Page 16 of Trapped and Tackled

I sink into it and nearly wince as my body aches from the movement.

“I know you’re probably eager to get home,” Coach starts. I don’t respond and the corner of his mouth twitches. He clasps his hands together and continues, “Leni mentioned seeing you at the pool the other night.”

“Yeah. Stevens wants me to work more pool time into my conditioning.”

“Right.” Coach sighs and leans back in his chair.

Shit. He’s pissed that I took Leni for an ice cream cone. That’s what this is about, isn’t it?

“Listen, I don’t feel right asking you this. But truthfully, I don’t know who else to ask. I guess Avery would do it but that could become its own fucking liability…” Coach mutters, partially to himself.

I frown, my body tensing. Are one of my teammates in trouble? Did something happen?

“My daughter’s not herself lately,” Coach says, staring right at me. His blue eyes are the same shade as Leni’s, but they hold a hardness, degrees of wisdom, that his daughter doesn’t yet possess. “The truth is, she hasn’t been herself for a while.” He blinks, looking exhausted. “Vicki and I are thrilled she’s home. She’s finding her footing, sorting out what comes next.”

He pauses and I dip my chin, encouraging him to continue.

What’s the ask?

“And she’s back with her best friend from childhood, Marlowe, who is like a third daughter to me.”

“Yeah,” I say, recalling a few stories that Coach shared.

“Marlowe’s boyfriend’s parents have a lake house outside of Knoxville and Marlowe celebrates her birthday there for a weekend every summer. Vicki and I aren’t too crazy about Leni going.” He snorts. “And fortunately, she was away the past couple years.”

I frown. “Coach, she’s an adult.” I point out the obvious. I mean, she’s gotta be twenty-three, twenty-four years old. Hardly a high schooler looking to drink underage and skinny-dip with boys.

Coach swears softly. “I know.” He looks at me miserably. “But there’s something about this group of kids, this weekend… I don’t trust it, Miller. One day, if you become a parent, you’ll get what I’m saying. Call it father’s intuition… but I don’t want Leni going to Norris Lake on her own, with a bunch of peers who haven’t seen her in years, except for Marlowe. And Marlowe’s got her own stuff going on…” He trails off.

I hunch forward in my chair.

“What are you asking me, Coach?”

“Christ.” He sighs again. “What am I asking you?” He raps his knuckles against the side of his desk. Then, he fixes me with a steely look. “Talon, I know it’s unconventional and the timing is fucked. But in a few weeks, between our second and third preseason games, you’ve got a day off.”

I nod, feeling my throat close as I know my day off is about to get axed.

“I would really appreciate it if you’d accompany Leni to Norris Lake that weekend.” Coach lays it out, his lips pressed together as if it cost him something to ask me that.

And hell, it probably did. He’s a proud man and not used to asking for favors.

But he’s probably one of the only men I’d do anything for, no questions asked. Not because I owe him—which I do—but because I admire him so damn much. The way he shows up for others is the type of man I want to become.

Hell, he’s the father figure I always wanted and never had—until I met him.

And now, he’s giving me a chance to do something for his family after he did a hell of a lot for mine.

“Hell—” he swears. “Forget?—”

“I’ll go,” I cut him off.

He freezes, watching me closely.

I lean forward in my chair. “Listen, I don’t know Leni well. Two conversations and everything else is what you told me. But I think she’s cool and if it puts your and Vicki’s minds at ease that I hit up some birthday party with her…” I shrug in my chair. “I’ll go.”

Relief washes over Coach’s face. “Thank you, Talon. I hate asking but?—”

“Don’t. I’m happy to do it. Really,” I assure him.

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