Chasing Football Dreams (Diner Girl #2)

Chapter Five

“I sn’t it a bit weird to know that he could be your dad?” Wesley asked softly.

“Very,"

I didn’t know what to make of all of this. I think I am still in a state of shock having to process the possibility that all this time, I was not an orphan. I could be a kidnapping victim. And the thought of the orphanage being part of this insane plan made me feel sick. I trusted those people. I lived there, I grew up there.

On cue, Coach Shane blew his whistle and called everyone to the field.

“Friday is an important game. You are meeting your rivals from last year on the field. And far more importantly, this is the game that is going to either take you through to the quarter-finals or take away your victory,”

The team didn’t seem too overwhelmed with the knowledge of last year's defeat.

“We have a secret weapon this year,” Terence announced.

The team agreed with him and a few patted my shoulders.

“And they are aware of that,” Coach Shane shared his concern. “They are going to have their left tackle trained on distracting Zoey from getting her passes out,”

I stepped forward. “What are you suggesting?”

“We need to up your game. And make sure you don’t blow out that arm of yours,” He explained. “We are also going to need at least a few of those long-distance passes of yours during the game,”

The team shared their agreement with nods and hoorahs.

“Friday’s game is the reason why I am here. There will be scouts at this game, forward. The majority of this team caught their attention years ago and they will be looking forward to these few games,”

Coach Shane’s eyes shifted to me. “But all eyes will be on you,”

Everyone turned their attention to me. “You have made headlines with all of your achievements,”

Andrew rested his hands on my shoulders and gave them a slight shake “I think you mean kicking arse!”

“Do you really think they will consider a girl quarterback for the NFL?" I don’t believe that their minds have been changed about how fragile we look to them.

“I do,” Coach Shane guaranteed.

I blinked in surprise.

“I don’t care that you are a girl. You bring talent that many thought was extinguished years ago,”

If only he knew that he was the reason behind my inspiration and that I always had this nagging sense that I was made to play this part. I would sound insane if I had to say it was under his guidance because of the voice inside my head.

“Thanks, Coach,”

“Now, let’s get to it men,” He blew his whistle. “And lady,”

He sent us off to practice and as he promised, he showed me a few new moves to divert the attention of the offense team’s left tackle. I had to stay sharp and be fast. Had to trust my team and follow my gut but most of all, followed the plan of action and made sure my team knew what the plan was.

Nightfall was rolling in when Coach Shane called it a day.

I was exhausted by the time I removed my helmet, and I still had to remove my gear.

“Man, I could have a burger or two!” Freddie exclaimed.

“You eat too much,” Terence remarked.

Andrew shook Freddie’s shoulders playfully. “No, it’s that waitress girl he met at the diner,”

There was a real smile on Freddie’s face. “Her name is Jade and she agreed to go out on a date with me,”

There was applause and hoots. All of us were happy to see Freddie moving on.

We continued to make our way off the field when the cheerleaders, also decided to call it a day. We crossed paths with them and I expected a flirty smile from Monique but she avoided Duncan like the plague.

We all looked at Freddie when Denise broke away from her team to pull him aside.

“That’s not going to end well,” Xander muttered.

“Do you think he is going to need backup?” Wesley asked.

“Would you leave the guy alone?” He got this,” Andrew assured.

I tried to laugh but my eyes landed on a man exiting a black SUV. He pushed his sunglasses back and I felt a flashback creeping closer. There was something about him that I couldn’t place my finger on.

He smiled when he saw Coach Shane and walked up to him to shake hands. Benjamin Foster. Shane Martin’s best friend. Second-string quarterback before becoming the full-back because Shane took his spot.

Duncan rested his hand on my shoulder. “Zoey,”

I blinked and looked at Duncan. “I feel like I know him—like personally know him,”

Duncan followed my stare and nodded. “Do you maybe know how?”

I shook my head. “It’s an insane feeling,”

“Do you want to get closer and maybe see what this feeling is?” Duncan asked and I saw that the team standing around us.

“Hey, what did I miss?” Freddie asked, coming closer.

We looked at him. “How did it go with Denise?” Andrew queried.

“I told her that I am not second best,”

“So, you finally blew her off?” Xander asked.

He nodded. “Yeah, so what’s up with you guys?” Before we could answer, we heard Coach Shane calling the team.

We all turned in unison and I acted calm when Benjamin and Coach Shane came over. “Is that Benjamin Foster?”

“So, this is the team you decided to coach,” Benjamin noted.

Coach Shane nodded and introduced the team. “This is Zoey, their quarterback,”

I found Benjamin’s gaze focusing on me. “Zoey, as in your girl, Zoey?”

Coach Shane smiled but it didn’t reach his ears. “She does remind me a lot of my girl,”

Benjamin came forward to shake my hand. “Nice to meet you. I saw the article about you in the Sports Illustrator,”

I nodded and tried not to be stiff when I shook his head.

“Came to me as a surprise as well,” I would lie if I didn’t think it was quite an impressive picture, they took of me. Their plan wasn’t to exploit my femineity but capture my talent—the drive of my arm and the width of my stance before I rocket the football across the field. I wanted to go back in time and tell that little girl who didn’t believe in herself that things happen to those who don’t give up.

“I was astounded when I learned of a girl quarterback,” He looked at Coach Shane, covering up an undeciphered look in his eyes.

When he looked back at me, I felt a spine quivering feeling shooting up my back causing the hairs on the back of my neck to rise.

“So, how come you want to play football?” He asked.

I didn’t know if his question was an insult or if he was honestly curious but my team showed their discomfort with the pointless question. “Are you asking because I am a girl?”

His face flushed. “I am just not used to girls picking to play a guy sport, you know,”

I don’t know why people see football as a men’s sport and that girls are not allowed to haul a ball across the field or even play any other position on the team. I believe that if you put a girls’ team up against each other, they will be more aggressive. We don’t fear pain. We are driven to beat anybody’s ass.

I didn’t have an answer to his question without insulting his way of thinking. “Maybe people should stop living in the past and see us girls as fragile little things,”