Memories of the past week flash through my head in rapid succession, and nothing stands out as fireworthy, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t coming. Maybe Coach finally realized I’m the wrong fucking man to run a whole program. I’ve been saying it since day one. There are others here far more deserving of the role than me.
Swallowing back my unease, I follow him to his office. My friends reanimate once we are out of earshot, whispering to each other with what is surely childish glee. If Coach wasn’t two steps in front of me, I’d flip them off for their troubles.
The small office is tucked away in the weight room. Unlike the one I share with the other coaches, David’s space is kept in perfect order. I can count on one hand the number of times I’ve been in this office over the past decade. This is his space, and being in it is reminiscent of being called to the principal’s office.
He sits behind the pristine desk—there isn’t so much as a paperclip out of place—but I don’t take the seat across from him,instead choosing to lean against the door as if my heart isn’t going wild in my chest.
“What’s up?” I ask with a casualness I don’t feel.
“Sit down, Gage. This feels like a disciplinary meeting with you hovering there.”
“Is it not?”
“Should it be?” he asks, the challenge clear in his tone.
“No. Sorry, I’m just on edge.” I push down my nerves and follow his instructions.
“You’ve been on edge since the day I met you.” He lets out a fond chuckle and shakes his head. “What you’ve never been before is distracted. But these past few weeks, it’s like your head has been in the clouds. Want to tell me what that’s about?”
Goddamnit. The last thing I need is another motherfucker poking around in my love life. My thoughts drift back to my woman, and my lips curl into a grin.
“See. That dopey-ass smile right there. That’s what I’m talking about. I’ve known you for almost twenty years, and I’ve never seen you smile like that.”
“I’m seeing someone.” My face grows hot with the admission.
“Someone I know?”
It takes a second for the true meaning of his words to set in.
“No. She’s got no affiliation to the gym. I know damn well you’d tear me a new asshole if I started something with a member.”
There is no official rule forbidding coaches from dating members here as long as everyone involved is a consenting adult, but Coach isn’t afraid to voice his opinions on the matter. I’ve heard it a million times over the years. He thinks it’s a bad idea, and I agree. The risk of there being a power imbalance is too high, and that means things could end badly for all involved or paint Double Teep in a bad light. Even without the potential for power imbalance, it could still create a badenvironment. Gym relationships normally end with someone leaving. Normally, it’s the party least committed, and in cases with coaches, it’s always the student who sees the door.
I don’t think Icouldstart something with someone affiliated with the gym, even if I wanted to. That rule has been drilled into my head since I was a teenager. It’s almost offensive that Coach thinks I’d go against him now, but I get his need to do his due diligence. I would, too, if I were in his shoes.
He starts to relax when I realize it isn’t the entire truth. Kori might not be related to the gym now, but she has been by.
“Well, actually…” I start, and his back goes rigid.
“Which is it? Is she affiliated or not?”
“She did a trial lesson and hated every second of it, but we knew each other before that. Honestly, I think she showed up as an excuse to see me, not because she had any real interest in the sport.”
“You know damn well that isn’t what I mean,” he says as he sinks back in his seat. “I’m happy for you. She must be something special to put up with your stubborn ass.”
“Yeah, she is one hell of a woman.”
“When can I meet her?”
“You want to meet her?”
“Of course I do. Alison will too. She’s been asking about you, and the girls would love to see you. I swear all they talk about these days is ‘Coach Gage.’ Come over for dinner and bring your woman.”
After all these years, you’d think I’d be more comfortable with David and his wife’s attempts at building a more personal relationship outside the walls of the gym, but the idea has never sat right with me. He’s been my mentor for nearly two decades. To take that clear-cut relationship and try to change the dynamic now is a recipe for disaster. Even then, I indulge him onoccasion. They’ve done too much for me over the years for me to blow them off completely.
“Sure, but it will have to be after the school break.”
“Got plans with Karis and the others again?”
