Page 148 of Forever Offsides

I look him dead in the eyes. “No. I didn’t know about it until this morning. I’d never have brought him here. I would have tried to get him help, not that he’d ever want that from me. I feel stupid. He’d never wanted me to publicly announce him as my son, and I wondered why he was so willing now. I didn’t dig deeper into his motives other than wanting to get out of Dallas. I was simply happy to have him close by and wanted to be on a team I was coaching.”

“I’m going to cut him this morning and notify the NFL of what I overheard. They will likely take action and start an investigation. They’ll look into the team. Into our games and if anyone else was involved. They’ll dig into you.”

“I understand,” I tell him. “And I agree that you have to do both of those things.”

“It’s a lot of heat for the team. A lot of distractions that aren’t the best for the players. It will mean a lot of questions for you since you were the head coach and his father.”

The way he says were has my stomach sinking.

“Yes.” I nod, though my gaze drops to the floor, shame and regret lining my muscles with lead. “I’ll answer them truthfully and to the best of my knowledge if you’re comfortable with that. I’ll fully cooperate with any investigation.”

“With all of this extra attention, I don’t want you to announce your relationship with Quinn.”

I blink twice at him. “Um. Okay.”

“We’re not happy you kept it a secret,” Mason jumps in. “We get why you did it, but we’re not happy about it.”

“I know, and I’m sorry,” I tell him. “I never meant to rock your faith in me.”

“Quinn told us it was her idea.”

“I didn’t argue it as hard as I should have,” I admit. “It felt like it made sense at the time to wait, but truthfully, I’m glad you all know. I’m glad it’s out there. But I am sorry you found out this way instead of me coming to all of you and speaking directly.”

Mason shifts to face me. “You love her?”

“More than anything,” I tell him. “She’s too young for me, and there are a million complications, but I don’t care. I love her. She’s the most incredible person I’ve ever met. So smart and sarcastic and funny and driven and beautiful.” I chuckle apologetically. “Sorry for that last one.”

“She’s a surgeon,” Asher cuts in. “A resident. A brilliant surgeon who⁠—”

“I love that she’s a surgeon,” I state emphatically, meeting both their stoic faces, neither giving anything away. “I’d never try to take her away from that as long as it makes her happy. Not ever. We’ve talked about this, she and I. About the hours and what’s required for her to be the best surgeon she can be. I’m good with it. I’m good with all of it.” I rub a hand along my jaw and push my glasses up my nose. “This isn’t some fling where neither knew what we were doing or getting into. It took us both by surprise, but I’ve never felt this for anyone before. She’s it.”

“If she wants children?” Asher questions, and my lips bounce.

“I’m in my forties, not eighties. I’d love more kids. If she decides she doesn’t, that’s fine too. I’d let her be the guide with that.”

“So, no matter what happens to you or Russel, you still intend to stay?” Asher checks.

“That’s my plan. I want to be the head coach for the Boston Rebels. It’s my dream job. I wasn’t lying when I told you that during my interview. Being here is my dream. But so is Quinn, and when I’m old, I’d regret letting her go more than I’d regret letting a job go.”

Mason and Asher sign something to each other that I can’t understand. They go back and forth a little before they come to some sort of agreement.

Asher rubs his hands together, and Mason sits casually back, his ankle going to his opposite knee.

“The team will need you to lead them through this, Rhett. Do you feel you’re able to do that?”

My head snaps up, and my brows pinch.

“Yes.” My back goes ramrod straight. “Absolutely, I can. But…”

“We will have to work to move the team forward and get past this scandal. The team needs a steady leader, and we feel that’s you. There are no two ways about it. You love my daughter, and I see that. I also believe you’re a good, honest man. Quinn is napping, and Crew isn’t going to leave her for a bit. I think the three of us need to go to the field and have a team meeting. After I cut Russel Jones.”

I sneak back in to kiss Quinn goodbye, and both she and Crew are fast asleep in her bed. I snap a picture and text it to them before I leave. I love their relationship. I love that she doesn’t have to keep us a secret from him anymore because I know it’s been eating at her. By the time I make it to the stadium, news is already starting to spread that Russel has been cut. More than that, I got a text from him.

Russel: What kind of piece of shit do you have to be to rat out your son to save yourself? Never talk to me again.

I don’t respond. I’m not sure what to say. His words cut, but I’m also aware enough to know he’s not seeing anything as it actually is. I didn’t rat him out, and I certainly didn’t do anything to save myself. Clearly, he likes to push blame and responsibility as far from himself as he can. It’s costing him. I can’t help but feel as though somewhere along the line, I failed him. I don’t know what his mother knows and what she doesn’t—hell, I don’t even know if the story he told me about her being in the hospital is real or not.

She doesn’t reach out to me, but I’m tempted to call her to see if there’s something she can do to help him. Even if the money comes from me. I don’t know. What do you do when your son is in trouble? Possibly real trouble. I want him to learn from his mistakes, but I don’t want him physically hurt, and he seemed to indicate that’s a real option.