Page 44 of Catch
“I’d be more than happy to help make posters. We had so much fun making them for the football games. When’s the first meeting?”
“It’ll be every other Tuesday in the choir room at lunch. We haven’t been approved as a club yet, but when we are I’ll be sure to let you know. Does Sutton have your phone number?” Hayley asked.
I couldn’t tell whose face was more angelic: Parker, because she was perfect, or Hayley who knew exactly what she was doing and was playing innocent. I leaned up against the locker for support when Parker looked at me with her piercing blue eyes.
“No, but I can give it to her.” We watched as Parker tore off a corner of a history study guide and wrote down her number. She handed it to me and I held it as though it was the most precious thing I’d ever held.
“Thank you,” I said.
“We’ll let you know final details.” Hayley shoved me away. “Could you please embarrass yourself more?” she hissed when we were out of earshot.
I shoved the number in my jeans pocket and couldn’t stop grinning. “Thanks for doing that.”
Hayley shrugged like it wasn’t a big deal. “Now you have her number, and you can text her. Maybe strike up a conversation.”
I threw my arm over her shoulders. “Come over tonight and we’ll design a flyer that we can pass out and hang around school.”
She stopped and spun me around to face her. “Just be prepared for some people to be dicks about this. Not everybody is supportive. I know most of the school knows about you, but some people won’t support us. They’ll tear up the flyers or throw them in the trash.”
“I’m sure it’ll suck, but think about the kids who don’t have the football team to back them. I think it’s worth it.”
She leaned her head on my shoulder as I walked her to class. “I love your attitude. It’s going to get you far. Just not in high school.” She veered off to the left for chem lab and I continued on to Pre-Calc.
Chapter Eighteen—First Kiss
Present
“Grayson’s on fire today.” Bill pumped his fist and celebrated the fourth touchdown pass of the game.
The Bears were trailing by twenty-one points and no way would they catch us. Most of their players were moping on the other side of the field. Some had thrown their helmets under the benches in anger.
I sympathized with them. That was how I felt during the Bills game, but I could only stand on the sidelines and watch. I refused to show any emotion. If the cameras caught me having a temper tantrum, people would say “this is why women shouldn’t coach” or “women are just too emotional for this game.”
I high-fived Bill and the offense as they ran back to the bench. “He’s doing amazing stuff out there, that’s for sure,” I said.
Grayson seemed more confident and focused. He played to the crowd, and the more they cheered, the better he played. This was not the same guy who wept in front of me and almost lost his job because he showed up to work drunk.
We pocketed another win, bringing our season to 6-2. We were tied for first place in our division and the press was anxious to chat. Grayson was charming as ever with them and Bill answered questions about the season.
I stuck around because the team was having trick-or-treat at the stadium for the team’s families and I was passing out candy.The Cheetahs went all out. The admin staff decorated the cafeteria so it looked scary, but not too much because most of the kids were young. I wanted to wear my Cheetahs sweater and khaki pants, but Hayley said I had to participate. She altered a dog costume to make it look like Crowbar, and we had a Cheetahs dog jersey made with my last name for Crowbar to wear. Totally over the top, but I knew the kids would love it. I checked my watch. The festivities would begin at six. I had time to eat my salad, watch part of the game, and get ready for the party.
“Great game, Coach,” Marcus said.
“You all held them to only seven points. Great game, Coach,” I echoed Marcus’s congratulations. I liked Marcus because he was dedicated and wanted this team to succeed as much as I did. He was considered washed up by many analysts, so he wanted to prove everyone wrong. He was doing a hell of a job. “We’ll talk about it tomorrow. Are you sticking around for the party?” I thought he had little kids, but maybe those were his grandkids. I told myself to pay closer attention to the personal lives of the people I worked with.
He rolled his eyes and pointed down at his frame. He played defensive tackle twenty years ago but slipped out of shape as the years rolled on. “I’m sticking around but I’m not putting on a costume so I’ll be there as an NFL coach.”
I put my hands on my hips and shook my head at him. “I’m disappointed.”
“You sound like my wife,” he said.
“I might be the only coach dressed up. You’re all going to feel so left out.” I was saying it to pump myself up the more I realized how few coaches were participating.
“I’m sure you’re going to look great. I’ll see you up there.” He pointed up at the second floor with his clipboard.
“See you later,” I said.
Crowbar and I grabbed dinner, then celebrated the win with a quick game of fetch. Crowbar loved children. Truthfully, I was doing this for him. He pranced around when I slipped on the Cheetahs jersey Hayley’s mom made for him. His was easy. I was going to need help getting into my costume. I put on spandex shorts and aT-shirt and looked at the furry full bodysuit I was going to have to wear for the next two hours.
