Possessive Coach

“I see a disrespectful little fuck that needs to be knocked down a few pegs.”

“Yeah, and I see millions of dollars, better recruits, and some national attention. I see the future of this program.”

“Not worth it,” I say.

He barks a laugh. “How long have you been with us, David?”

“Three years,” I say. “Three years and I’ve helped turn this team around.”

“You’re right,” Hardy agrees. “You’ve done some good work here. I’ll admit that before you, we were floundering. But don’t for a second start to think you’re more important than you are. That boy’s going to win games, not you.”

I grunt and shake my head. “I hear what you’re saying. But I don’t think winning games is worth selling our soul.”

“Easy for you to say. You weren’t here all those years when we had absolutely nothing. When we lost most games, when we were forgotten, mocked, ignored. I can’t go back to that, David. That asshole out there is our ticket forward and don’t you forget it.”

I stare at him for a long time, feeling my anger rise like a wave. I want to tell him to go fuck off, I want to quit and walk away. But I know that if I give in to my rage and do what feels good, I’ll be letting Chloe down, and I can’t have that.

“Is that all?” I ask.

“Don’t hang him out to dry again,” Coach says. “That kid gets injured and you’re finished. Do you hear me, David?”

“I hear you.” I turn and leave his office, seething with anger. I skip my usual process of talking to the guys and head to my own office. I shut the door, sit behind the desk, and glare at the wall.

That should’ve made me feel better. And for a second, when Erik’s ass was on the fucking ground, I did feel good. But that only lasted for the briefest of moments, and now everything is back to being fucked.

Hardy just made it very clear where I stand. In the scheme of things, I’m expendable, but Erik is not. He didn’t come out and say it so explicitly last time, but now he’s not holding back. I can’t use the team to get back at him anymore, not if I want to keep this job and stay in a position to watch over Chloe.

No, I’m going to have to come up with some other way to knock Erik down.

That selfish little bastard’s going to make my life much more difficult.12ChloeI take the long way home after tutoring. Even though campus is beautiful and everyone’s outside sitting in the grass, the way the sun slants through the trees sideways makes my skin crawl. I swear people are staring at me, and I catch more than one girl turn to her friend and whisper something.

I want to go over and shake them, scream in their face.

The buildings loom like giants, ready to stomp down on me at any second. I pass near the little hidden fountain and slip through the bushes to sit down at the bench, but I find another couple already there, making out in the grass. I slowly back away, trying not to disturb them too much, my stomach flipping over on itself.

Everything feels like it’s been infected, broken, and tarnished.

Before Erik came into my life, I loved CU. I loved the ocean, the sunlight, the sidewalks. I loved the classical architecture and the way my voice echoes in the library. Everything about CU felt idyllic and comfortable, and I never wanted to leave campus. I spent all my time here, walking around, sitting at benches, trying not to find a reason to go back to my apartment.

Now though, it seems like everywhere I look, Erik’s ghost is always haunting me. He turned what felt like a safe, perfect place into a hellscape.

I manage to avoid the thickest crowds of students as I skirt along the outer section of campus. I turn right at the light and find my apartment up ahead. I take the stairs two at a time get inside, and lock the door behind me. I feel like I’m out of breath, like my heart’s hammering in my chest, like someone just chased me and won’t let me go.

“Hey, Chloe.”

I let out a scream and jump. Sara stares at me, her eyes wide. She’s wearing torn jeans and a gray t-shirt. “Shit, sorry,” she says.

“Sorry,” I say in response, my heart racing so fast I might pass out. “Fuck. You scared me.”

“You okay?”

“Yeah. Yeah, just fine. You just scared me.”

Sara frowns at me as I pull myself together and head into the apartment. I toss my bag down in the corner, take off my shoes and grab a glass of water. I drink it down, chugging the cool tap water, trying to get myself under control. I’m jumping at ghosts now, and it’s definitely not a good thing.