Page 27 of Game Changer
“I might be all right being a guest for a few more practices, but I’m not accepting a position or anything. I don’t want to let the kids down.”
Mark nods and passes me a bottle of water, and we take a seat on the bleachers. “I can respect that.”
“¡Apresúrate!”Ronnie blows his whistle, signaling for the kids to wrap up their post-workout stretching.
“Ronnie speaks Spanish?” I ask.
“Oh, yeah. For a lot of kids, Spanish is their first language, so Ronnie mixes it up to include everyone and make them feel more comfortable here.” Mark stares blankly at the now-empty field. “He’s one of the best guys I know. If it wasn’t for him, I wouldn’t be playing college ball. I’d be . . . I don’t know. Somewhere in the system, I guess. My schedule can be hectic, but Ronnie has a hectic schedule as the coach for State, too, and he still comes out here and dedicates time to teaching kids twice a week. Helping out is healing for me too. I can be the role model for these kids that I never had growing up. Well, until I met Ronnie, that is.”
“I can see why,” I add. “You were right about it being a reminder of why we started playing in the first place, but I think playing college ball or playing football professionally is out of the cards for me. And it’s not because it’s not my passion. I don’t like the pressure that comes with it. I’m not a center of attention type of person. Never have been. But you are, Mark, and despite what you went through growing up, I hope you make it out of here and make your dreams come true.”
He takes a swig from his water bottle. “I’ve accepted that getting drafted probably won’t happen. I didn’t have the money to attend all those fancy camps and get scouts’ attention. Ronnie makes a good living, but not enough to house me and send me to those places. I never expected it. Does it help Ronnie is the coach for State? Sure, but that’s not enough when it comes down to it.”
I realize how much I’ve taken for granted over the years. My parents sent me to those camps in high school simply because I wanted to go. I never stopped to think about people like Mark, who dedicate their entire lives to the sport but can’t attend camps because their families don’t make enough money.
“It’s happened before,” I say. “People get drafted all the time and have these incredible stories to tell about their background and the struggles it took to play professionally. Those people are inspirations to others. Don’t sell yourself short, dude. You’re killer at what you do.”
“Thanks, man. I’ll—” He stops abruptly when his gaze catches something in the distance. Tabi, the girl from Happy Endings (also Ronnie’s daughter), is walking hand in hand with a young girl in a ladybug sundress. Tabi seems upset, swiping at her face as she approaches her dad on the field, but Mark is already standing with his hands balled into fists at his sides. “I’m going tokillthat motherfucker.”
I’m lost, unable to do anything but follow him to the other side of the field. The little girl is smiling, seemingly oblivious to Tabi’s distraught state as she races for the field and heads straight to the mesh bag filled with footballs.
“. . . and I told him I had a shift today, but he showed up early with her and claimed he had tomeet up with friends.” She flings her arms into the air. “He hasn’t seen her in two fucking weeks! He gets her foroneweekend and is already sick of her after a day. I don’t get it. How could he not?” Her voice breaks as she stares at the little girl in the distance. “How can he not love his own daughter?”
“Because he’s a piece of shit.” Mark steps up to her side, his hand flexing like it’s taking everything in him not to console her.
Ronnie lets out ahuff. “Can’t say I disagree. So, what did you tell your boss?”
“I told him I’d figure something out and hopefully I’d be back, but I didn’t know you had a meeting after this.” She inhales deeply through her nose. “It’s fine. Hopefully he’ll understand that I won’t be back to work the rest of my shift. It just sucks because I needed the money. Rent is due on the first, and—”
“Leave her with me,” Mark says.
Tabi’s mouth snaps shut, and hazel eyes swing to his. “Why would I leave her withyou?”
“I don’t see anyone else offering.”
“I’d feel more comfortable leaving her with a pack of monkeys, but thanks,” she replies dryly.
“Oh, come on. I changed the girl’s diapers and fed her bottles when we all lived under the same roof. Annie loves me.”
“Because you’re thefunguy who throws parties and is so irresponsible that ofcourseyour personality would appeal to children.” She sniffles and swipes away more tears, cursing under her breath.
“Tabi.” Mark’s tone is soft, dragging her attention to his. “Let me take her for the day. No funny business, all right? We’ll go to the park, grab some ice cream, and we’ll meet you at Happy Endings when your shift is over.”
A long stretch of silence follows, their eyes never leaving each other’s, and I start to feel like this is a conversation I shouldn’t be overhearing at all.
“Fine,” she mutters in defeat. “But if anything happens, you call me thesecond—”
“—something goes wrong,” he finishes. “You have my word.”
Ronnie smiles at the two of them. “See? It isn’tsohard to get along, is it?”
Tabi rolls her eyes. “Don’t push it, Dad.”
“Well, I’m gonna get out of here.” I clear my throat and stick a thumb over my shoulder. “Thanks for having me at practice today. It was fun.”
“We enjoyed having you,” Ronnie replies. “I could use a second assistant, you know. If you’re interested.”
Mark laughs. “I already tried. Ethan’s going to take a while to come around, but we’ll wear him down eventually. He’s agreed to be aguestat a few more practices.”
