Page 61 of Game Face

“I was probably one of the worst coaches in Texas high school football history. My record was . . . abysmal. But I doubled our wins in the five years I was there.”

“You go from one to two?” I joke.

“Ha!” He points at me, squinting one eye. “You’re funny. And close. I went from four to eight. Even made playoffs the final year. Got our asses handed to us from Permian.”

I chuckle.

“They’re legends.”

“Indeed, and for good reason.”

He taps the end of his pen on his notepad and glances at his phone before looking back at me. I think he senses my paranoia, or hell, since he’s been at this so long, he’s probably inciting it. After a few awkwardly quiet seconds, he reaches for his phone and pauses the recording, flipping the screen and showing me.

“Sometimes the recording makes people nervous,” he says, laying the phone back down on the table.

I smirk at it, then meet his gaze.

“I’m not sure that’s the part that makes me nervous.”

His lips pull into a tight smile and his eyes flit to his notepad. He taps the pen on the paper a few more times, then pops his gaze back up to mine.

“You weren’t on board with two quarterbacks, were you?”

I shake my head and pull my brow in.

“I didn’t say that.” I don’t want him choosing my words for me. I nudge his phone toward him and lift my chin.

“Go ahead and turn that back on.” I’m uneasy either way; may as well be uneasy but quoted accurately.

Kelly restarts the recording and licks his lips, seeming to choose his words strategically.

“The two QB thing—it seems to be working out well for you guys so far.”

I lift my brows, waiting for the question, and eventually realize I’m meant to agree with him.

“We’re three and oh.” That’s confirmation enough.

He nods and jots that killer quote down.

“You’ve been running the show here since you were a freshman, though.”

“Ah, I’ve been throwing the ball. Coach Byers runs the show. He’s been at the helm for a long time. He deserves the credit.” I may have learned a few things in my PR and messaging classes to keep me out of trouble after all.

“Spoken like a loyal quarterback who loves his coach. But it had to sting a little, no? That he wanted to change things up?”

He pokes his tongue into the inside of his bottom lip as he waits patiently.

“There’s no room for egos out on that field. It’s a team sport, and Coach saw potential in switching things up to start the season.”

Shit, I slipped.

“Start, huh? So, are you moving back into the starting role this week? Have we seen all we’ll see of Hampton this season?”

I shake my head.

“I don’t know. I’m not the coach. I can tell you that Bryce and I are both ready to do what needs to be done, to answer Coach’s call and help lead this team into a playoff position. That’s always the goal.”

Phew. Back on point.

---