Page 10 of Tempt Me

I feel like shit.

I don’t regret holding Melissa. I don’t regret any kiss or any touch.

I only regret that I’m in this situation at all.

A real man would take Coach aside and tell the truth.

A real man would bring it all out into the open.

In a different life, I would ask for his permission first. His blessing, maybe. But that’s not how everything went down.

When I got hurt, I knew it was more than a season that was over for me. It was my hope of being something great. I had to mourn that.

But then, Melissa came along.

She made me feel excited to get up in the morning.

I looked forward to seeing her smile, to hearing her laugh, to watch the world through her eyes.

But now, I could lose it all.

When we left last night, we agreed to talk about it later.

We didn’t want to spoil anything just yet.

But reality hit harder and faster for me, standing on the sidelines, taking in my old life with her dad.

Coach doesn’t say much to me during the game. He’s busy, of course. But as we walk back to the locker room, he asks me to stay behind for a minute at the end of the game.

It feels like the wind is knocked out of me.

Really?

I’m supposed to wait a whole half of a game to figure out what the hell he wants to talk to me about?

I wish he would just rip the bandage off.

Does he know?How could he know?

I realize I don’t have Melissa’s number, so I can’t even text her for a heads-up.

I need to get that number if her dad doesn’t kill me first.

I wait impatiently through the whole second half, shifting from one foot to another, trying not to give away my very obvious discomfort.

Finally, the moment comes. The locker room clears out and it’s just me and Coach.

“You wanted to see me?” I ask him.

Coach loosens up. “Yeah, how is everything going with the play?”

He doesn'tseemlike he knows.

“Good,” I tell him. “Everything should be ready for Friday. I’m glad you asked me to help. I think Melissa really needed it.”

Coach crosses his arms. “Yeah, I gathered that. She’s raved about you. It sounds like you’re doing a lot of work over there.”

I pray this conversation ends soon.

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