Page 7 of Second Down Darling

“Yes, sir. Thank you. I really appreciate everything you did to make thathappen.”

He nods solemnly. “No thanks necessary. It’s my job. Just want to make sure you’re equipped with what you need to be successful thisyear.”

NTU never gave me a penny to help pay for childcare. I sold my grandfather’s old coin collection so I could contribute to what we paid Charlie to watch Asher. Yes, the Darlings are flush, but I never wanted to be that guy who mooches off his girlfriend’s family. “It’s going to helptremendously.”

“I was already in the NFL when I had my daughter, but I remember what it was like to be a rookie and have a baby at home. And let me tell you, Roxanne was a handful. She still is.” He chuckles. “Having solid childcare will give you peace of mind so you can focus on the game. Have you called Michael Oliver yet? He knows what you’re goingthrough.”

Oliver was last year’s star running back who had twins late last fall with his girlfriend. He was drafted toChicago.

“Yes. He had some good advice.” Mostly to trust Coach, because he didn’t at first, and it bit him in theass.

“And what about the girlfriend situation? Do we know what kind of show to expect? I want to brace myself for theworst.”

This was the hardest part—getting the call from my first-choice college and needing to tell them my ex might blast my shit on national TV.Because of course her new reality show kicks off in a fewweeks.

Thankfully, Coach took it instride.

“Ex-girlfriend.” He knows this, but I feel the need to remind him that whatever Dakota does on that show should not reflect on me. I swallow and nod slowly. “It’s calledThe HotHouse.”

“Let me guess. Because all of the contestants arehot?”

“Yes,sir.”

“God help us. Okay. Whatelse?”

“It’s one of those big fall lineup shows that start in October. A new episode every week.” Which is almost worse than a series you can binge. Because I’d prefer to rip off the Band-Aid and watch it all atonce.

Coach must see something on my face because he pats me on the back. “Breakups are tough, but maybe this was a blessing in disguise. You don’t need a girlfriend who airs out your dirty laundry in public. You’ll need to work hard to block out thenoise.”

I swallow past the thick knot in my throat. If my relationship with Dakota has taught me anything, it’s that I’ll never be the idiot who trusts a woman like thatagain.

For the next year, I have two goals: Take care of my son and kick ass at football. There’s zero room in that equation forgirlfriends.

I was a fool to go there withDakota.

“Coach, thanks for taking a chance on me. Especially with all this other stuff goingon.”

He nods. “You know what sealed the deal for me? Your honesty. The fact that you leveled with me from the beginning. Because I can’t help my players if they don’t trust me to do right bythem.”

Aside from my parents and brothers, this man is about the only other person I trust in theworld.

“Hang in there, Ramirez,” he says as he gathers his stuff. “When you have your priorities straight, life has a funny way of working out when you least expect itto.”

It reminds me of something my mom always says.Cuando Dios cierra una puerta, abre una ventana.When God closes a door, he opens awindow.

I hope Mom and Coach are right. I need to stay focused on football this fall, but with Dakota doing who knows what onThe Hot House, I’m not sure what toexpect.

If I know my ex, it has the potential to bebad.

Reallybad.

2

CHARLOTTE

Down on myhands and knees, I coo at the despondent fur ball huddled in the corner of his cage. “Come on, Duke. You have toeat.”

The speckled Australian shepherd with haunting pale eyes ignores me and lets out awhine.

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