Page 144 of The Off-Limits Play

Zander’s right.

I love her.

And it’s time to get off my ass and do something about it.

CHAPTER57

CARSON

It’s four o’clock in the morning, and I don’t give a flying fuck as I pound on Coach’s door.

Yep. I’m at his front door.

Call me certifiably insane, but I’m a desperate man on a mission.

Ever since Zander put that thought in my head, I can’t let it go.

And why go wasting time when I can throw some clothes on and impulsively walk over to my coach’s house?

Don’t even ask me how I know where he lives. I can’t remember, and shit, I hope this is the right place.

The porch light flicks on and I tense, pinging away from the door and fisting my fingers, ready to?—

The door swings open and Coach appears. He’s in a pair of pajama pants and a Nolan U T-shirt. His dark brown gaze is pissed off and intense, but all I can do is pull my shoulders back and raise my chin.

“Coach, I gotta talk to you.” My voice comes out rusty and raw. Dammit, I’m trying to be strong here!

Tipping his head with an unimpressed frown, he mutters, “At this hour?”

“I’m sorry about the time, but… this is really important.”

He makes a “hm” sound in his throat, then glances over his shoulder. “It’s okay, baby. Just one of my players.”

I don’t hear what the woman’s response is.

“Yeah, it’s important. I’ll take him through to the den.” Another response, then a sigh before he turns to glare at me. “Want a hot cocoa?”

“Uh… no. I’m good.”

“He’s good, baby,” he calls over his shoulder. “You go back to bed. I’ll be up soon.”

Pulling the door just wide enough for me to squeeze through, I step into the entrance and glance at the stairwell. A gorgeous Black woman with her head wrapped in a silk scarf is gazing down at me. She has eyes like Nylah, and I suddenly feel transparent.

I nod to acknowledge her, and she narrows her eyes at me, like she’s seeing shit I don’t want her to.

It’s hard not to squirm under her gaze, and I’m actually grateful when Coach gives me a soft nudge and directs me away from the stairwell. Hunching my shoulders, I follow him out of the room and feel like I can’t breathe properly.

Doubts scour my insides.

Why the fuck am I here?

Why am I doing this?

Because you’re in love with Nylah.

Closing my eyes, I suck in a breath before stepping into the den and taking a seat in the chair Coach is pointing to.

Crossing his arms, he leans against a desk in the corner of the room and huffs, “This better be good.”

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