Read Online Wrecked (Clayton Falls) by Alyssa Rose Ivy - Free Book Online Page B

that summer. He was one of the few friends I’d talked to since the accident.
    “Nothing. I guess no one’s looking for a new accountant with no work experience during a recession.”
    “You could always talk to my dad. You know he’d find something for you.”
    “Yeah, I might have to. I just hate doing that.”
    “He won’t mind, but it’s up to you.”
    “I’ll find something. Until then, I’ll be right here annoying the hell out of you.”
    “Lucky me.” Truthfully, I was glad to have him. Cole usually managed to make every situation more interesting.
    “You said Anderson and Mitchell were sticking it out, where are they?”
    “They’ll be here. Mitchell’s been cool, but Anderson definitely doesn’t like answering to me.”
    Cole laughed. “Anderson always hated you.”
    “For no apparent reason.”
    “You gave him hell, and he couldn’t do anything about it.”
    I grinned. “Yeah, we got away with a lot back then, didn’t we?” Cole was the tight end when I was quarterback in high school. The team needed us, and we knew it. We pushed the limits every chance we got.
    The shouting and laughing started before I could even see the team. I had this. There was no reason to be nervous about talking to a bunch of kids about football. I waited impatiently as they filed onto the field.
    Mitchell and Anderson joined us. I nodded toward Cole. “Cole’s going to help out, too.”
    “Whatever you say, Coach,” Mitchell said with a smile. When I’d met with them to discuss plays, he’d seemed genuinely excited to have me on board. I don’t know if it was because he liked me, or that it meant less work for him.
    I took a few steps toward where the team waited and it suddenly became quiet. Nice, I could command attention. “All right, guys. I know things have been messed up with Coach Wilkinson out, but that doesn’t mean it won’t be a good season. For those of you who don’t know, I’m Jake Mathews. Or I guess you should call me Coach Mathews.” I glanced at Cole. He was loving this.
    The team just stared at me.
    “I’m new at this, and I can’t promise miracles, but we’re going to figure it out. You obviously know Coach Anderson and Coach Mitchell. This is Coach Mays. I’m assuming Coach Wilkinson still runs things the way he did when I was here—and I’m going to stick to that for now. So let’s get moving. Start with two warm up laps then break into teams.”
    The guys took off, and I shook my head. It was going to be a very long season. I was trying not to let my nerves show with the players, but I knew how much was riding on me. The team meant everything to the community and the kids. I couldn’t screw it up. For the millionth time, I wondered why they’d been crazy enough to trust me with the job.

    ***

    “I don’t know anything about football. Was that a good practice?” Molly climbed down from the bleachers after I sent the guys into the locker room.
    “It was fine. I think.” I clasped my hands behind my head. I was exhausted and stressed. I wanted a drink. Scratch that, I needed one. There was only one thing I wanted more. “Are you busy right now?”
    “I’m going to drive you home…” She looked at me funny.
    “Is there any way I could convince you to drive me to Wilmington?”
    “It depends on whether you have a good reason to go.” She took a seat on the bottom row.
    I sat next to her. “It’s to see a girl.”
    “A girl? Between recovering from a collapsed lung and getting a DUI, you managed to meet a girl?”
    “I met her because of that…”
    “Wait. Oh my gosh. It’s the nurse, isn’t it?”
    “How’d you know?”
    “I just did. You were totally checking her out at the hospital.”
    I smiled. Leave it to Molly to notice something like that. I think girls are just more perceptive. “Does that mean you’ll drive me?”
    “Have you seen her since you left?”
    “A couple of times.” I kept the details to myself.
    “How? Did she come