AllFreeNovel
Share Us
"That's right, and my skills have been invaluable for this club. Just like yours will be. You made the right choice when you decided to join our coaching staff, Brad."
"I know. I miss playing like crazy, but I'm glad to be a part of the game. If you do consider me for this job, rather than going outside the club for my replacement, I want to recommend Ava for the head coach position of the Angels. She is very deserving of it and has been with the girls for a long time."
He rubs his chin and thinks on it. "Ava has been on our radar for a while, and I'm impressed by her dedication to the team. I will definitely keep her in mind. Thanks for your input."
I feel like I need to push a little harder for her. I'm not sure why she wasn't offered the job before I started, and what Andy said to me about women having it harder is so true. I want to make sure she really has a chance here. "She has been the key playmaker all year. She knows that team inside and out, she would be perfect," I add. I wouldn't be sitting here if it wasn't for her, and she deserves this just as much as I do, probably more.
He gives me a nod, and I feel like I have just swayed his decision. "I agree. I'll call her in tomorrow for a chat. Brad, if you want the job, it's yours. We don't need to look any further." He holds out his hand for me to shake.
Just like that, he's offering me the position. I'm a little shocked; I thought it would be a long process, with other people I was up against. I shake his hand. "I want the job," I confirm.
"Good. It's done then. Brad, this is between us for now, alright? We'll tell the Angels after we make the semis, I don't want anything to disrupt the killer year they're having."
"Totally understood." I had thought he might say something like that but hoped he wouldn't, because that means me lying to Andy. I could risk it and tell her, but I know there is no way I can tell her without her friends finding out, they're just too close. So for now, I won't. But we're one step closer to being together. I just hope when I finally get to tell her, she doesn't kill me for keeping this from her for so long. I caught a glimpse of her really angry yesterday with Madeline and think back to what she was like when I first took over. I don't want to be on the receiving end of that again.
Chapter Seventeen
Andy
I'm lyingon my bed staring at my phone, not sure how I feel about the text I just received from Brad. My response wasthat's fine, see you tomorrow. But it's anything but fine. He can't see me tonight, because apparently, he has decided to go for dinner with his ex-wife after all. Which isfine. I'm the one who told him to. Except it's not fine. I don't want him anywhere near that manipulative witch—his words.
I'm glad he was up front with me and told me that's what he was doing tonight instead of hiding it, but it pisses me off even more that he's seeing her instead of me. We had plans to see each other tonight, now all of a sudden, he has to meet up with her. I know I'm overreacting. I have spent every night over the last two weeks with him, and ordinarily, after that much time with another human, I would be feeling smothered. I should be grateful for the evening to myself, but I'm not. All I want to do is spend it with him.
I don't even know who I am anymore, the annoyingly clingy girl hung up on some guy. Geez, I sound like my sisters when they're dating. This is not me at all.
I think the thing that is worrying me the most is that I know something is off with him, and it has been since he saw his ex on Monday morning, but I can't quite work out what it is. Is he thinking about getting back with her? Would he really do that to me, to himself?
On the surface, everything between us is the same as it has been. In public we act like nothing more than acquaintances because he's my soccer coach, and behind closed doors, the wild chemistry is still there, but something has shifted. He's hiding something from me, I can feel it.
He couldn't be thinking about getting back with her. I mean, I know she is still technically his wife, but she's a stuck-up bitch! I can't even see those two together at all. I can't believe he ever married her.
I decide it's probably not that, but it's something, and I want to know what.
There's a knock at my door.
"Come in," I call.
Darcy pops her head around the door. "Hey, babe, we're all going to catch a movie, you want to join? If you're not too busy with lover boy?"
I roll my eyes at her mention of Brad like that. "Why not. I'll just get changed." Distraction with my friends is exactly what I need tonight. Plus, I've been a bad friend lately, too focused on Brad, and I miss spending time with them.
"We're leaving in ten," she says, lingering, her eyes still fixed on me, and I wonder if there is anything else she wants to discuss?
"You all good? I'm going to get changed."
"Yeah, sorry, I'll leave you to it." She disappears, closing the door behind her.
That was odd. I turn to my wardrobe. What to wear? I chuck on a baggy off-the-shoulder sweater and a pair of cutoff shorts. Twirl my hair into two buns and grab my converse high-tops. I meet the others in the kitchen.
"So glad you're joining us tonight, Andy. Brad needs to learn how to share," says Luna, wrapping me in a hug.
"I have been neglecting you guys, haven't I? Well, tonight it's my treat to make up for it."
We arrivedowntown at the movie theater and make our way inside. The girls are really taking advantage of my generous offer and have selected the reclining chairs and a mountain of snacks. We settle in at the movie theater with a box of popcorn and Maltesers that Jasmine insisted we needed, to watch The Suicide Squad—also Jasmine's choice, she loves Harley Quinn.
I relax back in my chair and take a handful of popcorn. This is nice, hanging out with my friends and big sissy. Who needs Brad Swift, anyway. I try to push aside the thoughts of what he and his wife are getting up to. If I think on it too much, my imagination runs away with me.
An hour into the movie, I feel a message ping on my phone. I would normally just ignore it, but it might be Brad filling me in on what happened with Madeline, so the temptation to check is too strong.
