Trick Play

Episode 1

Lex

"Good game tonight, Davis. Good job, Leo." I clapped loudly as the team filed out into the cool fall night. Both boys grinned, their faces freshly rinsed of the football grime I still felt on mine. It was late, their varsity football game had gone into overtime and I knew they were worn to the bone.

"'Night, Coach," they murmured, trucking across the lot behind the high school stadium. In the distance a pair of women waved eagerly in my direction. Smiling with surprise, I raised my hand in response. Then paused.

Shit. Were they waving at me or their kids?

It's too late now. I held up my hand a second longer before dropping it to my side with a grunt. My social skills were as rusty as I had feared. How I'd been talked into taking this job was a mystery to me. No more favors for old friends.

All they did was drop me in the middle of fucking no where, with my hand raised in the air like an asshole.

Hefting my own bags over my shoulder, one full of my coaching gear, the other crammed with papers waiting for grading, I headed out to my car. The neat little four-door rental was tucked into a corner of the lot away from everyone else.

I didn't mind the walk. The fall air was crisp against my face, leaving a tingly feeling on the skin above my beard as I puffed across the lot. My lips curled at the parking habit. There was always someone who needed that close spot more than me. My Grandpa had taught me that. Drilled it into me during every grocery run, every post office stop. Now I didn't even notice the curbside availability, no matter how early I got to the stadium.

Slowing, I pulled out my keys, letting the familiar weight roll around my fingers. I tossed one bag to the floorboards, the other to the backseat, and then crammed my heavy frame into the driver seat.

Turning the older styled ignition key, I stared out into the night. This was the best kind of Friday night. The stadium lights were still bright post-game, I could distantly hear the happy chatter and conversation of happy sports fans, and even better than that, my football players had played their hearts out tonight.

It was a great start to a season I had never imagined. Turning the key, I blinked down at the dark dashboard. Nothing happened. Looking down at the console, my foot tapping habitually on the brake, then the gas, I tried the ignition again. Nothing. Not even a groan from the car below me. I raked my hands through my dark hair, resisting the urge to yank at the too-long strands.

"Come on baby, don't do this to me tonight." I gave the steering cajoling wheel a pat. "You can do this. You can do this."

I turned the key again. Third time the charm, eh?

Not for me. Not tonight apparently. The car remained silent and dead to the world as I yanked my keys back out.

"Son of a -," I growled, flinging the door open and marching around to the hood, muttering curses as I did.

"Having a rough night?"

If I'd had enough energy to jump out of my skin, I would've. Thankfully all that was left in my tanks was a quick jerk over one shoulder to stare at the source of the voice. Sometime during my car's little temper tantrum, a sleek black tesla had pulled up beside me.

But that's not what held my attention.

The driver did.

I stared as she unfolded herself gracefully from the vehicle. Every inch of her body was encased in one of those one-piece jumpsuit things. This one as black as the night sky above us, and every inch as alluring. Silken tan skin glowed under the stadium lights as she came around front. Her face was remarkable, the long slender lines of her cheeks fit perfectly to the cupid's bow lips which smiled coyly at me. And her eyes, they were like steel, dark and glinting under perfectly sculpted brows. She had a freckle, no they call it a beauty mark, just above one eyebrow. The dot to her eye.