Page 10 of Fair Catch
Either way, I didn’t have time to try to figure it out before he brushed past me, and Coach Sanders waved me in.
“Have a seat, Novo,” he said, not looking up from his phone. He finished typing out the message to whoever it was who had his attention before letting the device flop down on his desk. He kicked back then, folding his hands over his stomach as his elbows balanced on the armrests of his chair.
Coach Sanders was young for a head football coach at a D-1 university. At just thirty-three, he somehow had the confidence and swagger of a man who’d coached professional players all his life. He was severe, the line between his brows ever-present, and he didn’t hand out compliments like candy the way my high school coach did.
I knew I’d have to earn the trust and respect of this man, but already, I liked him — simply for the fact that he took a chance on me when he knew what a distraction I could be for his team and the media alike.
“Look, neither of us have time to beat around the bush. We need to eat and get to meetings, but I have something to discuss with you that can’t wait.”
I swallowed as Coach leaned forward with a sigh.
“When we originally discussed your housing situation in the freshman team dorms, we agreed you’d be set up in your own room as opposed to sharing with a roommate the way the rest of the team does. Both the Resident Hall Advisor and myself thought this to be the most… appropriate option.”
I nodded.
“Unfortunately,” he added, sitting back again as he scrubbed a hand over his short amber hair. “That’s not going to be possible anymore.”
My heart hammered against my rib cage, throat closing in.
This is it.
Day one and I’m off the team.
“We took on a few transfers after the summer term, as you probably noticed today. And though they’re not technically freshmen, we require them to stay in the team dorms their first year just like we do the rest of the team. And because of that decision, we don’t have the space to let you have your own room.”
My lips remained tight, though my heart eased up on its racing a bit.
“My first thought was to transfer you to a different resident hall on campus where you could room with another female athlete.”
“No.”
The word shocked me as much as it did Coach when it tumbled out of my mouth, and I flushed, clearing my throat.
“Sir, if I have a say, I’d very much like to stay in our hall.”
“I understand that, but—”
“We’re all training to be professional athletes, and we’re serious about our sport. I don’t think it will be an issue.”
Coach opened his mouth, but panic had me jumping in with my next point before he could offer a rebuttal.
“Mrs. Pierson has thoroughly analyzed me, and I swear I’ll go to her if there are any issues. Besides, we’ll have a Resident Assistant assigned to us, right? They’ll be there to keep an eye on things. As you can imagine, I’m already isolated enough as it is, and—”
“I agree,” he said, finally cutting me off with something between an annoyed arch of his brow and an amused curve of his lips. “Which is why after a long discussion with Mrs. Pierson, you’ll be staying in the team dorms.”
I heaved a sigh of relief.
“But you’ll have a roommate.”
“That’s not a problem, Coach.”
“That’s what I assumed, as well. Unfortunately,” he admitted with a frown of disappointment. “It turned out to be more of a problem than I anticipated.”
He didn’t have to say the words for me to know what he meant.
“No one wants to room with me.”
I didn’t state the obvious with an ounce of pity or sadness in my voice, nor did I show the anger that bubbled in my veins at the realization that boys could be such… boys sometimes. No, I spoke the words level and calm, just stating a fact.
Coach’s brows furrowed, and he shook his head, leaning forward with his elbows on the desk again. “Look, you and I discussed this when you signed your letter of intent. This isn’t going to be easy — not for you, not for me, not for anyone. But you have talent, and that’s what we’re going to focus on. Not the noise.”
I nodded. “Yes, Coach.”
He sat back again, pulling out his iPad and swiping his finger across the screen to unlock it. “I did manage to find one player who was unbothered by having you as a roommate.” He paused. “Zeke Collins.”
My eyes tripled in size, heart galloping again as I opened my mouth to protest, but Coach held up a hand.
“He already informed me you wouldn’t be happy with the assignment, but he’s the only one who agreed. And for the sake of not starting your season off by rooming with someone who was forced to be your roommate, someone who’s looking to have an issue with you? I suggest you accept and we move on.”
