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“Well this little hole in the wall is just the kind of joint I’d figure locals hang all the time.” She indicates the barbecue joint where we find ourselves by gesturing with her glass around the place.
Hole in the wall?
I’d hardly call it that.
I realize I’m getting defensive over it before I speak the words. And this place of all places…I have exactly zero business feeling defensive over it.
Particularly given my father’s words at the anniversary party on Saturday night.
I can’t imagine what he’d think of me hanging out at Joseph’s bar…of paying my money into his pocket.
He’d hate it.
But it’s the closest place to the Complex, so it makes the most sense regardless of who owns it.
I shake off the thought, but the single conversation I had alone with my father has replayed over and over since the night it happened.
“It’s close to work,” I say with a nonchalant shrug, but the truth is…I sort of like this place. I can see the vision Joseph had for Rivalry when I’m here, and something about it feels a little bit like home—like how the bar was back when our fathers first opened it instead of what my dad tried to turn it into.
I hate having negative thoughts about my father. He worked hard to give the four of us advantages. He placed calls to the right people at the right time. I wouldn’t be where I am today without him, and my allegiance will always lie with him because of that.
Still, when I sneak a glance across the bar and see Jolene is no longer sitting in her corner booth but a different couple is there, I can’t help when a sense of disappointment filters through me.
“Speaking of work, how’s it going? What’s it like being head coach for a team? I feel like you’re so much busier now than when you were OC in LA. I hardly hear from you at all.” She’s jabbering on and I’m hardly listening as I think about where Jolene might’ve gone.
“It’s been great,” I say, and I offer a tight smile. “It’s all still pretty new, really.”
She’s quiet a beat as she studies me. “Is everything okay, Coach?” she asks, and her tone is a little more sultry than I’m looking for tonight.
“Yeah. I just have a few things I need to take care of tonight at the office.” It’s a clear brush-off.
“Oh. I was hoping we could…you know.” She looks truly disappointed, but I can’t find it in me to feel bad about it.
Not when I’m contemplating running out to the parking lot to see if Jolene is still somewhere around.
And to that end, I let her down gently. “I wish I could, but I really need to focus on work.”
“Maybe some other time?” she asks hopefully.
“I don’t know, Jess,” I say quietly. “I think it’s probably better if you stay in California.” My eyes meet hers, and she looks disappointed as she nods her understanding.
It’s not a break-up, exactly, and it actually feels like a bit of a load off for me, but it’s still not easy saying goodbye to someone—especially to someone who might think this is more of a break-up than it is to me.
“It’s been fun, Coach,” she says, and she clinks her glass to mine.
“To memories,” I say, clinking mine back to hers as I wonder whether Jolene left or if she’s still around here somewhere.
I shake out the thought.
Football. I replace those thoughts with football as I finish my drink, bid Jess goodbye, and walk back across the street to the Complex…where I find Jolene Bailey sitting outside the media room.
CHAPTER 26: JOLENE
I’m not sure why I go to the Complex.
The parking lot was completely empty when I parked my car in the lot, which means everyone has gone home for the night. The lobby is dark except for the one emergency light still illuminated, but I’m over in the shadows, sitting on a chair outside the media room.
Maybe I came here because the media room is home now, a place I’ll be spending a lot of time this season in my new position.
