Never Say Never (Haven Harbor #3)

Chapter 19

NINETEEN

NOT JUST A BOOTY CALL

T ucker

I’ve never been so keyed-up in my life.

The next few weeks were a blur for me— a whirlwind of early morning drills, watching tape in the afternoons, and gruelling practises that nearly broke my players. When they weren’t running sprints or special teams drills, they were going through position drills, all of that then followed by nights in the gym. We have been preparing mentally and physically for the massive challenge that is coming our way tomorrow night. The Division 2 national championship. It isn’t enough to practise hard on the field. My players then had to spend hours upon hours in a darkened room stretching their minds to the absolute limit watching tape. But it hasn’t been just a few weeks of hard work, it has taken a year’s worth of blood, sweat and tears to get us to tomorrow’s game and I refuse to let us back off now. The level of competition and intensity I have demanded from the team this week puts everything these guys have ever done to this point to shame. The only way to achieve success is to outwork and out-prepare the competition, and that’s exactly what we’ve been doing. It’s been all-consuming, which has left me little time for Daisy.

Any chance I’ve had, I’ve sent her a text—usually something I know will push her buttons. I’ve always loved getting a rise out of her, and I know exactly how to do it. I picture her reading them, a cute blush creeping up her cheeks.

But with the game coming up, the text exchanges have been few and far between and it hasn’t been nearly enough.

I’ve craved her.

It’s been impossible not to think about Daisy, wishing my cock was buried inside her velvety softness. Finally, last night, I couldn’t take it anymore. I snuck into her apartment and into her bed, careful not to wake Briar. I worshipped every inch of her body for hours under her sheets, and after I came, I got dressed and left, sticking to our rules like the chickenshit I am. Every cell in my being wanted to curl into her, my front to her back, and fall asleep with her in my arms—a fact that scares the living hell out of me. But I left, full of regret, because walking out her door after fucking her felt all wrong.

Daisy is not just a booty call. She deserves so much more than that.

I pour myself a cup of coffee then sit on the small couch in my office, flicking on game tape. My phone buzzes as soon as it starts to play. I smile when I see Daisy’s name on my screen.

Daisy: You ready for the game tomorrow night, coach?

Me: Never been more.

Daisy: Of course you are. You were born ready.

Me: Are you going to celebrate with me after we win?

Daisy: I like your confidence. What did you have in mind?

Me: You, ass up on my bed while I fuck you from behind.

Daisy: That can probably be arranged.

My cock hardens behind the zipper of my pants.

Daisy: I hate to ruin a good time, but you’re going for dinner after the game, right?

I sigh, flopping back into the couch. Bringing up my dad is the ultimate boner killer. My parents have always liked throwing parties—any excuse to get dressed up and talk about themselves with their friends. My mom decided that the last Outlaws football game of the season is the perfect excuse, and while I doubt my dad gives a shit about the game, he agreed to the party. They’ve booked the back half of Catch 21, Reed Point’s swankiest restaurant, after tomorrow night’s game. I told them I would go, but my plan is to eat and run.

Me: I am, but only if you’re coming with me.

Daisy: I’ll be there. You know I always have your back.

Me: I know, and I appreciate it.

Daisy: Good luck, coach. Go get ‘em.

Me: Night, rebel.

I toss my phone to the side and return to watching tapes, trying hard to shake off the distraction of the many filthy ways I plan on celebrating after the game with Daisy.

I woke up this morning with a pit in my stomach the size of a golf ball. It was 6 a.m. when I finally jumped out of bed after tossing and turning all night. I went for a run then hit the weight room at the university. After a quick shower, I went to class and it was clear that the students were as checked out as I was, already buzzing with anticipation for the Division 2 national championship tonight. I couldn’t blame them. The Outlaws are the hometown team, and this is the biggest event of the year. By the time classes were over, students were running out the door to get ready to watch the boys take home the title.

If it’s up to me, that’s exactly what we’re going to do.

“You look like you could use a stiff drink with that sandwich,” Jesse says as he lowers himself into the chair across from my desk, nodding to the turkey clubhouse in my hands.

“I probably could. Slept like shit. I guess you know what that’s all about.”

He nods as if to prove my point. “I love Noah more than anything on this planet, but the kid hates to sleep.”

“You only have another 20 years until you get a good night’s rest,” I say, grinning at him. “And don’t they say those years fly by or some shit like that?”

Jesse chuckles, sipping from a coffee mug that reads, This is what an awesome dad looks like with an arrow pointing up.

“Are you done making fun of me?” he asks with a bored stare.

“For now.”

“You laugh now, but one day it’s going to be you.”

“I doubt that very much.”

A strange feeling sparks to life behind my ribcage. Not long ago, I could have said that without a second thought. Now, though, I can imagine a life like the one Jesse has. With Daisy. Married, a house, a dog, a baby. All of it.

Have I lost it? Every day that passes has me questioning my sanity. It wasn’t that long ago that I looked at a woman and saw nothing but a hook-up, a good time. And now? The only thing I want to do when I’m not coaching football is hang with Daisy. Now that I have her back in my life, I’m scared to let her go.

Jesse rolls his eyes, then raps his knuckles on my desk before pushing to stand. “If you need me, I’m going to run down and check in on Austin. He’s having his shoulder taped. Otherwise, I’ll see you at warmup.”

“I’ll head down once I’m finished here.”

Austin Davies is our QB1. He tore his rotator cuff last season and now, one year later, he’s back on the field. He sat on the sidelines for the first half of the year before being given the okay to get back into the game just as we were entering the mid-way point of the season. We beat SFU that night thanks mostly to Austin, and we’ve been looking strong as a team ever since.

When I reach the locker room, it’s alive with a buzz that is invigorating, the guys chanting in a circle, the volume of their voices growing louder. My eyes rest on Austin, who is leading the hype-up in the middle of the room with players clapping shoulders and bouncing up and down all around him. I nod and listen from where I’m standing along the outside of the room with Jesse next to me, but as much as I try to feel it too, inside it feels like I’m drowning in a pool of anxious thoughts. Nerves or not, when it’s time to hit the field for warmup, I will swallow down the fear, becoming the calm and pragmatic coach my players need me to be.

That is my job. It’s what I get paid to do. More than that, being on the field in front of stands full of Outlaw fans lights a fire in me.

It’s cold but sunny when our warmup gets underway. I’d woken up to frost on my truck this morning, which is normal for the middle of January, but you would think it was the beginning of spring with the way the sun is shining over Reed Point as I jog onto the field.

I look up into the stands and see hundreds of RPU Outlaws fans holding handmade signs and cheering for our boys in green and gold. I allow myself a moment to take it in. We are one win away, and we’ve worked too hard to let anyone take it away from us now.

Thirty minutes later, the place is going wild as the game is set to start. I am as focused as I’ve ever been when I huddle our players around me for a brief meeting, yelling to be heard above the deafening roar of the crowd. I meet the eyes of every single player and see the confidence and determination in them. They hit the field vibrating with a raw, nervous energy.

“Hut!”

My eyes are on Austin as the game ball finds his hands for the first time. He’s moved back into the pocket looking for a receiver and when he finds one, I watch his arm snap the ball high through the air. I’ve seen him throw the ball more times than I can count this season, but I still worry about his arm every time. He rubs his shoulder after the play, but I know with just one glance that his rotator cuff is stable. You would never know he’s rehabbing an injury. I need it to stay that way for the next four quarters.

The first two quarters pass in the blink of an eye and then the team is back in the dressing room, huddled around Austin and me. We’re down 14 points thanks to a 47-yard touchdown by the Vikings’ leading receiver early in the second quarter and a fumble on our end that they were able to capitalize on. We’ve had to come back from worse deficits, but we have a long road ahead if we’re going to win this.

We are a few minutes away from starting the second half, so I whistle to get everyone’s attention and then let Austin take it from there. Most of the guys take a knee, quieting down as they listen to their QB.

“This is it,” Austin’s voice echoes off the walls, and I feel the weight of his words in my chest. Every player in the room feels it too. “We have two quarters to get this done. The Vikings are good. They’re tough and they’ve shown us that they want this W just as much as we do.” He looks around the room, making sure everyone is listening. “But we’re the better team and we’re going to prove that tonight, boys! I want to see your blood, sweat and tears out on that field! Let’s fucking go!” A roar rips through the team in response.

“Outlaws in three!”

In one booming voice, the players count to three, then yell “Outlaws!” The guys bounce up to their feet, clapping each other’s backs, the energy in the room turning explosive. We spill into the tunnel and out onto the field like a pack of hungry lions stalking our prey.

I slow my pace as I approach the sidelines, stopping just a few feet from where I know Daisy is sitting in the stands. My heart rate kicks up when I spot her looking more beautiful than I’ve ever seen her. She’s wearing the Outlaw jersey I gave her under a jacket that she’s left open, a green and gold ribbon in her hair. The setting sun casts a golden hour glow over her, her chestnut brown hair shimmering in the fading light.

Her eyes meet mine and I stand rooted in place for a beat, game playbook in hand. For a split second, it’s just me and her in the stadium while everything else fades away. She nods at me, and I pinch the brim of my ball cap and then turn and jog over to where Jesse stands, putting on my game face.

I have a game to win. Let’s fucking go, Outlaws.