Before I can finish my sentence, the doorbell rings. Uncle Hudson glances at his phone and smiles. It’s the first real smile I’ve seen from him seen since early last fall.
“Wait here, Maggie,” he says. “I’ll be right back.”
As I watch him leave the room, it occurs to me that he hasn’t called Margo once since I’ve been here.
CHAPTER 43
JT
My strategy sessionwith Mickey this morning went exactly the way I thought it would. He’s probably still bouncing. I swore him to secrecy, and I know he’ll keep his mouth shut until I can figure a way out of this mess.
His solution was to dig up some dirt on Curtis and blackmail him.
If this were a TV show, that might work. But this is my life, my future.My family.
I don’t know what the hell to do.
Obviously, I can’t throw a game. That’s not even an option.
The logical answer is to go to the authorities, but I know Curtis will either make good on his threat to take me down, or worse, he’ll do something to put Maggie in danger.
I’ve even considered playing up my injury, as shitty as that would be. If I’m out of the game, does that negate the bet? But Kersey’s got a losing record, so forcing myself to sit out isn’t too far from throwing the game. And I’m not going anywhere near that shit.
There’s got to something I can do, but I’m out of ideas. My brain is scrambled and that probably has something to dowith the fact that Maggie’s only a few weeks shy of her due date and I’m fucking terrified.
That’s why I’m ringing Coach’s doorbell this early in the morning.
It takes him a second to answer, and he looks like shit. He’s been prepping like crazy for the Frozen Four, but the man looks like he hasn’t slept or maybe even showered in a couple days.
“Norris,” he says. “What brings you by? Is?—”
I shake my head because I know what he’s about to say and even though he’s been a prick, I don’t want him to worry. “Maggie’s fine. Great, actually. The baby, too.”
“Good. That’s good,” Coach says, still standing in his doorway. “I know she’s not due for a little over a month yet, but by the end of next week, she’ll be considered full-term.”
“You been reading up on pregnancy, Coach?” I’m not sure why the idea makes me happy as shit and mad as hell all at the same time.
“Yes, actually. Maggie’s my niece. I’ve loved her since the minute I found out I was going to be an uncle. I was thirteen. I knew shit about life and less about babies. She has always been special to me,” Coach says, rubbing the back of his neck. “I know I haven’t acted like it lately, but she’s family. And we look out for each other, even if it means reading parenting books.”
I don’t know what to say to that. The words are nice, but so much damage has been done. I can’t stay quiet, though. “You should let her know that. It would me a lot to her.”
Coach just looks at me, and I don’t have the patience to figure out what he’s thinking. Suddenly, I’m possessed by the need to see Maggie. I don’t know if I’m ready to tell her everything, but just holding her in my arms is going to calm my ass down.
“Look, Coach, I gotta go. I?—”
“Wait, JT,” he calls. The use of my first name, such as it is, causes me to stop. “What do you need?” he asks.
“I don’t know,” I answer honestly. “I’ve got a lot on my mind.”
“No shit. So why are you here?”
“I shouldn’t be,” I say with more force than necessary. “I should be home in bed with my girl making plans for the future, not here on your doorstep like some kid who needs his big brother’s help. There’s only one reason I’m here, Coach, and that’s Maggie.”
He smiles—fucking smiles—at me. “Funny, that’s the same reason she gave me.”
Coach leaves his door wide open as he turns and walks back into the house. “Pick up the pace, Norris. You’re slower than your girlfriend and she’s nearly thirty-six weeks pregnant. We’re in my office.”
“Wait, is Maggie—” I bolt through the door at the mere thought that my girlfriend is here, and when I see her sitting in one of the club chairs in Coach’s home office, I can’t resist the urge to wrap my arms around her. It’s awkward as hell because she’s sitting and I’m standing, but when my lips touch her forehead, something inside me immediately calms down. We’re going to be okay. Somehow, we’re going to figure this out.
