It was like they’d never coached in the NFL before, but everyone here had. “We’ll tell them he missed practice for personal and private reasons and he’s excited to play Chicago this weekend. We don’t owe them anything.” I snarled just thinking about Duane Spitzer.

Joe, who had been quiet most of the day, wrapped his beefy knuckles on the table. “Then let’s get back to coaching.”

The pressure in my chest lifted, knowing Grayson was still in as a starter. We could build back up after our loss and get a few more wins under our belt until our bye week when we had the weekend off. I got out of there at seven, desperate for sleep. Today felt like a week. Even Crowbar was yawning as I locked my office. My phone dinged and when I saw the message, my heart almost stopped. It was from Parker.

Thank you for your help today. We know that’s not in your job description. We’d like to have you over to dinner one night as a thank you. The last thing we need is a scandal.

Shit. I couldn’t be rude. Not to her.

That sounds nice. We have a bye week coming up. Maybe that weekend.

Bubbles instantly appeared. That would be amazing. Feel free to bring a date. Lexi, right?

I didn’t want to get into why I was no longer with Lexi. I simply said okay and put my phone away. I couldn’t wait to tell Hayley on my drive home.

Chapter Fifteen—Neutral Zone

Past

“Okay, everyone scooch closer. I can’t get you all in the frame,” Parker’s mom said. She was trying to snap a few photos of the ten of us before we headed out to junior prom. We squeezed as close together as we possibly could without wrinkling our dresses. “Nobody move and everyone smile. Wait. Sutton, honey, why don’t you switch places with the young man next to you.” She meant Joey. “There. Now you all look proportionate.” She looked through her camera a million times before taking about fifty photos.

“Okay, Mom. That’s enough,” Parker said. She stepped out of the line and motioned for us to leave.

“I feel like I’m in a really bad episode of The O.C. with rich, snooty parents,” Hayley whispered on our way out to the limos.

“Yeah, her mom is fake and mean.” I scowled.

“It’s like she knew you wanted to be near her daughter and she put a stop to it. Clam jam.” Hayley made a screeching sound and threw her hands up as though something blew up.