Total pages in book: 184
Estimated words: 186756 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 934(@200wpm)___ 747(@250wpm)___ 623(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 186756 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 934(@200wpm)___ 747(@250wpm)___ 623(@300wpm)
But there isn’t, is there?
There’s also him.
And maybe it’s all in my head—in fact, I’m pretty sure it is—but I feel like the temperature drops in the room. The air gets colder. The air gets harsher too, blowing the curtains up in a large wave. And my skin breaks out in goose bumps.
I try to type, but my fingers keep slipping and hitting the wrong keys. But his text comes in first.
Shepard
I see you’ve figured it out.
This time I’m successful in getting my trembling fingers to cooperate and respond.
Isadora
He benched you?
Shepard
Yeah.
Isadora
Why?
Shepard
Apparently power got to his head.
Isadora
What power?
Shepard
He’s the new head coach.
At this, I drop my phone.
I do.
I have to.
Because oh my God. Oh my God, he accepted?
He finally accepted the job?
I know he wasn’t.
I’ve heard my dad talking about it. I’ve heard other people talking about it at parties. How they’ve been wanting to promote him, and he keeps turning them down. They’ve been wanting to fire their old coach—the coach before Coach Thorne came on board—and promote him to the head coach. But he always kept saying no, that he was fine where he was. In fact, one of the biggest reasons he convinced Coach Thorne to take the job in the first place was because he himself didn’t want it. For some unknown, bizarre reason. That I’ve wanted to find out.
Every time I heard people lamenting about the fact that Stellan Thorne wouldn’t take the job, I wanted to go to him. I wanted to shake him and ask him what the hell he was doing. Why the hell would he keep turning such an amazing opportunity down?
I mean, isn’t that what he’s working toward?
Becoming the head coach.
But I guess he stopped being an idiot and took the job. And I’m so happy about that, so ecstatic and thrilled and excited that I fire off a response without thinking.
Isadora
He is?!!! He took the job?!! 😱😱😱😱😱😱
Shepard
Well it was more or less thrust upon him but yeah.
Isadora
Oh my God!!!!😱😱😱😱😱😱
Shepard
You’re not kidding, are you?
What if I was?
Isadora
Shut up. No. Don’t be kidding about this.🤬🤬🤬
Shepard
Why not?
Isadora
Because this is serious, okay? This is amazing!!! 🥳
Shepard
Amazing.
Isadora
Yes! This is beyond amazing.🥳🥳🥳🥳
Shepard
You’re using that word a lot today, aren’t you?
Isadora
Shut up! Do you know how many times I’ve heard people talk about it at parties?
Shepard
How many?
Isadora
God, I don’t know, a hundred?!
A million! 😭😭😭
Shepard
It couldn’t have been that many.
Isadora
Stop.
The point is that so many people wanted this! 🎉🎊
Shepard
Sounds like you’re one of them.
Isadora
Of course I am! He’s responsible for the majority of the changes in the team.
Shepard
Ah, I forgot that you know everything about soccer now.
Isadora
Again, shut up.
And he is. Ask anyone!
Shepard
I don’t think some people would agree with that.
Isadora
Then some people need to get a clue. He was the first one who came on board when the team was almost dying. He was the one who trained so many players, helped in drafting them. He did all the initial work. He lay the groundwork for others to come in and shine. In many ways this is his team.
It is.
People always see the shining trophies and praises after the fact. And no, I’m not denying all the work that players and other coaches have put in. But he truly was the one who whipped the team into shape in the beginning. He truly was the one who came on first and changed so many things around the locker room and game strategies. He did lay the groundwork for others to build on.
But maybe it’s not so glamorous as scoring a goal or shooting a commercial. Pair that with his reluctance to go on camera or do interviews or any sort of press and the fact that he insists on staying as the assistant puts him at a disadvantage.
And despite everything, my heart squeezes for him.
For this man who loves shadows more than light.
Who wouldn’t even take credit when it’s overdue.
I wish I could…
I wish I could do something about that. I wish I could understand why.
But then again, it’s none of my business.
Shaking my thoughts away, I fire off another text.
Isadora
Besides do you remember the old coach? How obnoxious he was?! He totally gave me the creeps. I was so happy when he was let go.
Shepard
He gave you the creeps.
Isadora
Yes.
Shepard
Why?
Isadora
Because he hit on me.
Shepard
He hit on you.
Isadora
Yes!
Shepard
When?
Isadora
I don’t know, a lot of times.
Shepard
Define a lot of times.
And if your answer begins with I don’t know, it’s probably the wrong answer.
I frown down at my screen. Is it just me or does he sound bossy?
I mean, Shepard can be bossy sometimes, sure. Like when he’s talking about soccer. Or when we’re riding in his car—he loves cars; that’s his other passion besides soccer—and he’s always like, no eating in my car, and all that.
But not like this.
Never ever like this.
It reminds me of… damn it.
There’s only one person it reminds me of and I’m trying so hard not to focus on him right now.