Page 91 of Sweet Spot
I head to the putting green. The club feels cold and heavy in my shaking hands. Zipping up my jacket and flipping the collar up to block the breeze, I take a few deep breaths to get my focus.
I fall into my usual routine, but nothing goes right. I don’t know if it’s my body or my head, but I’m off, and it shows. My line isn’t right on my short or long putts. I head to the bunker with similar results.
By the time I walk to the driving range, I feel as if I’m going to throw up. Coach Potter joins me as I take the first swing with my driver. His eyes light up with excitement as he nods to the lady with a microphone and the accompanying camera guy. “Keira, they want to ask you a few questions.”
I step back, and the reporter introduces herself. “Hi, Keira. I’m Belinda with KTLR, how are you feeling today?”
“I feel good.” My voice quivers, so I smile as big as I can to overcompensate and twist and turn the pink, unicorn scrunchie on my wrist.
“You’ve had an exciting month, winning the Valley Invitational tournament and placing second at the University of Texas tournament. What’s contributed to your recent successes?”
Lincoln’s face flashes before me, smiling back at me through the computer screen all those nights. I open my mouth to speak, but Coach interjects, “She’s a hard worker. We had a rough start to the year, but she’s really listened to the feedback, and I think it shows just how far a person can go with the right guidance.”
My face heats at him trying to take credit for Lincoln’s work. Belinda looks to me to verify his statement.
“I have a great coach,” I say simply. “I wouldn’t be here today without him.”
That much is true. Potter smiles smugly, but it doesn’t matter. If I win, I’ll set the record straight, and if I don’t, people can believe my failures are at the hands of Potter. Lincoln has never once tried to take credit, which is just one more reason in a long list of why he’s a better coach and man.
“Do you think you’ll be able to play at the level you need to today to win?”
I suck in a breath because, isn’t that the question of the day? “I’m going to give it my best shot.”
“Thank you, Keira. It was a pleasure to meet you. Good luck today.”
I walk back to my spot on the range, Coach Potter standing behind me just like he did all those times for other girls on the team. I always imagined what it would be like to have his undivided attention before a tournament, but I have to say that it doesn’t feel any better with him by my side.
His presence doesn’t encourage or soothe me like Lincoln’s does. In a moment of weakness, I look around for him. But even before I finish scanning the small crowd, I can feel he isn’t here.
Focus. Only golf.
I tee up another ball, blow out a breath, and swing. I know I’m holding back, but I can’t seem to access that gut-deep power and determination I usually can.
“That was short.” Coach Potter’s brows draw together, hands on hips. “Try it again.”
I hit five more balls and then take a break since I’m already out of breath and sweaty.
Coach looks me over and shakes his head. “You can’t do it. You don’t have it today.”
Then he just walks away. Now that I’m not performing at peak level, he isn’t interested in standing beside me. It doesn’t shock me, but it does hurt.
Of all the times he’s doubted my ability, this is the only time I’ve ever believed him.
34
Lincoln
“Any update?”I pace the office with a club in my hand in case I decide to completely lose my shit and break everything in sight.
“Not since you asked thirty seconds ago.” Will chuckles and then his voice is serious again. “I’m working as fast as I can to figure it out. We’ll get it back up.”
Four hours ago, our server crashed. The whole website down.Kaboom. I kept picturing it like a car explosion in an action movie, but instead of walking away like a badass, I’m in the car going up in flames.
I’d woken with Keira nuzzled into my side and so many voice mails it used up all my phone storage. Begrudgingly, I left because that’s what you do when you own a business. You get out of bed or stop whatever it is you’re doing and you deal with it.
I’ve already typed out an email to every member of Reeves Sports, letting them know we’re aware of the problem and working quickly to get the site back online. I emailed my clients personally, as well as my staff, and now I’m helping Will any way I can, which is basically just staying out of his way. It’s harder than it should be since all I want to do is to barrage him with questions as I pace.
We redirected traffic from the website to our dark site, which explains the outage, but with thousands of members waiting to hear back from coaches and hundreds of potential new clients not being able to sign up—this is a nightmare.
