Redemption

THEN IT'S A DATE

I didn't think of my future often. Mostly because I never thought I'd make it here. I spent years planning on how I'd escape hell house, thinking I'd never do it. Then I did.

My list of goals was simple – make it out alive. When I did it, I was left with nothing other than wondering what I was supposed to do now. I'm learning how to live a normal life after what happened. Mostly I'm just trying to figure out why I'm still breathing when I never planned on making it this far.

Now I'm standing on a practice field beside the players Carter introduced me to, watching him run plays until he got it right. Every so often, his eyes drifted off to the sidelines.

"Price's little sister, right?"

I turned to find the coach approaching me. "Sawyer."

"Right," he cleared his throat. "And since you're wearing my tight end's jersey, I'll assume you're the reason he's so distracted today."

"I'm sorry – "

"No need to apologize," he cut me off. "He said you'd be joining us. I didn't expect him to be so dazed by your presence but here we are."

"If I'm too much of a distraction, I can wait somewhere else until he's done."

"Actually, Sawyer, he told me you're interested in sports. What is it you want to do?"

I didn't know what to say. I wasn't exactly sure how to answer. "What are my options?"

"Depends," the coach crossed his arms. "Do you want to be involved with a team directly or work with different divisions?"

"I think I'd like to be the one asking questions."

His lips curled as he nodded. "Tell you what. If you can look at my o-line and tell me one thing that needs to be fixed, I can make that happen."

I didn't like the way it sounded, but Carter wouldn't have said anything if he didn't trust him. So, I tried to breathe and understand that sometimes we need help. Even if we're afraid it'll come back to haunt us.

"Swing passes don't work for you," I blurted as he walked away. "Your offensive linemen don't know how to block, and 65 is lost every time the ball gets snapped."

"Oh?"

"You're known for having blocking tight ends, but your tight end is your biggest weapon. Set him up. He's dangerous on the left."

He stopped aggressively chomping his gum. "What's your background, Sawyer?"

"My background?"

"Did you work with a team in high school?"

"I watched my first football game last week, sir."

"Ever?"

"Ever. I'm just very observant."

He hummed before his jaw went back to work on his gum. When he turned away, I wondered if I offended him, but he blew his whistle. Everyone on the field stopped before gathering in a huddle.

Coach rubbed his face a few times before turning to me. "This is Sawyer. Last week, Sawyer watched her first football game. Ever. She stood next to me on the sidelines and when asked what mistakes we're making on the field, she came with a list. So, we're gonna try something. We're gonna run her play to see what happens."

"My play? I didn't give you a play."

"Tell me what you want to see, Sawyer."

I watched him mark spots on his clipboard, followed by arrows. He listened to everything I said until we had a play drawn up. His players tuned in, paying attention to what he called for until they were set up on the field. Anxiety flooded my body as he brought the whistle to his lips.

When the noise flooded the complex, the quarterback clapped, and the football shot into his hands. I watched Carter cut the defense before flying down the field. Cade swung a pass to the running back. With the ball tucked beneath his arm and nothing but an open field to play with, he ran it into the end zone.

The coach turned around to look at me. "Very good, Sawyer. Very good."

"Thank you, sir."

"Apply tonight and I'll make it worth your while."

"Apply?"

"You'll be enrolled immediately," he watched me hesitate. "Say yes, Sawyer."

My lips parted at the man awaiting an answer. "Yes, sir."

"Call me Kirk," he grinned. "It's been a pleasure meeting you, Sawyer."

He walked away without saying another word. I wanted to tell Carter, but the curly-haired punter stepped in my way.

"Congratulations," Tory grinned. "I guess I won't be seeing the field as much."

I rolled my eyes, smiling. "I corrected one play."

"Did I need any correction?"

"You're kicking a fucking ball," Cade took a swig of his water. "Not like it's that hard."

"You're right," the punter snickered. "What's hard is watching your offense choke so much you have to punt the ball to save their ass."

I watched them bicker back and forth before 87 approached me in the middle of taking his helmet off. Warmth spread through my stomach as he focused on me.

"Hello, Sawyer."

My toes curled. "Hi."

"I heard about your offer."

"I heard it was because of you."

"I put in a good word," the space between his eyebrows creased. "You're talented all by yourself. I think everyone just realized that. I'm hoping you did to."

"Thank you."

"It's a thankless job, Sawyer," he grinned. "I hope you don't have any plans tonight. I was thinking pizza and shakes while we worked on your application."

"You're gonna help me?"

"Do you not want me to?"

"Of course, I do," I blurted. "I just didn't think – "

"Stop. I said it once. I won't say it again. I'm desperate to spend time with you. I don't really care what we're doing as long as we're together."

"Then it's a date," my cheeks heated afterward. "Or not a date. Just friends. Hanging out. Eating pizza and applying for college."

The smirk spreading across Carter's lips only became more wide. "You're hurting my feelings, Sawyer. Of course, tonight's a date."