I knew I had to speak to her after practice. It was rare that I came across anyone with such natural talent for the sport. I sent the team to hit the showers, but as they were leaving, I hurried over to Eryn as she was picking up her gym bag.
“Hold on there, Miss Barnett,” I said, hoping that she wouldn't notice the raw attraction gleaming in my eyes. “Can I have a quick word with you…in private?”
Chapter Three
Eryn
I couldn't help the sudden rush of nervousness that invaded when Coach Vinson asked me to stay behind after practice. We’d had one practice. What did he need to talk to me about? And why me, but no other players on the team? To be perfectly honest, it made me a little nervous – for more reasons than one.
Even though I’d played it down with Leena, seeing him in person, I couldn't deny that the man was absolutely gorgeous. He was hands-down one of the best looking men I'd ever laid eyes on.
But then again, so was my ex. Tim was a model, and so I knew exactly how these male model types worked. Tim lied brilliantly and had me fooled for so long before I finally caught him in the act of one of his multiple affairs. Even then, he'd manipulated me so well that, for a while, I had doubted whether it had even happened, even though I'd seen it with my own eyes.
And this guy, the infamous Wade Vinson, well… I'd heard all the stories about him. Thanks to the tabloids, everyone knew all about the sordid details of his relationship with Georgia Jackson. If you asked me, he was a guy exactly like Tim: arrogant, self-centered, and manipulative. A guy who’d been born with a silver spoon in his mouth, and who always got whatever he wanted due to his good looks.
Well, I'd been played once by a guy exactly like that. I had no use for another one in my life. Even if he was just my coach. And because he was my coach, there wasn’t a chance in hell anything was going to happen. Even if the man hadn’t been 11 years older, I wouldn't allow it.
I walked up to him as the other girls left the court. When he beamed a crooked smile at me, I could swear I saw the glint of something flirty in his eyes, but I kept my own expression cool and polite.
“What did you want to talk about, Coach Vinson?” I asked.
“Call me Wade, please,” he replied in a sweet tone.
“I'd prefer to call you 'Coach Vinson,'. Coach Vinson,” I replied somewhat coldly. I was not going to give him any room to try any games with me.
He nodded. “Fair enough. Well, Eryn, I just wanted to say that you really impressed me out there on the court. Your positioning, anticipation of opponents' moves, and your own athleticism and skill at handling the ball are all seriously impressive.”
I couldn't help looking down and blushing. I wasn't used to receiving such sincere and heartfelt compliments.
“Thanks, Coach,” I mumbled in reply, caught off guard.
“There's more, though. I had a long and detailed conversation with Coach Hatting about the team earlier today. He explained everything about, umm, how can I put it…the…irregularities involved with the former coach of this team. Anyway, since the issue hasn't been legally resolved in full, I'm not allowed to go into too much detail about it with you girls yet, but let's just say there was some serious injustice going on regarding selection for the starting lineup.
“I'm aware that, despite you being one of the best players on the team and the fact that you're here on a volleyball scholarship, you haven't been part of the starting lineup. I feel you should know there’s a good chance that's going to change. I judge people on hard work and talent alone. Keep working hard, and I can definitely see you being a starter this season.
“We've got some big games coming up at the start of the season, and because of the…irregularities, we're starting out low on the ladder. We're going to have to work hard to get back to a top spot in the rankings, but I think we can do it.”
I stood in stunned silence for a moment, not sure how to respond. I looked into his eyes and caught myself getting lost in them for a second. Damn, the man was beautiful. I snapped out of it, reminding myself that, despite his pretensions to the contrary, I knew what kind of person he really was: a player, just like my ex. Still, player or not, he had just told me that I was likely to make the starting lineup, and that was the best news I'd had in a long time.
“I… I don't know what to say, Coach Vinson. Thank you. You can bet I'll be working my butt off to get into that starting lineup.”
“You do that. You've got real talent, Eryn, and that could take you far. I mean that.”
“Thank you.”
“That's all; go on and hit the showers. I'll see you tomorrow at practice.”
“See you then, Wa-, um, Coach Vinson.”
I cursed myself for that little slip of my tongue as I hurried toward the locker room. As I did, I’d have sworn I could feel his eyes piercing into me while I walked away.
*****
I was leaving the computer lab when my professor, Dr. Adams, stopped me.
“Eryn, the secretary at the student finance office asked if I could pass on a message to you.”
“And what might that be, Dr. Adams?”