Page 84 of The Biggest Win

I take a deep breath. Choosing this moment to believe Jackson, to believe everything I know him to be, choosing a future with him that encompasses trust.

“I believe you, Jackson. I do.”

He literally sags into me, throwing his arms around me. “Oh my god. Thank you. I started getting alerts and I couldn’t get back here fast enough. I thought it was one more thing that was going to ruin me.”

“It’s not going to ruin you. Or us, because we’re choosing not to let it.”

Tapping my phone, I think for a minute. “I also see the correlation between these things happening on important days where you need to focus.” I lift a brow. “This reeks of Tony and Nick and honestly, I’m so sick of it.”

“You’re right and I had the same thought a few weeks ago. All the bad press we’ve gotten has been after I’ve had some type of run in with either of them.”

“I have a feeling about something, but I’ll take care of it after this game.” Standing up, feeling braver than ever before, I grab Jacksons hands, pulling him to stand with me as I wrap myself around his waist. “You have a title to bring home, Coach.” I stand on my tiptoes to give him a kiss.

“Let’s do it!”

Chapter 43

Jackson

Clap, Clap, Clap.

“Gather round! I’ve got something to say.”

The boys all come in close as I jump up on to one of the benches in the locker room. They wait on my words with bated breath, the room so still and silent you can hear a pin drop. The nervous energy is dancing around this room like sparks.

But so is the excitement.

“Do you know what they’re saying about us?” A few grumbles and no’s answer me. “They say that we’re lucky. That us winning States last year was a fluke. We caught lightning in a bottle.”

The grumbles get louder.

“That lightning only strikes once.” I clap my hands together loudly. “That’s what they say.”

Still standing atop the bench, hands on my hips, I continue, “Me? I could say I’m proud of you. I could say whether we win or lose today, I'm happy we got this far. But I’m not going to say that. Know why?”

“Why coach?” A resounding question in unison.

I pause, all of them hanging on my words.

“Because I want to fucking win!” I roar out.

Yeah, I cursed at them. Sue me. I know what gets them fired up.

Cursing. Barking. Chanting. Cheering.

Wash, rinse, repeat.

“Boys!” I yell over their cheering, “I don’t only want to win. I want to destroy. I want them talking about us and this game for years. We aren’t a one hit wonder. We’re a team to be feared!”

“Yes Coach!”

“I want sixty minutes of everything you’ve got!”

“Yes Coach!”

“Now let’s get out there and win this!”

Barking. Jumping. “Ooh! Ooh! Ooh!”