Game On The Line by Summer Jamie

Author:Summer, Jamie [Summer, Jamie]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Published: 2018-08-29T16:00:00+00:00

* * *

The next day, practice didn’t go according to plan. I tried, I really did, but my thoughts were on what Tyler had told me earlier that day.

He’d talked to Betty.

At the signing.

With her mom.

I tried to wrap my head around the fact that she was there but didn’t come up to say hi.

What had she been doing there in the first place?

I tried not to read too much into it, but it was hard. I wanted her to have been there because of me. And I hated myself for that.

It had only taken two meetings and I was right back to where I was six years ago when she left me. I’d considered leaving practice and going straight to her place, but knew I couldn’t do that without jeopardizing my career. Coach wasn’t happy with me to begin with, so that would have been a bad idea.

“Michaelson, over here. Now.”

Looking up, I saw Coach wave at me, so I trotted over. He gestured for me to sit next to him on the bench, continuing to watch the others move on offense the way they were supposed to. The way I should’ve been, had I been out there mentally. He didn’t say anything for a few minutes. The longer he stayed silent, the more nervous I grew.

“We need to talk.”

That was never a good thing.

“Management talked to me about your performance again. They noticed some improvement, but not enough to feel comfortable with keeping you on the team.”

I heard the words, but wasn’t sure I understood them. “Coach, what—”

He held up a hand. “Listen. I told them I’m not kicking you off. Not yet. However, they said you need to give it everything you’ve got this week. It’s all or nothing at this point. There’s another player vying for your position, and right now, he seems to be doing ten times better than you. I like you, but I can’t make my decision based on that. You have this week and the game on Saturday to show everyone what you’ve got. If you can’t deliver, we won’t be able to keep you on the team.

“Go home, get some rest. Come back tomorrow with a clear head and show me that willingness I know you have in you.” Coach clapped me on the shoulder, then got up and walked out onto the field.

I sat there, stunned. Off the team? Ten times better than me? I only have this week?

I ran the conversation through my head five more times to make sure I hadn’t misunderstood. I wanted to. I wanted the words to change to him telling me everything was fine, but the more time passed, the more the realization set in that he did, in fact, give me an ultimatum.

This week. I only had a few more days to decide about my future.

Iciness spread in my veins, the pressure mounting into panic of not being good enough. The fear of having to return home.

My chest tightened and I tried to breathe, but no air would fill my lungs.

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