“Where are you?” I ask when she answers.
“I’m back home. She only gave me thirty minutes to get my things out and leave. I didn’t even get to say goodbye to everyone, and I didn’t want to interrupt your practice. I came back and have been hanging out with your parents and Levi…just saw that I’d missed your message.”
“I’m so sorry, Elle. This is…I hate this.”
“No, it’s okay. I knew it was risky?—”
“It's not okay. I want to do something about it.”
“It's not worth it.”
“It is. This was important to you. Let me see if there's anything I can do. I've got to at least try. I don't want you losing something you love because of me.”
“It won't do any good,” she says. “I willingly broke the rules, and I’d do it again. I told Lisa you're worth it and I meant it.”
“You and Levi are my world. I love you.”
“I love you too.”
We hang up and I go to Coach Evans’ office and rap on the door.
“What's up?” he asks.
“Can I talk to you for a minute?”
“Of course. Come in.”
I go inside and shut the door.
“I’ll just get right to it. I’ve been best friends for thirteen years with Elle Benton…you’ve met her at some of our family parties. Well, I’m not sure if you’re aware, but she became a Mustangs cheerleader this season.”
“Oh,” he says.
“Yeah…” I can’t hide my grimace. “She loves it and I was so happy for her to be on the team…and then realized what all that truly meant. First, we tried not to see each other, but she's the godmother of my child…and I'm in love with her.”
“Oh,” he says again, chuckling. “I didn't know it was like that, but I should’ve. She’s a great girl. Beautiful too.”
“Yeah, it’s like that. It's always been like that on my end and we've just realized it has been on hers too. I’m with her, Coach. I'm all in. I'm completely,madlyin love with her, and she just lost her job over it.”
“Damn, Rhodes. I’m sorry to hear that. Happy for you and Elle though. I do remember her. You’ve needed a good woman to settle you down.”
I’ve needed Elle, period.
“Those rules are put in place for a reason,” he adds.
“She's just so good at what she does. And we're not going to cause any drama for the team. It’s not like we’re just sleeping together for the fun of it…I mean it’sfun, but this is a forever kind of thing.”
He chuckles.
“Is there anything we can do?”
“I don't think so. I can see now why you were so distracted during the practice.”
“I’ll get it together before Sunday.”
“I believe you. I want to keep you happy, Rhodes. I’ll talk to Lisa, tell her this isn’t just a casual hookup with Elle. But Lisa’s pretty firm, and you understand this goes higher up than her. These are rules that have been set in stone for a long time. But we can see if she’s open to bringing it up with her superiors.”
“Thank you. I’d appreciate it if you try.”
