Page 78 of Teaching the Kot'oll Coach

How could someone lie about that? And that was almost like stealing from her. Let alone selling the family cat to gamble some more? That’s the real crazy over there.

Winnie runs her finger along my chest. I’m still clothed, but her finger sets me on fire. I want to kiss her and tell her that I’m different and I’d never do that to her. But after what happened, maybe she doesn’t want to trust others easily.

“I... Telke... I can’t take another risk. I don’t even want to remember how much I’ve lost. I just want to be fine, but I can’t seem to be fine. It feels like I’m the reason nothing goes according to plan.”

I grunt. “Who said that?” Fuck... I just agreed that I’d keep quiet until she’s done talking. “I mean... continue.”

She shifts and rests on my lap, using my thigh as her pillow. “It feels that way. That business didn’t work. I dug myself into debt. Almost right after we met, you got into a traffic accident. Then... something else’s going to go wrong soon.”

“No, that’s not how things work. Things don’t go wrong before you exist.”

“But... You don’t understand.” She sits up with a frown on her beautiful face. There are tears in her eyes, which tempt me to take them away with my thumb. “I’m not good for anyone.”

“Lies. Everyone in the school likes you, and not just the kids.”

And also my brothers. At least Efaze asked about her last evening, and he wouldn’t if he didn’t care at least a tiny bit.

She shakes her head. “That’s because they don’t understand. I just... I just can’t make the right choice despite it smacking my face.”

Yes, that may be the only thing she’s right about. I’m a pretty amazing mate and she should give me a chance and give us a try.

She spreads her hands to the side. “Look, I should have seen what was happening and gotten out of that relationship before everything completely failed, but I didn’t. I should have made a better decision with my money, but I didn’t. I should have done something to help you when the accident happened, but I couldn’t come up with anything. I should have focused on the floatball so I wouldn’t almost get hit in the face by the ball. It feels like I just can’t do a single right thing.”

“Ossa is safe with you and isn’t sold.”

“Yeah... That’s one thing that’s not gone wrong.”

“The kids have been enjoying the stories and lessons with you.”

She sucks in a deep breath. “I suppose. At least I haven’t heard complaints from the principal.”

I huff. “I don’t care who said what, you aren’t the reason some bad things happened.”

“But... Everything just...”

I press a finger on her lips, trying my best to do it quickly but gently. “No, no. If someone blamed things on you, that’s because they are dumb.”

She stares at me. I swallow, wanting to know whether I’ve said something wrong again. Words are hard...

I add. “They only blame you so they feel better about themselves. A real male takes responsibility.”

She laughs and... do I take my words back? But I don’t think I’ve said the wrong thing.

She pats my chest. “Look at you with your puffed chest.”

Oh... “I didn’t pay attention.”

“Thank you. You always make me feel better.”

I wink. “I can make you feel better in more ways than one.”

She looks away from me. Maybe she’s still hesitant. It’s... I resist a sigh and keep my shoulders up. I pat her shoulder. “It’s been a long day. You should take a rest. Like my father used to say, you’d think more clearly after you’ve rested.”

She nods. “Maybe I should do that. I just wish... I wish it’d be easier.”

“I hope everything will get better.” I head to the door. “Feel better soon.”

“Where’re you going?”

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