Page 119 of Forever Offsides

For the next thirty minutes, we talk about how he’s doing, things he wants to work on and build upon, and techniques I believe that could help.

“You know, we don’t have field time tomorrow, but if you want to run some stuff one-on-one with me, I’d be happy to.”

“Um, yeah. That would be great. Let’s see how wiped out we are, if that’s okay?”

I lean back in my seat and scrub a hand up my face. Most of the guys are already asleep. “Probably a good idea.”

“I’ll let you get some rest.”

“Sure.” I stop Crew as he gets up to leave. “What was the other thing?”

Warily, he sits back down. “I debated saying something, and I haven’t gone to Mason or my dad about it. I’m trying to be a team player despite how I feel about him.”

“Crew, it’s late. Spit it out.”

“I saw Russel with his phone at halftime. He was coming out of the bathroom, and it was in his hand.”

I blink about a dozen times. “You’re sure about that?”

That’s a no-joke allegation. If it’s true, Russel could face a substantial penalty and an investigation into the integrity of his playing and our games.”

“I’m positive, Coach. He noticed I saw it and quickly shoved it into his pocket. He said his mother was sick and in the hospital and that he was just checking up on her.”

Oh. I honestly don’t know about that. I haven’t talked to his mother in years, and my life has been better for it.

“I’ll look into it,” I promise him. “Thank you for letting me know.”

“I’ll give him a pass. This time,” he adds.

I don’t say thank you because I don’t want him to feel as though he’s doing that for me or that I’m shirking responsibility.

“I’ll see you tomorrow. Get some rest.”

“Night, Coach.”

“Night.”

Uneasiness settles on me. Russel is at the back of the plane, and I’m not about to go and interrogate him now. But tomorrow, my son and I are going to have a conversation.

The plane lands at three in the morning. Half awake, we shuffle off and get ourselves home. I didn’t sleep much. I never sleep well on planes, but my mind was too riled between the loss and what Crew said about Russel.

The closer I try to get to him, the farther away he pulls.

Asher only agreed to have him on the team because of me. He didn’t say as much, but I know it. It’s not only Russel’s reputation, it’s mine.

He told me he’d changed. That’s been his song and dance since he arrived. I like to give people the benefit of the doubt. I’ll trust them until they give me a reason not to. But Russel’s been pushing lines, and I don’t like how it sits with me.

I unlock my door and immediately go upstairs, but the moment I enter my bedroom, I pause. A softness flitters into me, and a smile draws up the corners of my lips.

Quinn is asleep in my bed.

I strip out of my clothes, put my glasses on my nightstand, pull back the blankets, and slide in beside her. She stirs as I pull her against me and kiss the corner of her lips. She smells so good. Like home. Like this is the place she’s always meant to be, and her sleeping anywhere other than with me is madness.

This is madness.

But I love her. She’s not there yet. I know she’s not. She needs time, and time is fine. I’ll give her all the time in the world as long as she’s mine during it.

“Hi,” she says sleepily.