Total pages in book: 127
Estimated words: 122219 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 611(@200wpm)___ 489(@250wpm)___ 407(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 122219 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 611(@200wpm)___ 489(@250wpm)___ 407(@300wpm)
“You’re bringing on another coach?” I asked, stunned. “Without giving me a chance to vet them?”
Ray combed his hand through his thinning blond hair. “I really hope you understand, Avery. We truly believe in your coaching abilities and your team’s talent.”
“So why the heck would you bring in another coach without asking my thoughts? Frankly, I don’t know if I need another coach. I have the team under control. The season is just beginning. We’re just getting our sea legs back on the field.”
“Yes, I understand that. But, well, you haven’t won a game in three years, Avery.”
Had it really been three years since we’d won a game? No way.
There was that one time back in—oh crap.
We hadn’t won a game in over three years. That wasn’t the best look.
“That was because of Coach Erikson. I’m not him.”
“Still…three years.”
“But another coach?” I grumbled. “Why don’t you just cancel the program?” I sarcastically said.
“Because it’s a great program and a good way for the students to build up their skills. Yet we think having another coach could benefit us in ways we couldn’t even imagine. I know you wouldn’t want to lose the program, either. You’ve invested a lot in this. This is a good thing, Avery. This is a great thing.”
He was right. I’d hate to lose the program. A lot of the kids relied on baseball to keep their heads above water with whatever home issues they were dealing with. It was their outlet, their haven, and I didn’t want to remove that for them. As a teacher and coach, I always swore to put the students’ needs before mine. The only problem was that I was a lone wolf. I didn’t work well with others. I spent the past five years fighting Coach Erikson tooth and nail on every topic. The idea of another coach coming in was enough to make my skin crawl.
“Do I get to be involved in the hiring process?” I asked, almost knowing the answer already by how Ray was acting.
“We went ahead and handled that for you. They should be here any second now,” Ray said as he glanced at his watch.
I arched an eyebrow. “You already hired someone?”
Before he could respond, a person came darting into the office in a flurry.
“Sorry I’m late. Got held up a little bit at my brother’s shop.”
I turned around to meet Nathan’s eyes.
Nathan. F**king. Pierce.
No way.
My jaw all but dropped to the floor as a wave of disgust landed in the pit of my stomach. No way did Ray hire Nathan Pierce to be my assistant coach. No freaking way!
“Cancel the program,” I blurted out as I turned back to face Ray. “Cancel the whole thing,” I hissed with unyielding resentment. I was now adding Ray to my list of men who pissed me off. His name was right under the jerk who cut me off in line at the coffee shop this morning.
“Now, Avery,” Ray started, but I was already pushing myself up from my desk chair to shoot out of that office space. No way was I going to stay in that room and breathe the same air as that…that…man.
I hurried past Nathan and headed straight for the hallway. Seconds later, I heard him calling my name. He was chasing me, but I wasn’t going to turn around.
“Avery! Wait up!” he called as I darted between students.
“Oh my gosh! Dude! You’re Nathan Pierce!” a few students remarked as they noticed him. I glanced over my shoulder and rolled my eyes as I saw Nathan push out one of his all-star smiles toward the easily impressed students.
Give me a break.
He wasn’t that amazing.
You won one or two World Series, and people acted like your poop didn’t stink. News flash: celebrities went number two in toilets just like us regular folks. They probably just used overpriced, oil-infused tissue to wipe their bums.
I kept on my way to my office in the gym. Once I reached it, I slammed the door and took a breath. Seconds later, my door opened, and lo and behold, it was Nathan.
Lovely.
Freaking stalker.
It was no secret that Nathan was back in our little town of Honey Creek, Illinois, after his career took a nosedive. He’d been around for the past year or so, and I prided myself on being able to avoid crossing paths with him for a long time. I hated that he broke that record on Super Bowl Sunday, but I was quick to start it up again. I was a month strong before this awful encounter took place.
Something about crossing paths with one’s ex-boyfriend was so uncomfortable. And crossing paths with your famous ex-boyfriend was extra uncomfortable. Especially when no one else but your two sisters knew you had a relationship with said man.
We dated the summer after our senior year. Three months. I knew it seemed ridiculous to feel so deeply about someone who I’d only dated for three short months, but that was the thing about love—it didn’t follow timelines. It showed up when people least expected it. When I fell for Nathan, I fell hard. I was more certain than ever that I was his, he was mine, and we’d be us forever.