Page 58 of Play Maker

“What if he gives up on me?” I hadn’t acknowledged the fear, but it took root in my mind anyway.

“He won’t. Mac might fuck up sometimes, but he doesn’t quit.”

I could attest to the second part. With Eva’s blessing, my guilt about overstepping disappeared. As far as I was concerned, I’d met my moral obligations as a best friend. Now all I had to do was get through the rest of the summer and Mom’s wedding, then maybe I could focus on what a future with Adam might look like.

21

“Mac, stop yammering and get in here.” Coach Gordon poked his head out of his office door and pointed as if I’d forgotten where I was supposed to be.

I still had to do a double take every time I saw his face. He’d shocked us all by returning from vacation without his bushy walrus mustache. The guys started a pool on why he’d shaved, and Taco Truck, one of our rookies, was trying to give me the rundown.

The large black man slunk away when Coach glared in our direction. I knew what was coming, but I’d hoped I could put it off until camp was over.

Training camp had officially started at the beginning of August, and despite knowing better, I’d been slipping—late to the facility, half a step behind in drills, distracted during film time. Coach was a laid-back guy for someone in charge of a championship D1 football program, but even he had limits.

I jogged over to him, hoping the effort would gain me some bonus points.

He eyed my sweaty shirt. “Did you finish your reps?”

“Yes, chef.”

With a sigh, he ducked into his office. “I asked you to stop calling me that.”

“And I asked you for a pony last Christmas, but neither of us got what we wanted.”

Coach’s chair creaked as he sank into it and nodded at the ones opposite him. “I’m not your damn Santa Claus, and that mouth is going to get you in trouble one day.”

I’d heard the warning before. Up until a few months ago, I hadn’t found any trouble I couldn’t outrun. Turned out Eva had no problem turning my words against me. I wasn’t worried about Coach, though, until Shaw slipped into the room and shut the door.

My roommate and best friend, the man who I’d personally helped land his girl, stood blocking the exit with his arms crossed as if he thought I’d make a break for it. Coach cleared his throat, and I already wanted to jump out the nearest window.

“Mac, if you don’t get your head out of your ass, you’ll be on the bench for the first game. Maybe more.”

My jaw clenched as I stared at the bookshelves over his left shoulder. “I had an off week. It won’t happen again.” I’d make sure of it.

“It’s not only this week. Shaw tells me you’ve been having a hard summer, and I’m sorry to hear that, but I need you to shake off whatever’s got ahold of your balls.”

I shot my former best friend a glare, but he gave me his fuck around and find out face. The betrayal stung.

“My schedule has been unpredictable, but I’ve been putting in the effort on my own time, Coach.”

“It’s not about effort, son. It’s about building a single unit out of all you goofballs. You’ve been the heart of our team for the last few years, even before my time, but unless something changes, I have to follow protocol. You’re sliding down the depth chart. I want you out there as a starter, so we need to address the situation now while it can still be salvaged.”

I hated everything about this conversation. I’d chosen a long time ago to focus solely on football because I’d worried I wouldn’t be able to handle more. The last few months may have proven me right.

Unfortunately, there wasn’t much I was willing to change. Alex was depending on me to nail the competition audition, and I wouldn’t let Blue down now that she’d finally admitted she needed me.

Shaw added insult to injury. “I know you’re hurting because of Eva, but it’s time to get over her.”

Coach pinched the bridge of his nose. “Tell me we’re not having girl issues. Again. You guys are adults.”

I scrubbed a hand down my face, surprised Shaw thought I was still pining for Eva. How had he missed Blue coming out of my room practically every morning? I went over the last week in my head and realized he and RJ always slipped out early to get some alone time in the weight room. Our crew hadn’t been as social since Eva left, but we always spent more time apart in the summers.

Apparently, Shaw wasn’t the only one not paying attention.

I met Coach’s gaze. “What do you need me to do?”

He nodded. “Hold on to that attitude for one. We still have a few weeks of camp. If you show up the way I know you can, you’ll be fine. It would go a long way if you could work with Haskins.”

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