Page 39 of Scoring with the Coach's Daughter

“Good choice,” I say, standing. Sam watches from a few feet away, her arms crossed but her expression soft.

“She’ll be sleeping with that thing for weeks,” she chuckles.

“It’s worth every penny,” I reply.

As we walk back toward the truck, Ellie skips ahead, clutching her new toy. Sam falls into step beside me, and the glow of the festival lights fades by the time we reach the truck.

“Thanks for today. Ellie had a blast.”

“So did I,” I admit, my gaze lingering on her. “Did you?”

“Of course, but you’re not always going to be here to save the day for her,” she states. She’s such a killjoy. She needs tolighten up. Does she forget I’m a grown man who is incredibly successful? I’m not playing games. She mentioned Rob to me but hell, she needs to let it go and stop punishing me for his sins.

“I know. But I want the time I have with her to count. This isn’t a one-off, Sam. This isn't a fling to me.”

“We’ll see,” she murmurs under her breath before she joins Ellie in the truck.

The smile on my face melts like ice cream on the equator. I’m disappointed in her comment. What the hell does “we’ll see” even mean? Does she think I’m faking my affection for her and Ellie?

What do I have to do to prove myself? Will she ever let me in? We have a great time, incredible sex and then I find myself back in the hamster wheel. It’s one step forward and two steps back. Her moods are as volatile as the stock market.

Am I heading for a crash?

I’m still reeling over her comment, and it was an abnormally quiet drive to her house. One, Ellie is exhausted and not chatting away like usual and two, I’m miffed. After we walk into the house, I hug Ellie good night. I decide it is time to give Sam space to think about us.

I kiss her on the cheek, and it's hell breaking away from her. But dammit, she has to wake up. Her eyes give me a look of longing and I’d love to stay but I murmur good night and walk to my room at the Dragonfly Inn. It’s been days since I checked in with my friends and it’s time for me to call Travis. The team is in Arizona for training camp. I need to hear what’s going on and I miss everyone. For the first time since I’ve arrived in Cherry Point, I feel alone.

When I reach the door, I turn to blow Sam a kiss and her face drops like a rock. I’m sure she’ll figure it out—won’t she?

Once I settle in my room, I find it’s tooquiet. I put the TV on for background noise, hoping it would fill the silence that blends in with idle time, reminding me of lonely nights on the road. I dial my phone and our quarterback picks up.

“Yo, Travis! How’s the desert treating you guys? I hear it’s hotter than an oven out there.”

“Jake! Man, you have no idea. I think my cleats melted a little yesterday. How’s South Carolina? You holding up all right?”

“Yeah, I’m hanging in there. Rehab’s going well, but it’s killing me not being out there with you guys. So, give me the lowdown—what’s camp like this year?”

“Same grind, different year. Early mornings, full days of drills, and Coach Davis barking louder than ever. But the energy’s good. Everyone’s fired up after how last season ended.”

“No kidding. What’s Coach got you working on this week?”

“We’re heavy on fundamentals right now. He’s all about cleaning up the little things before we ramp up. You know how he is—precision over flash. So, lots of footwork drills for the O-line, timing routes for us, and tackling angles for the defense.”

“Sounds like Coach. How’s the chemistry shaping up? Any of the new guys standing out?”

“A few, yeah. But honestly, it’s not the same without you here. Your energy’s missed, man. We’ve got guys stepping up, though. That rookie tight end, McAllister? Dude’s a beast in the red zone.”

“McAllister, huh? I’ll make sure to give him a run for his money when I’m back. How about you? Getting in sync with the receivers?”

“Yeah, but it’s a work in progress. Timing’s everything in this heat. Guys are giving it their all, though. What about you? You staying sharp over there?”

“I’m trying. I’ve been running routes with my little brotherwhen I can. He’s no Travis, though—kid can’t throw a spiral to save his life.”

“Hey, a receiver who can adapt to bad passes? That’s a skill in itself! Keep at it, man. Rehab first, though. We need you 100% when you’re back.” Travis chuckles.

“I hear you. Any advice for staying in the mix while I’m stuck here?”

“Yeah, stay on top of the playbook. Even if you’re not on the field, you can prepare mentally. Watch the films, take notes, and keep texting us. We’ll fill you in on anything new Coach throws at us.”

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