Chapter 7

CHAPTER 7

LEMON

I still hate the idea of fundraising. Everything about it just makes me cringe. I only stop pulling the hockey flyers down when Dean Devaroe comes to my office to tell me to stop. Apparently, students have seen me do it several times. Arguing that he’s not even in this building doesn’t help my cause.

Amelia, Devaroe’s receptionist, calls me and tells me to act like a grown man and stop throwing a tantrum for not getting my way. I think she’d have said more, but she cut herself off. “Watch what you say and do, Frost,” she told me, her tone icy. “You already have a very long list of transgressions in HR. The students see you.”

Now I’m pouting in my office. I don’t want to get fired over this, that would just be stupid. But I’m so damn angry. This isn’t fair!! And then he had the audacity to show up in my office and try to show me pity by inviting me to participate in his events! Ugh. How does no one else besides me see how manipulative that is?!

It’s fine. I don’t need to remake the wheel. That’s what Sugar told me last night. She’s right. I have more than a hundred players at my disposal. I can take these cliché fundraisers that everyone does and make them great. They’ll get the Lemon treatment and it will be great.

I’ve even run the ideas by my coaching staff and while many of them were frowning at me for whatever reason, they agreed. Mostly.

“You cannot require them to wear Speedos,” Coach Norman said.

“That’s the point of the sexy car wash,” I say, waving my hand to encompass the other things, too. “How else will I attract a lot of people?”

“Because it’s for a good cause?” Coach Leonard suggests.

I roll my eyes. “I need extra draw. Pizzazz. Otherwise, why not just go to the automatic wash down the road where they’re fully clothed?”

“If you want a sexual harassment suit against you, by all means, require them to wear Speedos,” Norman deadpans.

“That’s not?—”

“It is,” several of my coaches say in unison, interrupting me.

“It’s no different than if Dean Devaroe required you to come into work in a thong and nothing else because it fit his agenda,” Norman says.

I’m sure it’s different. A completely different situation. While I’m not sure how it’s different, I’m confident it is. However, I give in. We will suggest bathing suits of whatever nature they choose, but obviously they can wear whatever they want.

Before practice, I head to The Queer Palace Café for a drink and a sandwich. Amelia’s words ring in my mind, so I try to keep my irritated expression as neutral as I know how. I’m not sure I succeed since everyone still gives me a wide berth. Maybe I ought to work on my expressions.

“Thank you,” I say to the girl behind the counter when she hands me my order. I even offer her a smile. Since she returns it, I think that maybe at least she knows I’m polite.

Taking a sip of my Pink Ruffle Fairy drink, I step back outside. And then come face to face with five people sitting at the table directly in my path. Zarek, Declan, Quin, and Alka are sitting with Hansley. He’s smiling and my stomach flips.

Wow.

I wince internally. Why is ‘wow’ the first word that comes to mind every time I see this man? How is his smile so perfect? Why does it light up his face? Why does my enemy have to be one of the most gorgeous people I’ve ever seen?

Frustrating. Unfair.

And the fact he’s made friends with everyone who dislikes me is maddening. Seeing Zarek and Declan together makes my blood hot with indignation. How can Declan have chosen that nerd over me?! He has a very boring sense of fashion, too. The only thing he has going for him is the variety of pearls he wears. They’re awfully pretty.

But for real. Ugh!

Taking a breath and straightening my shoulders, I head in their direction. It’s the most direct route to the football field. My sunglasses conceal my eyes, so I know as long as I keep looking forward, they won’t know that I’m staring at Hansley.

His eyes flicker to me when he notices I’m walking toward them. Not directly, but definitely in their vicinity. It’s not at all intentional when the sashay in my hips becomes a little more pronounced.

The chatter at their table quiets as all five of them watch me as I walk by. I pretend Hansley turns so he can watch my ass while I walk away.

I’m early when I get to the field, but I feel better knowing that they were there watching me. In fact, I feel a little smug about it as I sit on the bench in my padded seat.

The gear is already outside. Thank fuck my work-study positions are all filled now, so I don’t have to worry about who’s going to do the little things. Like set up for practice. That’s just annoying.

Sitting in my chair, I eat my sandwich and appreciate that I’m in a much better mood than I have been in a while. Being checked out does that to a person. By the time I’m finished eating and am sipping on my drink, my team begins filing onto the field, following my coaches.

I don’t get up as they approach. In the front are my three favorites—Peyton, Eli, and Winston. I think Winston will be recruited this year. Sadly, because I enjoy having him on my team.

When everyone is present and accounted for, Norman gives me a nod.

Setting down my drink, I get to my feet. “We need to get to the championships this year,” I tell them. “We’re going to work extra hard to make sure you’re at your peak. You will eat, sleep, and breathe football this year. It’s vitally important.”

Several of my coaches are frowning at me, but my team nods. There are even several smiles.

“Before we get to work, we need to talk about fundraising. Due to nothing we’ve done, we’ve lost a great deal of the budget we typically have, and I’ve been left scrambling as I try to find a way to fill in the gap. I had some ideas, but… they didn’t pan out.”

Norman told me it’s bad form to accuse another coach of stealing my ideas. He refuses to let me say anything along those lines.

“So we’re going for some tried-and-true ideas, but maybe with a twist. I’d like to hold a bake sale, start up some midday dog walking, and a car wash. Now, I know what you’re thinking. These are lame, Coach. I agree. That’s why we’re going to spice them up! So… you know how the cheer squad is always doing things in their little skirts or bikinis?” I ask, grinning. “I don’t see why we can’t do the same.”

“You want us in bikinis?” Collin asks.

“No,” Norman answers before I have a chance to. “You can wear whatever you like—including any form of bathing suit. One piece, trunks, Speedos, bikinis. All are welcome. However, if you’re uncomfortable wearing a bathing suit, that’s okay too. You can wear whatever you’re comfortable in.”

When I say I spent a great deal of time in my mirror teaching myself a neutral expression, I mean that. I had to memorize what my face feels like in neutral. Muscle memory and all that shit. I’m at least 73% confident that I pulled it off.

“Yes,” I agree, taking note of my voice. “As Norman said, you may wear what you’re comfortable in.” I’d really like to say that I encourage them to wear something sexy because, like it or not, sex sells. But I don’t. Norman really is a great voice of reason. “I have a work-study student who is getting these things together. You’re required to sign up for at least one of these events. If there are schedule conflicts, speak to me. Any questions?”

“Can I wear a thong bikini?” Peyton asks, giving me a wide grin. Snorts surround him.

“If you’d like,” I answer, smiling widely. “I think that would gather quite a bit of attention. That’s what we’re looking for—attention.”

“Definitely enjoy attention from some people,” he agrees.

Yep, I think he’s talking to me.

“Coach?”

Pulling my eyes from Peyton, I search out the voice. “Yes?”

“Can we participate in the dodgeball tournament?” Cody asks.

He’s now one of my least favorite players. Can I make him do suicides for the remainder of practice? Pressing my lips together, I stare at him.

The thing is, I don’t truly have a reason besides I don’t want to support or encourage Hansley in any way. Besides, I can’t tell them that.

“All the proceeds we bring in will go to the football team,” Cody says.

“I’d love to sign up for the date auction,” Adam pipes up.

“Definitely though I’m bummed about some of the restrictions,” Peyton laments.

“Which restrictions?” Collin asks.

“The age restriction and the one where staff cannot bid on a student,” he answers, his eyes meeting mine again.

Winston snickers, shoving him. “You’re not subtle, dude.”

I look at Norman. He knows I don’t want them doing these things. None of the ones that the other coaches organized. But I grudgingly recognize that it’s segregating my kids unnecessarily and I don’t want them to feel singled out for any reason.

The thing I love most about Rainbow Dorset is the lack of segregation in anything. There’s a wide rainbow of diversity everywhere. It spans everything from culture, creed, gender, sexuality, disabilities… and the list continues. I love this school for that reason more than any other.

Being the one responsible for creating that divide is not what I want to leave behind.

Taking a breath to swallow the bad taste in my mouth, I nod. “You may. However, I don’t want you to let it interfere with your studies, the team, or your efforts on our own fundraisers.”

“Are we going to do a community fundraiser too?” Forest asks.

“What do you mean?”

“All the other teams came up with a fundraiser for the entire athletic department to participate in. Dodgeball and dating are from hockey. Oh, and the teacher sponsors program. Men’s soccer is putting on the give it up challenge. Women’s lacrosse is hosting a pledge challenge. Field hockey is doing a cute baby picture challenge,” Forest answers.

“Women’s soccer is doing the community classes,” Adam adds.

I frown and look at Norman. He gives me a look that I know too well. This has all been covered in your email.

“What do you have in mind?” Norman asks the team.

There’s a minute where they’re all talking at once, shouting ideas and possibilities. I’m surprised. I had no idea that they wanted to do this kind of thing.

“Okay, okay,” Norman calls out, laughing. “We appreciate your enthusiasm. Email Coach—copying me, you know the rules—with your ideas and we’ll discuss them.”

I nod my agreement. As the idea settles over me, I decide that we’re going to put on the best community fundraiser. It’ll blow all the others away.

“Good. Anything else before we get started?” I ask.

“I think there should be an auction date with a teacher,” Peyton says offhandedly.

Norman sighs. “Peyton,” he warns.

Peyton grins. “Ready for practice, Coach.”

Norman looks at me and I grin. Peyton never ceases to make me smile. “Then let’s get to it. Time to double down. We will make it to finals this year!”

Even though my coaching staff thinks I’m putting a lot of pressure on my team with this, they cheer. They’re excited. We’ve had two games so far and have won them both. We’re performing strongly. There’s determination in their faces. Drive in their moves.

This is our year.