by Dee Lagasse
Some things—some people—just weren’t worth it.
At that, the sound of Isa’s laughter caught my attention.
But, so did the arms wrapped around her.
Isa
“Jake didn’t say anything about you coming! The boys are going to be so excited. You guys and Jake?! Hell, I’m excited,” I said.
Fox and Lynx Mendez both beamed at my reaction.
Reel it in, Isa.
You would think I’d never been around professional football players before.
Or that I hadn’t just seen the Mendez twins last night.
“Fellas,” Jake exclaimed as he joined us.
They took turns pulling each other into a bro-hug. You know the one. It started with a handshake that turned into a half hug, finalized by loud, hearty claps on the back.
Jake’s voice dropped when he continued with, “What are you guys doing here?”
“I called the gym to see if you were still there. I was told you’d be here. I hope it’s okay that we crashed.” The hesitation in Fox’s voice surprised me. This man was a future Hall of Fame quarterback. He’d broken countless records. The Bluecoats had gone to the Super Bowl four times under his helm. Yet, here he was making sure Jake was okay with him being here. “We can dip out if it’s not.”
Jake scoffed at him. “Are you kidding me? Isa’s right. The boys are going to be so excited. Hell, I am too.” He winked at me before he turned his attention back to Fox and Lynx. “Wanna throw a bit while we wait? See how long it takes everyone to notice you’re here?”
Laughing, the Mendez brothers headed out to the middle of the field.
Without another word, Jake grabbed a football and began to jog out to the field. About halfway to the fifty-yard line, he stopped and turned back. The corners of my own lips tilted up at the sight of his growing smile.
“Hey, Bug,” he called out. “If the offer to board after this is still on the table, I’m in.”
I wasn’t naïve; that was conveyed with intent. I didn’t know what was said in the equipment shed, but both Devon and Jake came out with their heads hung after my father went to get them.
Devon stood just a few feet away from me now, with other members of the coaching staff. Jake was making it known, loud and clear, that we were going to hang out. And, I would be sure to call him out on it later while we were skateboarding.
“Go play football, superstar.” I grinned, holding up my camera. “I have a job to do.”
For the next ten minutes, I focused on Jake, Fox, and Lynx, as they ran drills with the handful of players that were warming up on the field. As more players started to show up, I caught their reactions when they realized exactly who was at their first practice.
Once the initial shock wore off, Dad blew his whistle three times and called everyone in. After introducing Jake, Fox, and Lynx, he introduced me.
“This is Isa Coleman,” my dad said proudly. “She’s been the team’s official photographer since Jake was on the team.”
“And, yes, she’s pretty.” Devon stepped forward as he took it upon himself to add to my dad’s speech. “But Isa is Coach’s daughter and gets our full respect, do you all understand?”
I didn’t know whether I should be mortified or angry that Devon seemed to only correlate respect shown to me when it came to relation with my father.
“Well, now that you’ve made Isa and everyone else feel uncomfortable,” Jake said, laughing awkwardly, “let’s play ball, huh?”
Before the two of them could continue their pissing contest at my expense, my dad blew his whistle again. “All right. You know where to go.”
Everyone dispersed into their respective groups.
As the coaches called out drills, I made my way around the field for the duration of practice, never staying in one place too long. My camera was focused on Jake helping a young player scramble for the ball, when my dad’s voice next to me caused me to jump and lose the moment.
“I’m glad you’re here, princess.” He smiled knowingly. “Your mother seems to think it has something to do with Jake.”
I sighed. Not him, too. I could usually count on my dad when it came to this kind of stuff.
“Now, before you get all huffy,” he continued, “I’m not here to dig. You know as long as you’re happy, I’m happy. I just want you to know that if Jake is the one to make you hap—”
“Dad, I love you. I love Mom. But Jake and I just saw each other for the first time after not speaking for six years. Only yesterday. I’m going to need some more time before you guys set a wedding date, okay?”
His eyes widened as he chewed on his lip. “I, uh, I think I need to go coach someone.”
Confused, I looked around the field for Jake as Dad sprinted across the field.
“So, we’re getting married? Is that what I heard?”
I had been giving my father my complete attention. I didn’t realize that, at some point, Jake had come over near the bleachers to get water.
I groaned. “How much did you hear?”
“Just that you needed more time before your parents set our wedding date,” he said with a grin. “If my say matters, April through July works best with my football schedule.”
I rolled my eyes as he put the water bottle to his lips. When he was mid-sip, I tipped the bottle up. Water poured all over him.
I thought about apologizing for a solid two seconds—until he pulled his soaked shirt up and over his head.
“All right, all right. You got me, but I think it’s time we start keeping score again.” Jake smirked, tossing his shirt on the bleacher behind us. “Isa: one. Jake: zero.”
I should be processing what he was saying.
As teens, we tried to playfully one-up each other all the time. We said we were keeping score, but the truth was…neither of us knew what game we were actually playing here. Right now, all I could do was gawk at his stomach. Each one of his abs glistened in the warmth of the sunlight, demanding my undivided attention.
Until I saw the V-dip, of course. I didn’t even know what it was actually called. Salem called them “sex lines.” I knew some girls referred to them as “V-lines.” All I knew right then was that Jake had it—and I’d been staring at it for too long.
“Um…I think it’s more like Isa: one. Jake: zero. Jake’s abs: eight.” I knew there wasn’t any way to hide the fact that I had been ogling him.
A small laugh left his lips. He studied me silently for what felt like forever. I wished he would say something. Anything. But just as he opened his mouth, the sound of my dad’s whistle calling practice for the night grabbed our attention.
As we walked together to join the others, Jake leaned in. “Stay close to me. I don’t want Devon thinking he gets to talk to you.”
Jake
After practice, Isa handed her camera bag to her dad with hesitation.
“Please take it right into the house,” she told him. “I’m trusting you, Daddy.”
“I will protect it with my life.” He chuckled. His smile disappeared when he saw Isa wasn’t laughing. “I promise I won’t let anything happen to your baby.”
I had to bite the corner of my cheek to stop myself from snickering when he opened the passenger door of his truck and proceeded to buckle the camera bag into the seat.
I didn’t remember Coach being this fresh when we were growing up, but he was on top of his shit today.
“Before you two head out, I want a picture,” he insisted as he pulled his cell phone out of his shorts pocket. “It makes me happy to see you kids back together again.”
Isa didn’t skip a beat before telling him he was growing soft in his old age, but she obliged anyway. Wrapping her free arm around my shirtless waist, she smiled on cue as I placed my arm around her shoulder.
Then, there was me, over there like: you and me both, Coach.
“Is it okay if I post this on Instaface?” he asked, combining two social media names obliviously and turning his phone to show us t
he photograph.
“I’m okay with it,” I began, turning to Isa. “But there’s a good chance people will assume we’re together, and I don’t know if you want to deal with all that.”
A small laugh left her lips. “No one is going to assume you’re with me, Jake.”
Coach looked back and forth between us, waiting for a definitive answer.
“Go ahead, Coach,” I answered, before the three of us said our goodbyes.
Once Coach was in his truck, I lowered the skateboard Isa had given me a few minutes ago. “You ready, Bug?”
“Are you ready?” she countered.
“I was born ready, babe.” I grinned.
The words didn’t sound foreign as they left my lips, but as soon as I realized I’d called her “babe,” I went into panic mode.
“Isa!” Devon McDaniels called her name from the field, saving me from having to explain why I just dropped a pet name so casually in conversation.
“Go! Go! Go!” Isa urged quickly, before skating out of the parking lot.
A trail of laughter followed her as she made her hasty exit. I put one foot on the deck and gained momentum before hopping on with both feet. So much of street boarding was about feeling—moving with your board.
It didn’t take long for me to catch up to her. When I did, the sheer joy on her face caused my stomach to tighten. I wished I could capture this moment and keep it forever.
This was the Isa I remembered.
Not the quiet woman who fumbled with her cuticles because my presence made her nervous. She was carefree. I didn’t need anything else. Her happiness was enough.
It had to be close to eight o’clock. The setting sun and the pink skies provided the prettiest backdrop as we made our way to downtown Fox Hollow. I’d been back in town for months and I had yet to make my way to Main Street.
For the most part, despite the famous football ties to this town, it was quiet here. Main Street was full of small shops and independently owned restaurants. There were a couple of dance studios and an old arcade that, from the looks of it, still seemed to be the place to hang out on a summer night if you were a teenager.
Stopping at an intersection, Isa smiled. “Looks like we made a clean getaway.”
“Leave Devon to me,” I told her. “I’ll deal with him.”
“Don’t you dare.” The warning in Isa’s voice caught me off guard. “I can see the steam coming from your ears, Jake. Leave it alone. If there’s anything that needs to be handled, I got it.”
I shrugged. “You’re the boss, Bug.”
“How about we follow through with the tradition of frozen yogurt after practice instead?” she offered, pointing to the small ice cream stand just a few feet away from us.
I shouldn’t. I should go home. My alarm was set for five tomorrow. I had my work cut out with training camp. Plus, I was on a self-imposed football season diet. A diet I had already broken during brunch at Salem’s.
I was about to say no and explain why, when Isa’s lips protruded and formed the most pitiful little pout.
How the hell was I supposed to say no to that?
“Okay, but just one scoop.”
Isa
It was well past midnight by the time I got home last night.
Despite my attempted assurance I would be fine, Jake refused to go to sleep until he got a text from me saying I’d made it home. Which turned into us texting until closer to one until he stopped answering me.
There was an “I’m sorry…I fell asleep” text waiting for me when my six o’clock alarm pulled me from my slumber. Immediate guilt filled me as I replied with an apology of my own.
I was exhausted. I could grab a coffee and be fine, though. Jake, on the other hand, would be running drills in full pads in close to ninety degrees in just a few hours.
Sleepily, I started gathering my clothes for the day. After spending some of the night in the field and then boarding downtown Fox Hollow with Jake, I showered. It made everything easier this morning, with the exception of doing my hair.
Luckily for me, my brother, Adam, and I planned on meeting at my parents’ house before training camp. If I left soon, there would be time for my mom to braid my hair before we had to leave for the stadium. Since she’d woken up at five in the morning for as long as I could remember, I didn’t hesitate to call her this early.
“Of course, mija,” she agreed after I asked her if she’d do me the favor. “Did your brother give you your jersey?”
Yesterday, while I was at football practice, Adam and Javier took a trip to the official Pro Shop outside of the stadium and bought us all number eighty jerseys to wear today.
“He did.” I smiled, looking down at it on my bed. “Jake’s going to love it.”
“I thought so too.” She chuckled. “And, he’s going to love your surprise. I can’t believe you pulled it off so quickly.”
After saying bye to my mom, I snapped a photo of the back of the jersey spread across my bed, attaching it to a text.
Me: Today will be the first time I wear a jersey that doesn’t have my last name on it. I don’t think I’ve told you how proud of you I am.
I sent it to Jake.
His reply, just moments later, made my heart swell.
Jake: I’ve never been so excited to see someone wear my jersey.
I didn’t tell him who else would be showing up in his jersey today. I pulled mine over my head and stood in front of the full-length mirror.
Not to toot my own horn, but danggggg did that “PIERCE” look good on my back.
I almost posted the photo to my Instagram but stopped myself, not knowing exactly where Jake and I stood.
We’re friends, I think. Maybe?! I didn’t even know.
There was still so much we had to talk about. Things had been so easy—too easy—since Retro. I didn’t want to bring up the fact we still hadn’t had the “you broke my heart” conversation. Even though I knew it needed to happen.
I was content being in denial. Jake was back in my life. It was what I wanted since the second he left for college. But, I knew I couldn’t continue ignoring our past if I wanted him to stay in my life.
It could surely wait a day or two, though…
There was too much going on right now to plunge down into the emotional depths of our history.
Like making sure I pulled off the surprise of all surprises.
Jake
Despite only getting four hours of sleep, I felt like I was ready to take on the world.
Not only would today mark the unofficial start of the football season, but Isa and the rest of the Coleman family would also be in the crowd.
Then, later that night, Isa and I had dinner plans.
I knew I was pushing my luck when it came to her, but I didn’t care. If she was willing to give me her time, I’d take it. We had years to make up for.
After sitting in bumper-to-bumper traffic for twenty minutes, I pulled into the stadium’s VIP parking lot. As soon as I stepped down from my truck, I heard my last name being yelled by multiple people. Only players and people with guest passes were permitted in this lot, so I knew it was safe to turn around and greet whoever it was behind me.
I wasn’t ready for the burst of overwhelming emotion that filled me when I saw Coach Coleman, Alma, Abuela, Javier, Adam, Isa…and my mother walking toward me. Each of them had on my jersey. Swallowing, I opened my mouth to greet them, but words failed me.
“I told you he would be surprised!” Alma Coleman squealed, grabbing Isa’s arms excitedly.
I didn’t think twice when Alma called me yesterday to ask if there was any way I could spare an additional VIP pass for a friend of the family that was in town for the weekend.
I never thought that “friend of the family” might be my mom.
“When? What? How?” I asked, still incapable of forming complete sentences.
When she reached me, my mom beamed at me and opened her arms. “Hi, baby. Surprise!” Pulling back, with the ear-t
o-ear smile still on her lips, she said, “It was all Isa. She called me yesterday and set the whole thing up. All I did was pack a bag and show up at the airport.”
“You did this?” I asked, turning my attention to Isa.
Water pooled in my eyes. I was so overwhelmed by the surprise of seeing my mom here, I hadn’t even gotten to take in the sight of Isabel Coleman wearing my jersey. Pride swelled inside of me, knowing it was my last name on her back—and especially knowing that, before now, she’d only worn the number eleven Coleman jersey that once belonged to her father.
“Well, it was Javier’s idea to wear matching jerseys,” she offered, shrugging.
It was so blasé. Like it was no big deal she’d arranged for my mother to come up from Miami in less than twenty-four hours to be here today.
Which was why I didn’t even care about the reporters watching us from behind the media line when I closed the space between us…and left her with the feel of my lips on hers.
Isa
There wasn’t time to process what happened before Jake pulled away.
As he broke the kiss, he said something about “talking later” before he jogged off toward the players’ entrance.
Putting my fingers up to my mouth, I desperately searched for something to prove I didn’t just imagine his hands cupping my face and pulling me to him. The spearmint lingering on my lips was enough.
“Jake!” I called out. “Jacob!”
He stopped in his tracks. The little knots in my stomach tightened, my heart racing as he turned. With shaky legs, I walked to where he stood.
“Yessss?” he said, smirking.
Just like that, I felt eighteen again. It didn’t matter where we were or who was watching. I was just a girl who’d been kissed by the boy she’d been in love with since their freshman year of high school.
Everything changed in that moment.