Page 87 of Campus Heat

He gestured toward the line-filled whiteboard behind us and chuckled.

“Half of the time I’m learning this program along with all of you, but there is one small difference between me and other coaches.”

The room stayed quiet. There wasn’t even a nervous shuffle or a snide remark. Then Harris pushed away from the desk and stood a little taller.

“I didn’t take this job so I could coast through a losing season and jump ship.” He looked around the room and met each anxious gaze. “I took it because this program deserves better than that.”

He still hadn’t gotten a response from any of us. So he nodded toward the screen.

“Do you think the alumni trust us yet?”

A couple of the guys shifted uncomfortably, and a few of us shook our heads. We hadn’t done anything to deserve their trust, and from the looks of it, we never would.

“Do you think the athletic director feels confident now?”

Someone snorted softly, and I let out a little laugh, but Harris just shrugged.

“Fair,” he said, folding his arms. “But here’s what they don’t see.”

He gestured around the room before pointing a finger right at me.

“You seeing the safety cheating and you two finding ways around it. They don’t see what you go through on a daily basis to get to where you are. They have no idea how you suffered while trying to grow or how you pray for the longevity of your bus so you can make it to the next game.”

I swallowed the lump in my throat. He didn’t mention any of that to Mr. Pine at the prep rally, but now I understand why. Firstly, we needed to hear it more than he did, and secondly, he was just a fish in a much bigger pond.

“This is how real teams get started,” Harris added, and a quiet focus settled on the room. “So yeah, I’m not a football coach and that’s really pissing people off, but I promise you guys that I’m not going anywhere. I’m here and I’m going to fight like hell for this team.”

For a moment the words hung in the air, and no one spoke, but then Dylan nodded, Cam smacked his desk, and Malik sank into his chair with a thoughtful expression. I stared at the whiteboard and realized that something strange had happened. For the first time since I arrived at Havenport, I believed every word Harris said.

“Okay,” Harris said with a clap. “Get out of here before I start assigning extra drills.”

Groans and laughter filled the room as the guys got ready to leave. As I was making my way out, Cam grabbed my shoulder.

“Great catch on that safety,” he said.

I smirked. “Don’t get used to it.”

Dylan walked past next and gave me a short nod. If I hadn’t known any better, it was as if the locker room fight had never happened. As I stepped outside, the cool campus air bit into my exposed skin. I shoved my hands into my hoodie pockets and walked, not thinking about where I was going. I should’ve gone right back to my dorm, but my legs carried me somewhere else, and before I knew it, I was standing in front of Elizabeth’s door.

My heart was pounding in my chest as my hand raised to knock, but something stopped me. Her delightful laughter filled the air, and it was accompanied by the voice of a man I didn’t know.

“So your method basically saved my midterm,” the dude said.

Elizabeth laughed again, sounding so bright and free while I felt a piece of myself withering. It was the worst thing I had ever felt, and it brought up so many different emotions, but the one that stood out above the rest was fury.

“I hear you’re majoring in marine biology,” she said, making me feel like an even bigger idiot.

“Yes,” he said sharply. “And from what I hear, you’re not too bad at the subject yourself.”

“It’s a guilty pleasure of mine.”

I lowered my hand ever so slowly as the realization of what was happening dawned on me. This was my fault. I understood that much, but I still blamed her.

Because she was the one who made me feel like this could be something.

32

Elizabeth