The Player | SPORTS ROMANCE | 18+

Chapter 15

TITUS REYES

Practice had been especially tough today. Mostly because two of the boys, both centres, got into a scruff and one of them needed to be checked out by the school nurse who had been working late. Thankfully, it was only a sprained wrist but that meant he would need to stay off the pitch for a while.

With our first game quickly approaching in two weeks, we needed everyone's head in the game, and every member of the team to step forward with their best foot.

And that included me.

To do just that, I had taken to jogging every evening before dinner, and today was no exception.

I needed to stay focused on the game. I needed to stay focus on the upcoming match – the first game of the year for these boys, and some great practice before the season started. For that, I needed to focus on them and only them but unfortunately, Coach didn't seem to get the message.

My pre-dinner jog came to a pause when my phone vibrated for the call with what felt like the millionth time today. Realistically, it was only the fifth, but that was still a considerably high number of calls to receive from an individual person on one day.

Coach Dobson flashed across the screen.

Coach had been hounding me continuously this past week, driving me crazy. Luckily for him, I had a lot of time on my hands to do some serious thinking, and I had finally come to a decision.

With a groan, I was obliged to accept the call since I had been dodging him all week.

"Hey, Coach."

"Don't hey me, you fucker. Why have you been avoiding my calls?" Coach grumbled, quick to call me out on my bullshit.

"I've just been a little busy lately, Coach. That's all." I lied, but I knew he wasn't going to fall for it. Nonetheless, it was a valiant attempt.

"Too busy to read over your contract?"

"Yes, unfortunately."

"We both know that's bullshit." Coach scoffed, evidently displeased. "Tell me what's holding you back, Reyes. I won't be able to help if you don't tell me the truth. Is it the money?"

"It's not the money." I sighed.

"Then what's stopping you from coming back to us? The season starts in a little over a month, and I was hoping you'd join the others for a weeks of practice at least."

"I know, Coach. I'm sorry." I apologised with a sigh.

"Don't apologise to me unless you've got something to be sorry for. Do you have anything to be sorry for, Reyes? Anything you need to tell me?"

"Doctor Caldwin has given me the all-clear. I'm in great physical shape with emphasis on my arm not being as resilient as it was before, but I haven't had any trouble with it so far. I've got a lot of free time on my hands, so I've been training a lot. Both on my own and with the local high school football team that I've been coaching these past couple weeks."

Couch made a surprised sound. "You're coaching now?"

"Yes, sir."

"Does that mean you're not coming back to New York, Reyes? Aren't you coming back to the Eagles?"

"You don't have anything to worry about, Coach." I promised with a chuckle. "This is only a temporary gig. I made that clear from the beginning. I haven't even signed a contract with them. They know that once we get closer to the season, I'll have to leave to re-join you guys."

A loud sigh of relief sounded from the other end. "Boy, am I glad to hear that! You were really starting to worry me there, Reyes."

"Sorry, Coach." I hesitated, unsure of how truthful I could be right now, but I eventually caved. I owed Coach this much after everything he'd done for me. "I may be fully healed, but my mental headspace has taken a hit after the accident. That's why I've been hesitating to sign the contract, but I promise I'll have it to you by the time you wake up in the morning."