I stood. “You don’t, Grayson. Love is hard and sometimes we make choices when we’re young that we regret. I would really like for you to think about flying under the radar until after the season. Don’t go out. Don’t get caught with her in public. Everybody has cell phones and they take photos and videos and sell them to the highest bidder. It would destroy your family if word of this got out.” I could feel myself getting angry, so I slowed down. “Do the right and respectful thing. Don’t cave to a moment of weakness that could affect everything you’ve built up to this point.” I felt for Parker and the girls, but I also couldn’t be mad at Grayson for finding love. I was here to offer advice as a coach about what would cause minimum damage. “After the season, there will be less blowback and trust me, it’ll come.”

“Do you get harassed a lot for being your true self in the NFL? Have people been cruel about you and your relationships? It has to be hard for you.”

His question didn’t faze me in the least. I’d been asked it a hundred times since I joined the league. “I think people are upset that a woman is in charge more so than a lesbian. I get plenty of crap for being gay, but honestly, if I were straight, they would probably give me more shit. I guess most people think that being a lesbian means you know a lot about sports.” I shrugged.

There was a look of pity on Parker’s face, but it was directed at Grayson, not me. “Living authentically is hard.” She turned to me. “You’re so brave.”

I walked over to Parker. “Are you really okay with all of this?”

“Like I said, this wasn’t only Grayson’s decision.” She truly seemed to be at peace. I was missing something here. The whole situation gave me a weird vibe. “I want us both to be happy. Right now, we aren’t. Grayson is a good man, and a great dad. None of that will change. And I deserve happiness, too.”

Her words made my heart clench. According to her confession on the phone, she hadn’t had sex in a long time. She must have resented him because she stayed home with the kids, while he was off screwing somebody he was in love with.

“Why didn’t you do this sooner?” I lowered my voice to let them know I wasn’t judging them.

“My parents wouldn’t allow it. They were very judgmental when I first brought up that we were going through some things,” Parker said.

“Your parents are assholes,” Grayson said.

It wasn’t my place to say anything, but I was so with Grayson on that one.