My gaze goes back to the house next door as Nova comes out to take Sparky for a walk. She turns in the opposite direction of my house, and I watch her disappear.
“Give me a name,” I say as dread builds up.
I hear him slurp his coffee. “It was something different. Star? Nope, hmm. Wait, wait! Nova! It was Nova!” He heaves out a sigh. “You mad?”
My chest rises, my jaw flexing. He manipulated, intervened, and set me up. She did too. She knew exactly what she was doing when she walked into that party. Yeah, I’m simmering. Disappointment hits me, unexpected. Part of me liked to believe that my night with the beauty was serendipitous, a message from the fates to move on—when in truth it was planned.
I click off, my head tumbling. He tries to call me back, but I ignore it.
Yeah. A long breath comes from my chest.
I get it now. I get it now—that tightening in my chest when I saw her in my kitchen.
It’s her.
The question is, What am I going to do about it?
Chapter 5
RONAN
Two landlines ring simultaneously on my desk in my office in the field house. My cell pings next to them. I ignore them and stalk to the walk-in closet, unbuttoning my dress shirt from class, then grabbing a polo for practice. Just as I’ve slipped it on and tucked it in my khakis, I hear the squeak of my office door opening.
I step out, and Lois stands there in a denim skirt and a Bobcats jersey with Milo’s number on it. “Hey!” She tips her hat up. “I just want a minute—want me to get those phones?”
I slip a cap on my head, then put my hands on my hips. “I want you to find me a personal assistant.”
She plops down in one of my chairs. “I’m working on it. You seem tense, Coach. I’ve got this book about breathing exercises that help you relax. You should read it.”
I nod absently as the team spills into the locker room, and I watch them with discerning, eager eyes. We’ve got a good crew of athletes. Even though I don’t play in the NFL anymore, my competitiveness hasn’t dwindled. In Texas, it’s a necessity.
Toby, Milo, and Bruno stop at my door, three of my best. All juniors. I’ve been working with them for a year, shaping them into winners.
Toby, my quarterback, sends a head nod. “Coach. What you got for us?”
I point to the folders. “Get the playbooks. Study. Then we hit the field. I want to see some quick play action. Got it? How’s the arm? Loose?”
Tall and dark haired, he grins and rolls his shoulder. “I’m ready. More than ready. Sir.”
“Did you get enough hours in at the bookstore this weekend?” He works to supplement his family’s income.
He nods. “Saturday and Sunday. I ran five miles before I went in.”
“That’s good. I like the dedication.”
Bruno, my running back, reaches over and scrubs Toby’s head. “He’s been jawing all day about how we’re gonna decimate Wayne Prep, bragging to all the girls, especially Sabiiiiine.”
Toby shoves him, and they scuffle around.
“Cool the ribbing, boys,” I say. “Wayne Prep went seven and three last year. Their defense wins games. Never underestimate an opponent.”
Bruno touches his chest with his fist and calls out, “Win the heart! Win everything!”
Several whoops come from the guys out in the hall, echoing our motto.
“All right, all right,” I say. “I like the spirit, Bruno. Now get those binders.”
He snatches them up off the table, and he and Milo leave, while Toby lingers, a hesitant expression on his face.
“Coach? Um, my mom’s fortieth birthday is coming up. She doesn’t know a lot of people, and I—I know how y’all are friends . . .” He licks his lips. “She hasn’t had many good days lately, and I thought . . .”
I’ve spent a lot of one-on-one time with Toby. Visits to his house. Talks with his mom.
“We’d love to do something for her,” Lois chimes in as she gets up and pats Toby on the back. “I’m the party planner. What day, dear?”
“The Friday of our bye week. I don’t think she wants to do anything big. Just . . . she’s been talking about getting out of the house, maybe going out to eat.” Red blooms on his face. “My dad . . . he hasn’t called in a while . . .”
His mom has a debilitating heart condition. She gets breathless easily and tires fast. His father works in the oil fields. When he’s home, he hangs out in bars. Toby hasn’t seen him in months.