Quarterback Sneak (Red Zone Rivals #3)(81)

And I realized in that moment, more than ever, that none of this mattered without her.

“I’m so sorry, I… excuse me.”

I didn’t say anything more before I darted off the small stage, Charlotte calling my name as I whizzed by her. I knew Giana would be upset, but I’d make it up to her later.

Multiple people tried to stop me as I weaved through the hallway. Players wanted to celebrate, staff wanted to congratulate me, and I didn’t miss the disappointment on a scout’s face when he tried to stop me, and I apologized before running right past.

I aimed for the locker room, and when I made it, I stopped, trying to catch my breath as I looked for her.

“What’s up, Cap?” Zeke asked.

“Have you seen Julep?”

He smirked, nodding toward the back where our training staff had set up camp.

I sprinted toward it, sliding through the door as my cleats tried and failed to find traction on the tile floor.

I came to a stop right in front of Coach Lee.

He frowned, catching me before I crashed right into him, but then I looked behind him and found Julep.

I reached back long enough to shut the door behind me, to make sure no one else on the team would butt in and ruin the only opportunity I had. I didn’t know how this was going to go, but I knew I didn’t want them hearing either way.

There was a window on the door with a shade above it. I pulled that down, and then it was just the three of us.

“Moore, what—”

“The deal is off.”

He frowned. “What in the hell are—”

I held up a finger as I struggled to catch my breath, sneaking a glance at where Julep stood behind him. She was folding up equipment and storing it in the giant duffle bags we brought with us, but right now, she was frozen, holding tight to a roll of sports tape and staring at me wide-eyed.

I turned my attention back to Coach, standing as tall as I could as I looked him right in the eye.

“Sir, I have thought about it for a month now. I have respected your wishes and I have left Julep alone.”

“And I—”

“No,” I said, cutting him off. “You didn’t let me speak last time, but this time, you will hear me out.”

His jaw was tight as he shut his mouth, and I knew it wouldn’t stay shut for long.

“I did as you asked. I have been nothing but focused on this team and this game. I have shown you in every way that I can that I am serious about football and about the responsibility you give me as quarterback and captain.” I paused. “But I can’t do this anymore.”

I looked at Julep, at how her knuckles where white where she gripped the tape. She shook her head slightly like she was silently begging me not to do whatever I was about to do.

But there was nothing that could stop me now.

“Sir, with all due respect,” I said, turning back to Coach. “Bench me.”

His head snapped back like those words had slapped him across the face.

“Sit me in the championship game if that’s what you want to do. Call every scout you know and tell them I’m washed up and that they shouldn’t draft me. Blackball me in every way that you possibly can.”

I swallowed, my body revolting at the remote possibility of all of that truly happening, at the fact that it probably would.

But my heart beat strong.

“You can hold true on all your threats,” I continued. “You can take everything else away from me. But you can’t take her.”

I looked at Julep, and her eyes glossed over, the tape falling from her hands and rolling on the ground toward one of the tables.

“I love your daughter, Coach Lee,” I said, though my eyes didn’t leave her. “I love her, and I don’t care what you or anyone else thinks about it. My heart used to belong to football, but now it belongs to her. And none of this,” I added, throwing my hands up. “None of it means a damn thing without her.”

Coach swallowed, his brows furrowed as he watched me with his hands curling into fists at his sides. He opened his mouth like he was going to say something, but then a soft voice chimed behind him.

“You love me?”

My head snapped in her direction, and Julep stood there with her eyes glossed and hands trembling.

I rushed to her in the next breath, taking those shaking hands in mine and holding them steady. I curled my own hands around them, pulled them to my chest, and held her close.

“With every hopelessly optimistic beat of my heart.”

Something between a laugh and a sob broke through her, and she rolled her lips together, shaking her head.

“I will be here,” I said, tugging her hands to my chest again. “Every day. I’ll be right by your side reminding you that you matter, that you are needed, that there is a reason to have hope and a reason to live. I’ll be here reminding you that for me? You are that reason.”

She closed her eyes, freeing a silent tear that raced down to her chin before falling to the floor.

I still held her hand as I rotated, lacing my fingers with hers and turning back to her father.

“You can bench me if that’s what you feel you need to do, but I love this girl,” I said, squeezing her hand. “And I’m not backing down.”

Coach glared at me, then at where I held his daughter’s hand. “Even if it costs you everything?”