Page 142 of The Problem with Players

“That’s the thing about our past…it doesn’t have to shape our future,” Nathan expressed. “I’m not who I was yesterday, though. I’m not embarrassed by my past mistakes. Those missteps led me here.” He glanced over at me, and a small smile appeared before he looked back at the interviewer. “And I would walk every broken road twice over if it led me back to this.”

I swallowed hard at that comment but remained quiet.

The interviewer turned to me next. “And what about you, Coach Kingsley? I know you’ve been paid a lot of attention by the press. Something you’re probably not used to.”

“Not in the least.” I nervously laughed.

“How are you handling the pressures as we go into the final game of the series? Do you feel as if you have something to prove as a woman? It’s said that you are in the wrong sport and you only got here because of Nathan. I’m not saying I believe that, but it’s clear that a majority of folks do. They said it’s allNathan carrying the team and not you. Clearly, the majority couldn’t have all gotten it wrong, right? How much of this team’s success was truly yours? Or, like many are saying, was it all Pierce, and you just got pulled along the way toward victory?”

I felt it happening. The tightening of my chest. The rage building from the rude question that was being asked. My vision began to blur as every negative thought that lived within me started to come back to the surface. Every suppressed feeling of doubt was awakened at that moment.

“Oh shit,” Nathan said, looking out into the distance. “Did you see that?”

The interviewer turned around to see what it was that Nathan was speaking of. “What’s what?”

“Oh, nothing.” Nathan shook his head. “I just thought I saw an array of butterflies.”

“Butterflies?” the interviewer questioned.

“Yeah.” He turned toward me and nodded with a tiny smile. “Butterflies.”

A laugh of comfort escaped me.

Butterflies.

Nathan gave me a comforting wink. “Go ahead and continue, Coach,” he said. “Sorry for the interruption.”

I cleared my throat and turned back toward the interviewer. “I, like most, have read the comments about my position as head coach at Honey Creek. I’d be lying if I said the words didn’t hurt me; I’m human, words can hurt. And the truth of the matter is that Nathan has been such a blessing to our team. There’s no way we would’ve made it this far without him.”

“Or without Coach Kingsley. We’re a team,” Nathan added. “That’s what we are, Avery and me—we’re a team. One isn’t more important than the other. We were both focused on the season’s success this year, and we ebbed and flowed like magic with one another. Avery Kingsley is one of the best coaches toever coach the game, and it has been nothing less than an honor to coach beside her. The whole game of baseball is better with her in this industry. Frankly, I think we could use more women coaches on the field. I think it’s beyond time that we expand our realm.”

Oh, Nathan…

How badly I want to love you.

After the interview finished, we were un-mic’d, and free to go. As we were walking out of the building, I paused beside Nathan. “Hey, Nathan?”

“Yeah?”

“Thank you for having my back in there. I know things between us have been…strange. But that meant a lot to me.”

He nodded once. “I’ll always cover your base, Coach.”

We won.

We won state.

We freaking won state!

The second it happened, I felt as if my heart was going to explode in my chest. I shot out to the field from the dugout and began to celebrate with all the guys on the field, who were losing their minds over the fact that we were the state champions. I couldn’t control my excitement as I jumped up and down, hugging the players.

Before I knew it, my arms found their way around Nathan, and we embraced.

“We did it!” I shouted, my heart pounding rapidly against my chest. “We did it!”

“You did it, Coach!” he said, swinging me around from pure excitement. “I’m so fucking proud of you!” he told me. He placed me back down on solid ground, yet the world kept spinning faster and faster around us.

I stared into his brown eyes, shaking my head in amazement. Then my excited heart shifted to feeling as if it wanted to cry. Because all it wanted at that very moment was to kiss him. To fall into his arms again and never let go. To celebrate with him on the field and off. But I couldn’t.

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