachers had gradually filled with Deluca families – both home and away – until it had become the thing to do on a Friday night.

A lump rose in her chest as she gazed upon what seemed like the entire school community attending this, their final home game. Ella had hoped that they’d win enough games to save their school from closure, maybe show her students that hard work and determination could pay off.

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