Page 46 of Going for Two

The airport the team plane took off from was a few miles away and we would be expected there within the next hour. Nolan walked with me to the training room door and held it open for me to walk through first without saying another word.

Now I just needed to figure out how to avoid eye contact with Derek for the rest of the weekend.

Chapter 21

Nolan

“Don’t reveal your cards to the defense,” I told Caleb during the fourth quarter. He’d managed to keep the Bobcats one score ahead of the Wisconsin Holsteins. He’d thrown a few interceptions within the last fifteen minutes though, as the defense began to realize the crutch that Derek had become for Caleb. His tells had become too obvious. “Have faith in your other receivers. Trust that everyone will do their job and be where you need them to be on their routes. If you continue to rely on Derek, the defense will take that option away from you and leave you scrambling.”

Caleb nodded his head as he took a sip of water as we waited for the offense’s turn to go back on the field.

“How much quicker do you think I need to be from snap of the ball to release of my throw?” Caleb asked me.

I registered the respect in Caleb’s eyes as he waited for my response. The two of us had worked like a seamless team the entire game. I would give Caleb advice and he’d either take it or push back with a different perspective that he’d seen out on the field that I hadn’t been able to consider. It was a completely different experience than anything else I’d ever had with football, and it wasexhilarating. I understood now what Lottie was trying to teach me earlier in the season. Watching Caleb throw touchdowns gave me nearly the same feeling that throwing one of my own did.

“If you trust your receivers, I think that will make up for the extra time you’re spending. You’re waiting for the play to develop so you can feel it rather than trusting that your guys will do their jobs so you can do yours.” I grabbed the tablet that the team used to review film of the game on the sidelines so I could show Caleb what I was seeing him do. By the time our defense managed to shut down Wisconsin’s offense again, Caleb looked surer of himself—boosted by the confidence of my belief in him.

The offense pulled their helmets back on and ran out on the field. I had almost forgotten the disappointment I’d felt from not being able to play in tonight’s game. But there were more important things than solely worrying about my own wants and desires.

“You really seem to understand that kid.” I glanced over my shoulder to see my head coach now standing next to me. His eyes were on the play card in his hands as he read the next playoff for Caleb to call.

“I relate a lot to him,” I told him as we watched Caleb execute the play.

“You have a natural talent for coaching,” Coach Randolph noted.

“You really think so?” I asked. If the man who saw enough potential in me to draft a scrawny kid in the first round of the NFL draft saw enough potential in me for coaching, maybe it was time I started taking it seriously.

“I do.” The older man gave me one of his rare smiles before returning his attention back to the rookie quarterback and his offense.

“I know that Coach Elliott is retiring at the end of the season.” I chose my words carefully. “I wasn’t sure if you had anyone in mind to replace him, but I’ve been thinking about expressing my interest for the job.”

Coach Randolph’s eyebrows shot up in surprise. I was sure he thought, just like everybody else, that I’d take all the money that I’d made in the league and live a life of luxury doing absolutely nothing. If I was being honest with myself, up until a few months ago I would have thought the same. But after the encouragement from Lottie, who seemed to see the potential I had—just like Coach Randolph had all those years ago—I’d finally begun to feel like I would have a sense of purpose once this crazy ride was all said and done.

“Let’s talk on the plane on the way home.” Coach Randolph slapped me on the back before he wandered down the sideline, closer to the end zone that Caleb was gearing up to help the team score in.

I felt an immense amount of pride for having the courage to do something for myself that was far out of my comfort zone. I searched the faces of all the Bobcats staff standing along the sideline, looking for one person I wanted to share this moment with.

Lottie stood back near the entrance to the locker room where she normally posted up during the game. She was bundled up in a thick coat, stocking cap, and scarf. The rosiness in her cheeks from the bite of the wind made her look young and full of life. The moment I turned to walk toward her, I saw all my teammates throw their hands in the air around me as they cheered for what I assumed was another touchdown from Caleb.

With each step I took closer to Lottie, I realized that the Nolan Hill that started this season would have been angry and jealous of my teammate for having so much success. Without Lottie, I would have missed out on the unexpected happiness I was experiencing.

“Hi,” I greeted once I was close enough. Those beautiful blue eyes crinkled with the smile that broke out on her face.

“Hi!”

I was quickly becoming a shameless man who would do anything to hear the excitement in her voice.

“This has been an awesome game for Caleb.”

“It has,” I agreed. “I talked with my coach about coaching next season.”

I heard her intake of breath and hated that she was surprised that I had followed through on her idea. I wanted her to know that I didn’t want to be someone who wallowed in their misery when they realized their life was changing and there was nothing they could do to stop it. I wanted to be a man of action. Someone she could be proud of.

“Can I cook you dinner tomorrow night to thank you for the idea?” I kept my voice low as some of the athletic training staff wandered around us, refilling water bottles for the team.

I knew that Lottie had set her boundaries for what would happen between us while I was still playing, but I had also made it clear that I wasn’t going to stop showing her how I felt about her. It also hadn’t gone overlooked that staying with the Bobcats would keep me in Lottie’s orbit. If I decided to coach, I was doing that for myself. But I also didn’t want to know a future that didn’t include Charlotte Thompson. Because a future without her would never be complete.

Lottie nodded after a minute at my request for dinner. “I’ll come over to your place tomorrow,” I told her.