Page 17 of The Penalty

Great. This is just what the team needs right now. A distraction in the form of a pretty girl. And I don’t need this distraction either.

The head official calls the captains out to the field for the coin toss. Hayes is calling it this game. The official tosses the coin up, and everyone watches it fall. “La Vista Bobcats have won the coin toss. Do you elect to kick or receive?” Hayes answers him, and the official announces for the stadium, “La Vista elects to receive first.” The captain for Iowa tells the official which end zone they want to defend, and then we get ready for kick-off.

Hayes always chooses to receive first because he wants to be on the field first, but it usually works out better for us anyway. We’re a good all-around team, but our defense is definitely weaker than I’d like it to be.

McKenzie is up and out of her seat as soon as the ball is kicked. She yells and cheers as our offense drives the ball down to the end zone and scores our first touchdown. If she’s supposed to be impartial as a news reporter, she’s not doing a very good job, but her excitement is contagious, and it hypes up everyone around her, including me.

Then she cheers as the defense blocks Iowa from getting halfway down the field. Every time I glance in her direction, she’s watching the game intently. There is always, at minimum, one of my players standing next to her. I kinda feel bad for them. If she rejected Hayes so easily, I don’t see it going well for anyone else.

When halftime rolls around, we’re up twenty-one to fourteen, but it’s not enough. I know it, and the boys know it.

Right as the officials call halftime, McKenzie and her camera guy are in my face, following me off the field. I’m not really in the mood for an interview right now, but I know it’s part of this damn job. And I know she needs it for her assignment. Truthfully, I’d rather her be interviewing me than anyone else.

I don’t stop walking to talk to her, but she keeps pace next to me with her poor camera guy trying to walk sideways to get us both in the shot.

“Coach, how are you feeling about the game so far?” she asks.

“Good. The team is working together, doing everything we’ve worked on in practice. This is a great start.”

“What are you going to say to the team in the locker room?”

“I’m going to tell them that we have to do better. We’ve got to play better, run better, defend better. Warm-up time is over. I know what these guys can do, and they aren’t doing it yet.”

“Thanks, Coach.” McKenzie and Camera Guy stop walking as I run off the field with the last of my team.

I meet the team in the locker room and not so subtly tell them to get their shit together for the second half. It’s a one-score game at this point, and Iowa could easily flip the table on us. We talk about some issues I noticed on the field and what seems to be working well for us.

Before I know it, we’re running back to the field again.

The second half goes way smoother than the first. We get a few bullshit flags thrown on us, but we do well overall and end up winning fifty-six to forty-two. The team is very excited about this win, and now my coaches and I know what we need to work on during practices. I make my rounds, shaking hands with the other team’s coaches.

McKenzie and Camera Guy are waiting for me on the sidelines. She asks me a few questions, and I try to ignore the excitement I see in her eyes. I try to not look in her eyes at all. Then I’m forced to do more interviews, but I try to get through them as quickly as I can.

Back in the locker room, I give the guys a post-game talk before they shower and change. A knock on the locker room door has Hayes walk over to answer it with just a towel around his waist.

“Oh, jeez, Hayes. What the hell?” McKenzie’s voice travels through the room.

“Sorry, babe. This is the locker room. What did you think was going to happen?”

“I thought you all would be dressed by now, but I didn’t realize you were a bunch of girls who take forever.”

Hayes smiles at her. “What can we do for you, Future Wife?”

“I wanted to interview a few of the players before they leave. Is there anyone available who is actually dressed?”

“You don’t want to get me on camera like this?” Hayes does not know when to stop. I kinda feel bad for the girl, but she’s the one who literally walked into the wolf’s den.

“Uh, the only reason I’d want you on my camera is to get higher ratings, but alas, I can’t interview you if you’re in a towel. Darn.” She snaps her fingers and shrugs in fake sadness.

One of our wide receivers, Ryan, walks up to McKenzie and Hayes. Thankfully, Ryan is fully dressed by now.

“Kenzie, my girl.” Ryan wraps his arms around her. These guys are getting a little too comfortable having her around. “Hey, you coming to the party tonight?” I try not to listen, but curiosity gets the best of me.

“I wasn’t planning on it,” she answers.

“Well, plan on it.” She smiles at Ryan.

She bites her lip as she thinks. “Can I bring a friend?”