Total pages in book: 127
Estimated words: 121095 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 605(@200wpm)___ 484(@250wpm)___ 404(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 121095 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 605(@200wpm)___ 484(@250wpm)___ 404(@300wpm)
“Go talk to my father,” she says. “I’m sure he saw that kiss.”
I salute her and head off. Chelsea told me her father wants to talk to me when she shouted her good news at me, but I would have beelined over to him regardless, simply to assure him of the depth of my feelings for his beloved daughter.
When I reach my head coach, he’s chatting with his wife and both of my parents, conveniently. Everyone greets me warmly, including the man I came to see.
As the other three parents look on, Coach tells me everything I’d expect a good daddy to say at a moment such as this. Stuff about me treating his daughter right, or else, and I promise the man has absolutely nothing to worry about.
To my surprise, that’s it. The end of the stern talking-to, apparently, because I’m now being barraged by congratulations and questions from the three other parents.
“Who fell first?” Chelsea’s mother asks breathlessly. “It was you, wasn’t it? Chelsea’s always so buttoned up.”
“Yeah, it was me by a long mile.” I exchange a knowing look with my mother, since she knows better than anyone just how hard I fell for Chelsea. Not only because of our conversation at Roman’s opening game this season, but also because she’s the one I asked to pack a certain something from my trophy shelf at home for her trip to Columbus.
Suddenly, it dawns on me this is the perfect moment to give Chelsea that certain something! Right here and now, rather than waiting to do it later tonight in private, as I’d initially planned. Actually, I’d originally wanted to give it to Chelsea last night when I sneaked into her teenage bedroom, but once I found out she didn’t write about me in her teenage diary, I lost my nerve and decided instead to keep it with me and do it another time, whenever the moment felt right. Well, hot damn, that right moment is obviously right fucking now.
“Hey, I just realized I haven’t given a speech yet, Coach,” I say. All night long, people have been grabbing the DJ’s mic and making toasts and speeches to our guest of honor.
“Oh jeez,” Coach Parker says with a chuckle. “A speech from Mr. Personality? God help me.”
When I get to the DJ, he hands me the mic and turns down the music for me.
“Hey, everyone!” I call out. “I’d like to say a few words to Coach Parker.” My gaze drifts to Chelsea in the crowd, and when I see her smiling face, I wink to let her know my conversation with her father went exceedingly well. “First off, Coach, congrats on the Hall of Fame induction, and happy sixtieth to you. You’re an amazing coach and person, and I’m lucky to know you, let alone get to play for you.”
I extol Coach Parker’s long list of virtues and talents for a bit. And all of my comments are the truth. But after a bit, in segue to the topic I’ve got up my sleeve, I say, “So, it’s no wonder you’ve raised such an incredible daughter.” I find Chelsea in the crowd again. “You’re a talented coach in your own right, too, Chelsea. But as important as you’ve been to me as my coach, as of tonight, you’re even more important to me as my girlfriend.”
Everyone from the Mastodon organization erupts at the revelation. Everyone except Moriarty, I can’t help noticing. He’s standing at the back of the party, clapping along with everyone else, albeit half-heartedly, but I know for a fact he’s not genuinely happy for me. We’ve figured out how to work together as teammates for the greater good. Especially during the last four games, since Coach implemented a new defensive scheme that put us both onto the field at the same time. But even so, I’m sure Moriarty would love nothing more than for me to get traded before training camp begins again.
Fuck him.
I return my gaze to my girlfriend, and her bright smile makes me forget all about my rival and everyone else. “I’m sure it won’t surprise anyone to find out I’m the one who fell first. I fell for Chelsea, first and hard.”
Everyone laughs, confirming they’re not at all surprised by that revelation, knowing me.
“But what Chelsea doesn’t know is exactly when I fell for her.” With adrenaline suddenly surging inside me, I reach into my pocket and pull out the item my mother so kindly brought to Ohio for me: the mathlete medal Chelsea gifted me all those years ago. And the second Chelsea realizes what’s in my hand, she clutches her heart, moisture pricking her blue eyes.
“You gave this to me when we first met as teenagers, and I couldn’t bring myself to get rid of it. In fact, I’ve kept it all this time in a place of honor on my trophy shelf back home. And I did that because meeting you made me feel a rush like nothing I’d felt before and I never felt again. Not until our paths crossed again at training camp, that is. At which point I felt that same rush all over again, and then some.”