“Well, what do we think?” Bill asked as he surveyed the players running routes, tackling blocking bags, and zigzagging through cone shuffle sprints. It looked completely chaotic to the untrained eye, but there was organization at each station.

Grayson meshed well with the team. He had stayed in shape because the Canadian Football League showed interest in him, but we nabbed him instead.

Jamal walked up before I could answer. “You know, Grayson shows a lot of promise. He’s patient, sets up in the pocket, and looks for what he can out on the field. I have a good feeling about this season,” Jamal said.

“I think he’s going to surprise everyone,” I said and meant it.

“We’re a young team but we have a lot of talent. And the players have a healthy respect for Moats so we just might win a game or two,” Jamal said.

My phone buzzed. I was scheduled to meet with the media in ten minutes. It was the first time I was talking to the press since becoming offensive coordinator. Terry wanted every journalist to be frothing at the mouth to get to me so he kept me quiet to build the suspense. He gave plenty of interviews about me but never put me in front of the microphones.

The Cheetahs’ media liaison spent an hour earlier this morning reviewing every question with me that could come up in the press conference. I was nervous because today’s interview wasn’t about me, it was going to be about the scandal. Sure, they would start off asking me generic, expectant questions like how do you like the job? And then the more personal questions like why you? Did other coaches within the organization want the job? But then they would inevitably ask me about my thoughts on the previous coach. The plan was to redirect attention to me, the first female offensive coordinator in the NFL picked to carry a new team to the playoffs, and not the sex offender whose downfall was still tarnishing the team.

I excused myself when my phone rang. “McCoy.” I didn’t recognize the number.

“Hey, babe. Good luck today.” It was my girlfriend, Lexi, who had moved with me to Connecticut not because we were serious, but because nothing was keeping her in Minnesota.

“Hey. Did you get a new phone?”

“I’m calling you through the app.”

“Oh, that’s right. Witness protection.” I laughed. She liked to use an app for her online business. She was a licensed psychologist and offered both phone and video sessions to customers all over the country.

We hadn’t spent a lot of time together since I took this job. My life hadn’t slowed down since the minute the Cheetahs approached me. I had only days to find our townhouse, and while it wasn’t ideal, it would work until I could find something permanent if my position here was a good fit.