Page 51 of Blade
“What are we gonna do out there today?”
“Win!” the team yelled in unison.
“What are we gonna do today?”
“Win!” everyone repeated.
“I can’t fucking hear you!”
“WIN!”
Filled with a rush of energy, Robert engaged in chest bumps and high fives with his teammates, until Coach started speaking again.
“We have a special guest in the stands today, so you guys better not let me down.”
“Who’s the special guest?” Remington asked.
“Someone very close to me. My wife. Now get out there and kick some ass!”
Coach’s wife never came to the games, and Robert doubted if anyone from the team met her before. Coach always claimed he didn’t need the distraction of having his wife at the game, so her presence today was a big deal, which meant the pressure was on to win.
It turned out that having Coach’s wife in the stands served as a good luck charm, because the Bucks won 32-6. Total annihilation, just like Coach had said before the game started.
“Great game! You did me proud!” Coach said as soon as they returned to the locker room. “But don’t drop your gear yet. My wife is here and wants to meet everyone. Especially you, Blade.”
“Me? Why me?” Robert had grass and mud stains all over his uniform, and he reeked of sweat.
“You’re our star player.”
“But I stink. Let me shower first. I’ll be out in 10 minutes.”
“Do you think my wife cares about a little sweat?” Coach barked. “She’s been married to me for 35 years!”
The team all laughed, but Robert felt self-conscious and ran to the sink. While he washed his hands and face as quickly as possible, a commotion erupted in the locker room which meant Coach’s wife had arrived. He heard the guys all greeting her with pleasantries but couldn’t hear how they addressed her. He had no idea what to call her. He didn’t even know her first name. Not that he’d be so presumptuous as to use it.
“C’mon, Blade.” Remington waved Robert toward the front of the locker room where the rest of the team was huddled. “She’s asking for you. And, man, is she a knockout.”
“A knockout?” That’s the last thing Robert expected someone to say about Coach’s wife.
“Yeah. She’s a total MILF. Not at all what I envisioned.”
Makethatthe last thing Robert expected someone to say about Coach’s wife. “Did you seriously just call Coach’s wife a MILF? You got a death wish or something?”
“It’s the truth.”
“Blade! Get over here and meet my wife!” Coach shouted, in his usual gruff voice.
“Shit.” Robert wiped his hands and threw the towel on the sink. “What do I call her?”
“I don’t know.” Remington shrugged. “Mrs. Coach?”
Robert knew Remington was joking, but it made the most sense because no one ever called Coach by his given name. He wasn’t going to call her Mrs. Coach, but he couldn’t imagine calling her Mrs. Gaston either.
As Robert approached the crowd that surrounded Coach and his wife, one by one the guys stepped aside.
The smile on Coach’s face doubled in size now that his wife was in the room, and he appeared more welcoming with an arm extended in Robert’s direction. “There he is. The Bucks’ MVP, Robert Blade.” His voice, however, still contained the same crusty modulation. “Blade, I’d like you to meet my wife, Catherine.”
“It’s such a pleasure to meet you.” Coach’s wife held out her hand and smiled with perfect heart-shaped lips and a mischievous spark illuminating her periwinkle eyes.
