Playing at Love

by Ophelia London

  “Rivers!” he called down the line. “You’re in!”

  “What?” Williams shrieked in alarm.

  Jack turned and pointed at him. “On the bench,” he said. “And if you ever pull a stunt like that again, you are off this team. Do we understand each other?”

  Williams swore and kicked a clump of grass, sending mud into the air.

  Jack grabbed him again, his face inches from Williams’s face mask. “Hit the showers!” he growled. “I don’t want to see your face the rest of the night!”

  Once Jack let go, Williams stumbled back, then stormed off the field. When the stadium speakers made the announcement that Andy Rivers was going in for starting QB, the home crowd’s reaction was not extremely supportive, to say the least. Jack tried to block out that sound; the crowd didn’t know what was really going on down on the field.

  He put a hand on Andy’s shoulder. “Blue thirty-eight,” he said. “Easy play. You practiced it all week.”

  The kid’s eyes were as wide as saucers as he fastened his chin strap, nodding over and over, trying to build up his confidence.

  “You’ll see Pinker break left to the flag.” Jack gestured with his hands. “He’ll pass the cornerback and you hit him there. Got it?”

  “Yeah, yeah. I got it, Coach.”

  “Good. Now go tell your team.”

  Andy nodded once more, then turned on his cleated heel and sprinted toward the huddle.

  Jack dropped his clipboard and folded his arms, not bothering to look down the line at his entire coaching staff glaring at him. He knew what they were thinking: Jack might have just cost them all their jobs…as well as the future of Grizzlies football.

  …

  Tess wasn’t sure what was going on. She couldn’t see much of the playing field because everyone was standing and a line of people blocked the front railing. She tried to wedge between two fans but there wasn’t enough room. She tightened her rain hood and wiped water out of her eyes. Suddenly, she spotted a security gate that led down to the field.

  “Hey,” she said to the uniform manning the gate. “I’m a teacher here and I need to get down to the track.”

  Surprisingly enough, the guy opened the gate and allowed Tess to squeeze through. She thanked him, then headed down the stairs, gripping the railing so she wouldn’t slip on the wet concrete. Out on the black running track that surrounded the field, Tess stood by a group of cheerleaders.

  “What’s going on?” she asked one of them.

  “Coach Marshall just benched Zack Williams.”

  “What does that mean?”

  “The only other quarterback is Andy Rivers. He just went in.”

  Tess immediately recognized that name and she turned to look out at the muddy field. Andy was the kid Jack had mentioned, the one he said he would never play unless there was a very good reason.

  “Why would Coach do that?” Tess asked.

  The cheerleader shrugged. “Um, well, Tiffany said that Billy said that Coach was yelling at Zack because he broke some rule. And I guess he got in trouble for it and Coach won’t let him play.”

  “Isn’t the game almost over?”

  “Yeah. And Zack just made this, like, really amazing pass.” She jerked her head, her wet ponytail flipping water into the air. “There’s probably no other coach in the whole world who would make a change like that this late in the game. No one knows what’s going on. This might be the last play of the game.”

  Tess stared at the cheerleader, wondering why Jack would risk a win—this win—if they were so close to a victory.

  All of a sudden, as she stood there, shivering in the rain, she knew why.

  Even when they were fifteen—before he’d messed up at the end of their summer—she’d known Jack’s heart and the way he thought. He was kind and honorable and fair. He’d told her that one of the reasons he loved coaching was to teach these exact kinds of lessons—“coaching in the moment,” he’d called it. Jack had devoted his career to building future men, men who were on the road to being honest, good, admirable, and most of all, trustworthy. All the qualities that thrived in Jack…

  The man she was in love with.

  Suddenly, she felt this in her heart, down to the tips of her toes. She knew the kind of man Jack Marshall was. She loved him and couldn’t wait to open her whole heart to him. But if they lost this game, it might be too late.

  Tess’s heart started to pound and her eyes filled with tears as she moved forward, scanning the line for him. But she couldn’t make out anything, just shoulder-to-shoulder uniforms.

  She jumped when she heard a whistle blow and then the crowd fell eerily silent. She wiped her eyes and strained to focus past the showers of rain toward the field. She saw blue jerseys and white jerseys running this way and that, but she couldn’t tell what was going on. She watched as the football flew through the air but she lost sight of it when it passed before one of the bright stadium lights. After the collective hush, the crowd exploded.

  When the lines broke and it seemed as though all the players from both sides were taking the field, an outburst of need exploded in Tess’s heart. She didn’t even know which side had won the game. That didn’t matter! All she knew was that she had to find Jack and tell him—once and for all—how much she loved him. And she had to do it now. So she kicked her shoes under the bleachers and took off running. But she wasn’t the only one. Fans were jumping the railings and pouring onto the field.

  After making it to the long bench and water station, Tess stood in place, cupping her hands over her eyes, attempting to shield the rain. People were rushing past her, bumping her shoulders. She still couldn’t find him, so she hitched up her soaked-through skirt and stepped onto the bench, hoping to get a better view. The largest cluster of blue uniforms was off to the far left. She hopped down from the bench and ran that way, her bare feet sinking into the muddy grass.

  “Jack!” she called. But the crowd around her was much too loud. She figured he would be somewhere in the middle of the mass, so she elbowed her way in, shoving past uniformed players who were three times her size. “Jack!” she called again.

  When she made it out the other side and still hadn’t found him, she suddenly considered that maybe his team had lost. She looked at the scoreboard, but it was flashing all zeros now. When the football went flying, where had the cheering come from? The home section of the stadium or the visitors’ section? Tess had no idea. Maybe Jack was on his way home to pack and head back to Chicago or wherever his coaching career might take him.

  Tess whipped around, facing the mob again. Panic gripped her pounding heart. She wouldn’t let him go. She would not lose him for a third time.

  Just as she was about to descend back into the mass, her breath caught. There he was, standing over by the bench where she had just been. “Jack!” she called, waving her hands in the air. But he didn’t hear. In fact, it looked like he was starting to walk away.

  With a gasp, she was running again, taking the long way around the group in the middle of the field. Her hood flew back as she ran into the wind, rain soaking into her hair. She winced when she felt her ankle twist in the mud, but she kept going, running toward the back of his blue Grizzlies Football jacket. When she was about twenty feet away, Jack suddenly stopped and turned around. Unable to slow her momentum, Tess slammed right into him, barreling into his chest.

  He grunted in surprise and the two fell over.

  …

  Jack felt his back hit the ground and the weight of someone land on top of him. He was seeing stars behind his eyelids when he heard a voice.

  “Jack? Are you okay?”

  He opened his eyes to see Tess’s face hovering over him. He blinked, thinking that whatever just hit him had done something to his brain. Tess wasn’t really there. She was at her choir competition in Indianapolis tonight. Plus, she didn’t want to see him; she’d told him she couldn’t be with anyone. Plus, Tess Johansson would not be down on her hands and knees straddling him i
n the middle of the football field in the rain. He closed his eyes again, unwilling to take part in the painful fantasy.

  “Jack?”

  He felt soft, caressing hands on his face and the heat of someone just above him. “Tess,” he wheezed, once a bit of wind returned to his lungs. When he opened his eyes again, she was still there, leaning over him.

  She seemed to be studying something in his eyes and then she sighed, looking relieved. “Oh, Jack,” she whispered, dropping down onto her elbows, her face at his neck.

  Her whole weight was on him now, and Jack felt the almost unbearable urge to wrap his arms around her and tell her again that he loved her, to tell her that he’d been an idiot when he was a kid and he’d been an idiot the other night, and that he’d probably be an idiot his whole life. But he’d broken her heart before, and she didn’t want him now.

  Just as he was about to sit up, he felt her kiss him on the neck. “Tess?” he choked out, feeling his body stiffen in confusion.

  She pulled back and looked him in the eyes. Something new was there, deep behind the dazzling blue; something that he’d seen there before but had been lost for a time.

  “I love you,” she said, her hair spilling all around him. When he didn’t move, she leaned down and kissed him. “I love you,” she repeated, her lips still touching his. He shuddered when her warm breath caressed his cheek.

  Jack closed his eyes. When he felt her kiss him again, his body flooded with joy and warmth, and he slid his arms around her back. She giggled against his cheek as he squeezed her tight. He reached a hand up and swept her hair away from her face, ready to speak.

  “Shh…” She ran a finger over his lips. “I love you,” she said for a third time.

  Just as he went to kiss her again, Jack caught a glimpse of a dark green rain jacket past her shoulder.

  “I’m assuming this is a tackle drill, Coach Marshall?”

  Jack tilted his head to find a crowd of about ten people huddled around them.

  “And what exactly are you doing to my sister?”

  Tess squeaked and rolled off, pulling down her skirt. “Charlie!”

  “Is this guy bothering you?” Charlie asked. “I’ve got my .38 special in the car.”

  “Everything’s under control,” Tess said, sounding like she was torn between mortification and laughter.

  Charlie nodded then looked at Jack. “Then would you mind taking her somewhere else for whatever this is?”

  “Okay, Charlie,” Jack said, lifting his hands in surrender. “Although I’m sure I don’t have to explain to you the benefits of being sacked by a girl.”

  Charlie made a face. “Dude, she’s my sister.”

  “Don’t change the subject,” Tess cut in, pointing up at Charlie. “How could you leave my competition like that? And for a football game? You terrible brother.”

  “Hey, I was supporting you in both places,” Charlie argued. “Speaking of…” He looked toward the parking lot, where Jack could barely make out the figure of a woman standing alone, probably waiting for Charlie. “I’ve got to go be supportive elsewhere,” Charlie said. “Catch you guys later.” He turned to the surrounding crowd and cleared his throat. “Nothing to see here,” he said. “Move along.”

  Jack chuckled and Tess rolled her eyes as they watched Charlie run off into the rain.

  “Way to go, Coach,” one of Jack’s players said as he breezed by. “Jo is hot.”

  Jack leapt to his feet then offered a hand to Tess, helping her up. “Where are your shoes?” he asked, eyeing her bare feet.

  “Over there.” She pointed toward the bleachers. “They’re Italian. I didn’t want to ruin them in the mud. But I think that damage is done.”

  Jack chuckled and looked down at her, combing his fingers through her hair. She looked so beautiful in the falling mist. “How did the choir do?” he asked as they walked toward the stadium.

  “Second,” she said. “So I guess it’ll be up to Walker now.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “He said he’d make the final decision if our programs tied.”

  Jack stopped and looked at her. “Tess,” he said reluctantly, “we won the game tonight. There is no tie. I’m sorry. The football program isn’t going to be cut.”

  “You won?” She seemed to be processing this.

  Jack stared at her, suddenly very worried that the only reason she had come to him was because she thought they’d lost the game. Panic grabbed him by the throat. He couldn’t bear the thought of losing her again.

  “Tess…” He stepped toward her. “I—”

  “You won?” she repeated, her face lighting up. “Jack! That’s wonderful!” She threw her arms around him and squeezed until he coughed. “I’m so proud of you!”

  Jack stared at her in wonder. Yes, his side had won, and he’d worried about what that would mean for Tess. But he also knew she was strong and passionate—a fighter, which was why he was so crazy about her. He knew she would land on her feet—and be better for it. He trembled when she took his face between her hands. “And you played Andy,” she said, pulling him down for a kiss. “I heard the crowd cheering at the end. He must be on cloud nine.”

  Jack laughed, feeling overwhelming love for the woman he held in his arms. “I’m sure he is,” Jack said. “He’ll be celebrating all night.”

  “And what about you?” She slid a hand low around his waist. “Do you have to go to a coaches’ meeting now or talk to your team?”

  Jack slowly shook his head. “The players have the homecoming dance with the rest of the school. I’m done for the night.”

  Tess bit her lip then pulled back a smile that Jack recognized. It made his heart speed up in his chest.

  “I don’t think you are done for the night, Coach.” She slipped her hand into his, squeezed it, then tugged him to keep walking.

  Just as they took a step, Tess suddenly winced then hopped on one foot, favoring her right ankle.

  “What’s wrong?” Jack asked, trying not to laugh as she hobbled around in a circle.

  “My first football injury.” She smiled proudly through the cringe.

  Jack heard her gasp in delight as he quickly swept her up into his arms. “I know of only one surefire cure for a twisted ankle,” he said, carrying her directly toward his car parked at the stadium entrance.

  “What’s that?” Tess asked, her hands clasped around his neck.

  “Bed rest,” he said. “My house. Plenty of it. In fact…” He looked down at her beautiful, rain-drenched face. “I don’t want to see you out of my bed for the next two days.”

  Tess giggled then tightened her grip. “If that’s the only way…”

  “I’m afraid so.”

  She sighed resignedly then nuzzled into his neck. “Darn, stupid ankle.”

  “Come on.” Jack laughed. “Let’s go home.”

  Epilogue

  “Your cell either got water damaged the other night or it’s about to have kittens. Either way, you should change that ringtone. What is it with you and the Backstreet Boys?” Jack tossed Tess her phone. “I’ll allow you one call, so make it good.”

  Tess gazed at him as he leaned against the doorframe, wearing nothing but a towel, one hand rubbing the back of his neck. It was a sight she wished she could permanently burn into her brain.

  “That sounds fair,” Tess said, “after nearly two full days of being completely incommunicado with the outside world.”

  Jack grinned and ran a hand through his damp hair.

  They hadn’t done much talking that first night after the game. But the following morning, over juice and toast and sweet kisses, they’d talked about everything from movies and books to Rick’s final article in the paper, which Jack had read aloud. They’d even talked about Tess’s concession letter to Principal Walker. Later that night, Tess had composed the first half of it while Jack had snored softly, looking all sexy and rumpled. She thought the letter sounded very good, very dignified for a resignation.
/>
  She’d chewed on the pen cap, her heart breaking when she thought about Penny and the other members of the choirs who would have to choose a different elective next semester. But it had been a fair fight. And she knew she personally would live to fight another day.

  What she couldn’t fathom losing was Jack. Not after all they had been through the past two months…the past fifteen years and two months. He would be staying at Franklin High for the foreseeable future, as the hero coach who finally pulled the football team out of its seven-season slump. But Tess would need to find a job, one that might not be in Franklin. She was a music teacher—that was her first love. Jobs like that didn’t grow on trees. But at least she wouldn’t have to worry about her parents’ house anymore, which was a huge relief. In fact, she was already thinking about how to invest her share of the profit once it sold.

  When Jack adjusted his towel, Tess forgot about obsessing over her vocational future—she would much rather obsess over Jack. Despite the current situation, she wasn’t worried about their future; they would figure something out. She felt a secret promise of forever in their silent moments. Once she’d decided to really open up to him, to offer her whole heart, Jack did the same, and everything felt different.

  After one last yearning sigh, she picked her phone off the pillow where it had landed. “It’s a text from Mac,” she said. “Three, actually.”

  “What do they say?” Jack asked.

  Tess squinted at her screen. “The first one is about Rick. Oh.” She felt her eyes growing wide but didn’t share the details of the message with Jack. She would have to corner Mac at school tomorrow and get the entire scoop. “Um, anyway, the second text says, ‘Look at the paper.’”

  “What paper?”

  Tess shrugged. “I don’t know. The third one only says, “‘Never mind,’ and she attached a link.” Tess looked up at him. “Should I open it?”

  Tess smiled when she heard him give a little groan of disappointment as he crossed the room to her. With a nudge to his knee, she persuaded him to sit on the bed. When she crawled over to him and climbed onto his lap, she felt his disappointment fade.