Page 70 of Catch
I slipped into a seat and said hi to Trish Calloway, who helped do morning announcements on days we didn’t start with an assembly.
“How was your summer, Sutton?” she asked.
“It was good. Lots of running and working out. How was yours?”
“Worked. Saving money for college, you know,” she said. She worked at Dairy Queen, but I had seen her at a few parties.
I nodded. “Are you working after school, too?” I felt bad because most people I knew had to get a job when they turned sixteen. My dad wanted me to do things that would look better on my résumé so I volunteered with Coach Larson during the summers at peewee football games.
“A few days and on weekends. Hey, when can we get together to talk about the upcoming season?”
The bell rang and I turned to face front. “Hit me up after class.”
“Welcome back, students.” Mr. Sanders slipped his glasses over his nose and started roll. The energy of the first day of school was only rivaled by the last day. “The sooner everyone settles down, the sooner we can head to the auditorium.” That got us to quiet down. We filed out of the classroom and made our way to the first day assembly.
I found Hayley in the crowd and sat with her. “New student alert,” I said.
“Boy or girl?” Hayley asked.
“Girl and she’s gorgeous.” I scanned the crowd for the new girl. We had three new transfers and lost four students. I saw her sittingnext to Gabby in the bleachers to my left and discreetly pointed her out. “There. Blond. Second row.”
“She’s really cute, but she looks bitchy or bored. I can’t tell,” Hayley said.
I smacked Hayley’s knee. “She’s new and doesn’t know anyone. Give her a break.” It was hard to look away. There was something about her that made me pause. Sitting there with her messenger bag on her lap, she was the most beautiful girl I’d ever seen.
“Hello. Earth to Sutton.” Hayley leaned into my direct view of the new girl.
“What?”
“Stop staring. You’re starting to drool.”
I frowned at Hayley’s interruption. When the juniors jumped up to shout, I lost her in the crowd.
“Come on. Yell! We need to show the seniors we mean business!” Hayley jerked me to my feet and screamed at the seniors across the gym. I wanted to yell with the team and my classmates, but my heart was with the new girl who took my attention and my breath away.
Chapter Twenty-eight—Fair Catch
Present
Monica Meadows pulled me aside after the Cheetahs lost the division championship game. “Coach, what a tough loss, but an amazing journey. Do you have any regrets?”
It was hard to hear in the stadium since they were celebrating and we were trying to have a conversation through a veil of silver and blue confetti.
“Absolutely no regrets. This team surpassed the expectations I had for them. I’m so proud of everything we’ve accomplished. How many teams can say they went from ground zero to the division championship game their first year ever? It takes years for a team to gel, but somehow, we not only had a winning season but did amazingly well in post-season.” I was sad we were so close but couldn’t get there, but also happy that we made it this far.
“Congratulations on your success with the team. You brought in Grayson Moats and proved to the NFL that not only could a woman take a team this far but could motivate a once retired quarterback to return to the game. Is he really retiring?” she asked.
When she put the microphone back in my face, I stuttered. I didn’t want to say anything until it was official. Maybe in the last three minutes his agent released a statement, but I didn’t know. “I’m afraid you’re going to have to talk to him about that.”
“Great job, Coach McCoy. Good luck next season.”
“Thanks for all your work down here on the field, Monica.” She hugged me on national television, and I didn’t care. More reporters were flagging me over, but I really wanted to talk to the team. They needed me more than any network.
“Coach, come on in.” Bill waved me into the locker room.
My heart went out to the players who were crying or upset about our loss. The emotional side of football was harder to break down. As somebody who had put their heart and soul into this game, I knew it was a tough loss to swallow.
“I’m proud of each and every one of you,” Bill said. “You gave the team everything and it showed. This season was a victory in our hearts. I want you to know that what you did here was remarkable and you are all winners. Keep your heads held high.” We applauded the players, the coaches, and the trainers who were with us. We didn’t make it to the Super Bowl, but I couldn’t imagine things could be better than this. “Let’s go home.”
