Page 31 of The Maverick's Homecoming
But why?
It was high school and the team was just pulling itself together. It took time to build a winning lineup, and any coach worth the title knew that.
Didn’t matter. Finn was embarrassed. And furious, too.
At himself. He couldn’t help feeling that he’d let everyone down, and he entered the locker room expecting to confront a sea of glum, pissed-off faces to match his own.
Wrong.
“Coach!” Darren Tuttle shouted as he pumped his fist in the air. “Titans rule!”
The whole team started clapping then, Barrett included. Finn realized he should say something. Instead, he just stood there with his mouth hanging open, stunned at the totally undeserved applause.
Still, he couldn’t deny the proof of his own eyes and ears. Everyone was thrilled. They were high-fiving each other, honestly excited at how well they’d played.
Biff McGuffy, a cornerback, declared, “Two touchdowns! And we only lost by ten.” He clapped Finn on the back. “And we will get better, Coach. Just you wait and see!”
Finn was smiling, too, by then. The boys had it right. They’d played their best, and they would only get better from here on out.
He thought of his dad. Finn Sr. only ever counted the wins. And for way too long, Finn had cared far too much about his father’s opinions.
Not anymore, he reminded himself for the umpteenth time in the past several years.
Yeah, wins mattered. But so did playing your heart out. These sweaty, cheering guys around him had done just that tonight.
He put up a hand. The locker room fell silent.
“Bronco Valley High took the win tonight,” he said. “Those boys outplayed us. But we are just getting started…”
The Titans erupted in shouts of “Yeah!” and “Truth!” and “You said it, Coach!”
Finn nodded. “You guys worked your butts off tonight, and every day for the last two weeks of preseason practice. And take my word for it, you will work even harder. And you will win…and win again. Every setback offers a chance to come back stronger. And youwilldo just that. I know it. And I know you know it, too. Be proud, Titans.”
There was whistling and stomping.
Finn couldn’t suppress his smile as he reminded them, “And please be on time for recovery practice tomorrow.”
* * *
Finn was the last to leave the gym that night. And the last person he expected to see as he went out the door was standing in the shadows a few feet away.
“Hey.” Kenzie rolled her medical bag closer and stood it upright at her feet. “Good game.”
He looked at her sideways. “Bronco Valley would definitely agree.”
“The Titans seemed pretty happy with the outcome,” she replied.
“I know.” He grinned down at her.
“And theyshouldbe happy, Finn. They did their best. What more can you ask?”
“A hell of a lot.” He grinned even wider. “And I will. Just watch me.”
She tipped her head toward the dark sky. He followed her gaze. Up there in the heavens, a narrow wisp of cloud drifted across the almost-full moon. “Nice night,” she said. At his nod, she asked, “How about some coffee? I even have decaf at my place if you’re worried that the real thing will keep you awake.”
He studied her upturned face. Her skin glowed in the light of the moon and her changeable eyes were jade green rimmed in deepest blue.
She frowned. “So, that’s a no, then?”
