11. Gianni

Chapter eleven

Gianni

Tuesday, February 25, 2025

I somehow managed to peel my ass out of bed this morning, drop Pickles off at my parents’, and make it to practice.

Now that I’m here with the dark clouds hovering over the field and the threat of rain, I’m even more miserable than I could’ve imagined. Soccer hasn’t brought me the same joy it once did since the accident, but standing here as I stare at a man I once respected, looked up to even, as he delivers the worst news possible just heightens my feelings of disdain.

“Damien Reyes will replace Alex Casillas this upcoming season,” Coach Antonio tells us.

This doesn’t make any fucking sense. He’s not even a goalkeeper!

“Coach, all due respect, but Reyes isn’t a goalkeeper anymore, and he hasn’t been for the last two seasons. How is he replacing Alex? ”

Coach pins my teammate with a glare. “Gutierrez, every decision I make has a purpose. Have I steered you wrong before?” His deep baritone challenges, those dark eyes piercing Xander Gutierrez with a look that tells him to keep his mouth shut.

As usual, I’m numb.

And as fucked as this sounds, I’m actually almost excited to have that piece of shit in my vicinity. At least if I’m angry, I’m feeling something . And that’s better than the numbness I’ve been saturated with since last September.

“As I was saying, he starts next week. Get your heads on straight because I don’t want a repeat of last year,” he states sternly, and this time, all eyes are on me.

Rage builds inside me at the reminder of what he’d said, but the pity on my teammates’ faces makes me want to pull my goddamn hair out.

“Go get changed,” he huffs finally.

I turn on my heel, not requiring the extra push to get the hell out of here, but his firm voice is at my back. “Everyone except you, De Laurentiis. Get over here.”

I swear, the clouds overhead darken a shade at his words.

Steeling my spine, I turn to face him.

He approaches me, his hulking form making him eye level with me, something I’m not used to.

“We’re not going to have any problems this season,” he says.

“No, there won’t be, Coach,” I confirm, dipping my chin. Though I’m not so sure it’s true.

“That wasn’t a question. I’m telling you.” Now, I’m the one being pinned with his steely gaze. “We are not going to have any problems this season. You’re a grown-ass man, and you’ll be treated like one. Last year, when you smashed his face in, I let it happen. I knew that whatever the hell he said must’ve been pretty bad for you to lose your temper like that,” he explains, putting his hands on his hips and widening his stance. “I let it slide because the accident had happened so recently, and I know Alex was your best friend. What happened to that young man is a goddamn tragedy, but you will not be landing your ass on the bench again. You’re on the same team now, and I need you to act like it.”

What I want to do is flip him off and tell him I quit because this game doesn’t bring me any fucking joy without Alex here, but I can’t do that because Alex would be pissed. I know he’s dead, but I’m rather convinced he’d come back to haunt me or at least my dreams. Not that he isn’t already doing that. It’s part of the reason I spend so much of my time asleep. At least then, I get to see him again, outside of the confines of pictures and old family videos.

“Yes, Coach. Can I get changed now?”

“Fine,” he grunts.

I take off at a sprint, and just like that, the rain comes pouring down. My feet slap against the wet turf as I make my way to the locker rooms to change.

After I’ve showered, I finally check my phone. I groan, finding that ten text messages await me.

I skim through them, ignoring them all, but see that Kat’s texted me. She doesn’t do that often.

Kat

Hey Gi… I have a funny story to tell you that might brighten your day a bit?

Doubtful, but I’m all ears .

At least over texts, I can be honest with her.

Kat

Well, at least you didn’t lie to me this time and say you’re “fine.”

Kat

I went out to dinner with Lark on Saturday…

Dr. Hughes?

Now she has my attention.

Kat

I’m not sure how many people you know named Lark, but yes… one and the same.

Wow, snarky today.

Kat

Just shut up and let me tell you the good news!

You’re starting to sound a lot like Aiyana…

Kat

She’s reading over my shoulder like the absolute pain in my ass that she is, but she says, “thank you.”

Oh, come the fuck on. These two.

Kat

Okay, so we had dinner and SHE THOUGHT YOU AND I WERE DATING!!!

What?

Kat

She was trying to break the news to me about my “boyfriend” cheating on me and asking her out.

Kat

How come you didn’t tell me you asked her out?

Because she said no…

And you tell my brother everything.

Kat

Not if you ask me not to!

Kat

Don’t you think it’d make sense to have told me something like that when I was trying to piece together why she didn’t seem to like you that first day?

How the hell was I supposed to know that was what you were thinking?

Kat

Well, you never asked.

Go away.

Kat

Wait! There’s more!!!

Oh, good fucking lord. Make it quick.

Kat

I think she’s going to be breaking up with her boyfriend soon… He seems like a jerk, honestly.

Not my business. Talk later.

Kat

You’re a pain sometimes. When you’re ready to fangirl about it, let me know!

Never gonna happen, but okay.

I’m not even sure what that means.

Kat

*face palm emoji*

I’m absolutely convinced Aiyana stole your phone. You two have fun.

Now I just feel fucking twisted that I want this woman to break up with her boyfriend, but at least she really does have a boyfriend. She already told me no though. She isn’t interested, so their breakup wouldn’t help me any. Besides, I barely know her. Maybe she’s just a pretty face .

Même moi, je ne crois pas aux mensonges que je me raconte. Even I don’t believe the lies I’m telling myself.