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And that is the crux of what training camp means to me.
Jolene is here taking footage, and we pre-recorded some extra podcast segments to get us through the next few weeks since we weren’t sure whether we’d have time to record while we’re at the vineyard. I have no idea what it’ll look like since I’m with a new team that has different needs than my old team did.
But I do know that while I’m handing a lot of responsibility over to Mike and Andy, I’ll still be busy overseeing everything as I give players individual feedback and search for ways to help them improve.
The week passes quickly, and Jolene and I manage to record a few segments to send to Rivera.
She stays late to interview me as she struggles with what to send to Rivera for the podcast and what to hold onto for her own behind the scenes footage for the public, and I suggest using the best stuff for the podcast and using her broadcasts to tease it.
She loves the idea, and she thanks me for it with a quick fuck on top of my desk late at night after everyone’s gone home.
I may be exhausted from the day, but I manage to find the energy to pump into her until we both come.
Before I know it, it’s Monday morning and we’re meeting at the bus lot.
I invited Megan to come along—mostly because she’s become a valuable asset to me, inputting all my scribbled notes that I take on the field and editing the playbook as needed, which has been fairly often so far.
The thing I think I like most about her is that I didn’t even have to train her. She offers to do things for me I didn’t even know she knew how to do because they are things Coach Thompson had her do, and if it takes something off my already full plate, I’m jumping at it.
I spot Jolene in the bus lot as she watches players bid their families goodbye, and I can’t help but wonder how hard it was for her to leave her son this morning. He isn’t here saying goodbye, and neither is Sam—my girlfriend for all intents and purposes.
We haven’t officially broken up yet. We figured we’ll be apart anyway, so it doesn’t really matter. But once the season gets underway, we’ll issue a statement like the one Jolene suggested the other day.
The players bid their families goodbye, and there’s nobody for me to say goodbye to, so I get on the bus. I should feel a stab of loneliness at that, but I don’t. I can’t when the only person I’d want to say goodbye to is coming with us.
She steps on the bus shortly after I do, and she glances around. “Can we sit anywhere?” she asks, and I nod.
She takes the seat across from me.
It’s not a short drive to get to California, and Megan told me Coach Thompson used to fly in. But I’m not Mitch. I want to experience this with my team. I coach from the trenches.
Players start to board the bus, and I grimace a little when Austin Graham steps on. That grimace turns to a full glare when he slides into the seat beside Jolene.
They start to talk, and I force the jealous feelings away. I force those familiar feelings of loneliness away, too.
I know where her heart is.
But that doesn’t mean I like it…and it doesn’t mean I have to give Graham any playing time at all. In fact, as I watch my brother step onto the bus next, I have a feeling Graham will be seeing much more of the pine this year than he was expecting to.
And as Jolene tosses her head back with a laugh and I slip in my earbuds to listen to a podcast, wishing I’d booked a flight instead of riding this dumb bus, I can’t help but think I don’t really feel so bad for Graham.
CHAPTER 27: JOLENE
Me: Relax, Coach. You know I’m just being nice.
He glances up to see Austin is no longer sitting beside me, and the pinch between his brows seems to smooth over. I laugh a little at his reaction, and he taps on his phone. My phone buzzes with his text a beat later, and it’s a little funny that we’re texting each other when we’re sitting a few feet apart, but I’m not sure how else we can communicate.
Before I get a chance to read his text, I watch as his secretary, Megan, slides into the seat with him.
My claws come out, and I guess I get why he doesn’t like when Austin is friendly with me. He flips his phone over so she can’t see it, and I read his text to me.
Lincoln: I’ll show you nice when I bend you over my bed and make you see stars.
Dear Lord.
Well, now I see why he hid his phone. I don’t care that Megan is sitting with him. I text him anyway. He’ll read it when he can.
Me: Is that a threat or a promise?
