Page 36 of Broken Desires
“Twice too many,” I reply, clapping my hands together to signal it’s time to move. “Let’s go!”
As we head into the meeting, part of my mind remains on my phone, waiting for her response, the uncertainty of her answer hanging in the balance.
As I enter the locker room, all the players are already seated, including my roommates Ethan and Cole. Cole is practically vibrating with excitement, but I know it has nothing to do with the game. He couldn’t care less about the exhibition. It’s all about Eva, who, against all odds, agreed to go to Vegas too. I can’t help but wonder what kind of convoluted plan he’s concocted for her.
“What did you want to see us about? We’ve got no games for a while,” Jameson, one of the center players and also a senior, asks with a hint of impatience.
I fix him with a cold stare, my expression the usual mask of control and austerity. “I wanted to remind you that what happens in Vegas DOESN’T stay in Vegas. Anything you pull out there will reflect on the entire team and me as your captain.”
“Oh, come on, man! It’s Vegas! Stop spoiling our fun,” Peters chimes in, siding with Jameson’s thinly-veiled mutiny.
“Have your fun,” I tell them, my tone firm, “but if any of you miss the game or play poorly because you’re hungover, you’ll be benched for the rest of the season. Am I clear?”
“So we basically need to be as boring as you are?” Jameson shoots back, his remark intended to provoke.
His attitude has been increasingly irritating, but I’ve dealt with enough people like him to know that staying cool is the best way to get under his skin. “I wouldn’t dream of asking you to meet my standards, Jameson. Just don’t embarrass me, don’t get arrested, uphold the moral code this school stands for, and make sure to pick up the game plan from the coach’s office before you leave.”
“We’re done now?” he asks, a note of defiance still in his voice.
“We are…” I reply, drawing out the moment to emphasize my point. “Everyone, grab the game plan, and don’t be late to the airport tomorrow.”
“Don’t worry, Mommy,” Cole snickers as he walks past me, earning my sharpest glare.
Despite the back-and-forth, I make a mental note to keep an eye on them in Vegas. Ensuring the team stays out of trouble is just another part of being captain, even if it means playing the bad guy now and then.
I stay behind in the locker room, enjoying the quiet after the storm of the team meeting. Despite the frustrations, there’s a part of me that knows I’ll miss these moments. Pulling out my phone, I can’t help the smile that comes with seeing a text from Nessa.
Nessa: Would have loved to slum with you in 1st but Cole’s pushy and we need to be Eva’s shields. So Economy it is.
“Fuck you, Cole,” I grumble under my breath, pocketing the phone again.
Looking up, I notice Coach standing near the equipment room, half shrouded in darkness.
“You know, Coach, anyone else might find it creepy, you lurking in the shadows like that,” I comment, trying to lighten the mood.
He laughs heartily as he steps closer. “Was just checking what we need for next season, now that the dean’s upped our budget. Didn’t want to interrupt your little pep talk.”
“Oh, I’m sure you were on the edge of your seat,” I reply, the sarcasm heavy in my voice.
“You’re a born leader, Ashford,” he says, taking a serious tone.
I chuckle, though the compliment sits oddly with me. “So I’ve been told,” I admit, then add, “You should consider Hawthorne for captain next year.”
Coach looks thoughtful for a moment. “Is that right?”
I nod firmly. “Cole’s too unpredictable to lead. He’s loyal, and he’ll always have Ethan’s back, but—” I pause, noticing Coach’s smile. “Why are you smiling?”
“Because Ethan Hawthorne was my pick from the start. Just wanted to see if you’d come to that conclusion on your own.”
Raising an eyebrow, I can’t hide my surprise. “Testing me till the end, huh? You should know by now I don’t shy away from tough choices.”
It’s true. I’ve faced difficult decisions all my life, and there’s no doubt I’ll continue to do so. It’s part of who I am, both on and off the field.
“You know they’re going to have a blast in Vegas, right?” Coach says somewhat jokingly.
I let out a snort. “Yeah, I had to lay down the law, though. They think I’m just old, boring Liam, but I’ve been around. I know what’s up.” Honestly, if it weren’t for the promises I made to get here, if I didn’t have to live up to such high standards, I might have been right there with them.
But I’m walking a different kind of tightrope with Nessa, and it’s thrilling in its own way, even if a part of me keeps whispering that I need to come clean with her. She’s caught up in something that can’t go anywhere. Not because I don’t want it to, but because it just can’t.