Page 65 of Second Shot

I expect him to lose his shit at anysecond.

Yell.

Threaten.

Maybe even take a swing atme.

God knows, I deserveit.

But he doesn’t do any of those things. He just sits there, staring at the damn phone with an odd expression on hisface.

“Coach,I-”

“He looks likeyou.”

I nod, standing there like a complete chump. “Yeah.”

Silence.

“Do you love her?” He glances up at me, his gazequestioning.

“Ido.”

He nods, then hands me back the phone. “Good.” He pulls some papers out of a folder and starts reading them, as if dismissingme.

“Coach?”

He grunts, but his attention stays on the documents in front ofhim.

“I…did you want…” Fuck. I don’t know what I’m supposed to say. But I sound like a blabberingidiot.

“Do I want what, Madden?” His tone is sharp, and holds the first hint of anger he’s shown since I came into his office afterpractice.

I should have kept my mouth shut, because I can almost feel the tension building inside him, ready toexplode.

Ten…nine…eight…boom.

“You know what I would have wanted?” He stands, his face turning a deep shade of red, his voice rising with each word. “For the man I’ve treated like a son to have enough respect for me to tell me he knocked up my daughter. That I have a goddamn grandson. I expect this from Brynne, butyou…”

He sits back down, placing the palm of his hand in the center of his chest andwinces.

I take a step towardshim.

He raises his hand to stop me. “I’mfine.”

Sweat beads on the side of hisface.

“Maybe I shouldcall-”

“No.” With some effort, he leans back in his chair, holding my gaze. “You want to do something for me, Madden? You want to make thisright?”

“Yes.”

“Then get me my familyback.”

I grimace, wishing it was that simple. “Brynneis…”

“Stubborn.”

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