Play Me, Coach Read online

  Play Me, Coach

  Sylvia Fox

  Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  9. Epilogue One

  10. Epilogue Two

  Also by Sylvia Fox

  Copyright © 2016 by Sylvia Fox

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  For news on giveaways and new releases, join the Sylvia Fox mailing list! No spam, just fun!

  Also find me on Facebook!

  Chapter One

  All I wanted to do was soak in a tub and lose myself in a thick paperback.

  I’d just finished my last exam before Christmas break and I was exhausted. I’d spent the last month studying my ass off, pulling all-nighters, and typing up papers until my fingers ached. I hadn’t gone to bed before 1 am in weeks.

  But now it was over. I could relax.

  I was a sophomore at Moultrie College and I’d just turned twenty the week before. My roommate and best friend, Holly Sutton, had wanted to take me out to celebrate. It really sucked that my birthday had to be at such an inconvenient time. I couldn’t afford to goof off, not even for one night.

  I didn’t come from much, after all. I was at Moultrie on an academic scholarship, so my grades were important. I had to keep above a certain GPA in order to stay at what was a prestigious and very expensive school. Any time I even thought of wanting to have fun, I considered my father back home, working long hours at a factory, and my mother who was an administrative assistant and a Mary Kay consultant on the side. They worked and hustled so I could have this opportunity; one neither of them had ever had themselves.

  I couldn’t let them down. Not after all their sacrifices.

  Moultrie was on the east coast, and I was from a tiny little town in Idaho. It had cost so much just to physically get me here, and that was before tuition or my room and board.

  As a matter of fact, my parents couldn’t afford to fly me back home for Christmas break this year. It broke their hearts to tell me that back in October, but I understood.

  And fortunately, I had Holly. Holly Sutton was my best friend in the world. We were complete opposites in almost every way. I was the serious one, named after a Bronte sister (my mother was also a huge reader), and the name had predestined me. I spent my time reading, writing, and overthinking. Sometimes I took life too seriously, because I always felt like there was so much at stake.

  Holly Sutton didn’t know what that was like. She’d lived a charmed existence, the daughter of an ex-professional basketball player turned celebrated college basketball coach, so she came from money. And she was gorgeous. While I was a brunette with thick hips and glasses, Holly was a lithe blonde with permanently sun kissed skin and a body all girls envied and all boys wanted to hook up with. She was gregarious and confident while I was more reserved and shy.

  Yet we’d hit it off when we were paired up as roommates our freshman year. Holly made me feel special. She always boosted my confidence whenever I was down on myself. And I had always been someone that encouraged her to use her brain and not just her body.

  I believed in her and she believed in me.

  I’d never had many friends back in Idaho, so Holly had been a true gift. She helped keep me from getting too homesick, and no one understood me like Holly did.

  So when she’d found out I didn’t have a place to go for Christmas break, of course she volunteered to bring me home with her. Holly’s dad was Coach Eric Sutton, head basketball coach at Moultrie, and so her family lived in a posh neighborhood not far from campus. I’d gone there for Thanksgiving the past two years, where Holly’s family had welcomed me in with open arms.

  Coach Sutton (Or Eric, as he insisted I call him from the moment I’d met him) was dreamy. He was in his mid-40s and had salt and pepper hair and a handsome face… but his body was on a whole other level. It was hard with muscle, and anytime he hugged me I wanted to melt into him. I felt guilty for being so attracted to my best friend’s dad, but Coach Sutton had that sort of effect on everyone. I’d heard so many girls in my dorm talk about how hot he was, usually out of earshot of Holly if they could help it. And it wasn’t just that he was physically sexy, he was also incredibly charming. He was warm and kind and when he spoke to you, you felt really important.

  At least I always did.

  Holly’s mother had died when she was five years old. Eric hadn’t been with anyone since. He’d really loved her mom and had spent the last fifteen years building his career at Moultrie. He’d told Holly he didn’t have time to date, nor did he have the desire to.

  He’d gotten the head coaching position a couple years before we’d matriculated. Coach Sutton had taken Moultrie to the NCAA tournament every year since he’d started and the previous season they’d made it to the Final Four for the first time in school history. I wasn’t much into sports, but even I knew that was a huge deal.

  Anyway, Coach had always been so welcoming and had easily agreed that I could spend Christmas break with him and Holly.

  So, despite missing my parents, I was very excited for break. No more exams, no more studying. I could just spend my break hanging with my best friend and her incredibly sexy dad.

  What could be better?

  “How were exams?” Holly said as she flopped down on my bed next to me. I hadn’t been able to take a bath, but a long shower had done me wonders. I sat cross legged on my pristinely made twin bed, wrapped up in a terry cloth robe, a towel perched on my head.

  “Hard, but I think I did pretty well,” I said. “At least, I hope so.”

  “I’m positive you aced them!” Holly proclaimed. “You studied hard, Em. You made me feel like such a slacker!” She scrunched her button nose at me and I rolled my eyes.

  “You are a slacker,” I teased. “But that’s okay. I’ll whip you into shape before you graduate from this place.”

  “Okay, Mother Emily!” she laughed, throwing my pillow at me. Holly liked to joke that I was her surrogate mother, the one who was always making sure she stayed on task and kept her focus. I acted like I hated it, but I thought of it as a compliment. Behind the nickname was a lot of respect. And I did have a maternal instinct when it came to Holly. She was a vulnerable girl who had insecurities, despite her beautiful looks and quick wit. Only I knew that, though. She constantly worried she wasn’t smart enough to be at Moultrie, that she was only there because of her dad. And she also worried people only wanted to be friends with her for the same reason.

  It’s why she’d been drawn to me. Before coming to Moultrie and meeting her, I’d never even heard of Coach Sutton.

  “But seriously,” I continued, taking the towel off my head and letting my damp brown hair settle around my shoulders. “How did you do? I know you were nervous about your Philosophy exam.”

  Holly nodded, “I actually think I did okay. I definitely passed. I’m just glad it’s over.”

  “I know what you mean,” I replied. “What should we do to celebrate?”

  “Dad wanted to take us out to dinner tonight,” she said. “But I can get us out of it. There are some crazy parties over on Greek Row!”

  I gave her a thumbs down. “I’m so not in the mood to hang out with drunk douchebags. Dinner with your dad sounds much more enticing.”

  Holly gave me a side-eyed stare. “Don’t tell me you have a crush on my dad? Ugh.”

  “No!” I yelped, probably too defe
nsively. I could feel myself turning crimson and immediately flipped my head so it looked like I was drying my hair and not hiding my blushing. “It’s a free meal! And your dad always takes us to great restaurants. And honestly, I’m just too tired to party. I want to eat a big meal and fall asleep with a book on top of me.”

  Holly laughed, “I’d rather fall asleep with a lacrosse player on top of me, but suit yourself. I’ll defer to your trashy romance novels.”

  “They’re not trashy!” I said, throwing my damp towel at her. “Romance is all about depth. True love. Men who will climb the highest of mountains for their lady.”

  “You are such a dork,” she said, but she was smiling. “I love you though.”

  “Ditto, kiddo,” I said.

  Because it was true. I’d never had a real boyfriend (Holly had already had two this semester alone), but nothing could replace a quality best friend.

  Chapter Two

  The Suttons live in a gated community called Brookshire about three miles away from the Moultrie campus. Being that Coach Sutton is the highest paid employee at Moultrie, their house is enormous. I’m sorry, I mean, their mansion. Coach had bought it last year and Holly had been less than pleased.

  “It figures we get this huge, gorgeous house once I’m too old to live in it anymore,” she grumbled the night of their housewarming party. Holly and I had just met back then, so I didn’t know what to make of her #firstworldrichgirlproblems.

  “You’re his only child?” I’d asked as I scanned the interior of her new bedroom. It was the size of most people’s apartments. It even had steps leading up to her gigantic California King bed that was perfectly made with high thread count sheets and large, plush down comforters.

  “Yes,” she’d said. “My mom got sick about a year after she had me. So they didn’t have time to have more…” Her voice trailed off.

  I hugged her, “I’m sorry.”

  She’d looked at me and smiled, “It’s okay. It just means more for me. I guess. But sometimes I wish I had a sibling. A sister. A brother. Just anyone else. And I worry about Dad sometimes. He’s so obsessed with his work, but I know he has to be lonely. Now that I’ve flown the coop so to speak, I wish he’d meet someone. He deserves to be happy. I know my mother would want that.”

  That night we rode in Holly’s Range Rover to Brookshire. Coach Sutton was running late, so he’d told us to meet him at the house so we could all drive to the restaurant together.

  I always had butterflies in my stomach when I knew I was going to be seeing the coach. Like I said, he was incredibly sexy and charismatic. He reminded me of a sexier version of Coach Taylor from the show Friday Night Lights.

  If only I was as beautiful and appropriate for him to be with as Connie Britton.

  I’d never had crushes on older men before, but Coach Sutton was a special exception. One of the girls on our hall referred to him as the “George Clooney of sports.” I couldn’t disagree.

  I’d made sure to wear something more appropriate for a dinner out. I tended to live in yoga pants and t-shirts during the week, my dark hair always piled up in a messy bun on top of my head. I wore glasses, even though I had contacts. It just gave me that much more extra sleep in the morning if I didn’t have to worry about putting contacts in or wearing make-up.

  I wasn’t as hot as Holly, but I liked to think I was pretty. I’d been asked out on dates, I’d even gone to a formal or two my freshman year, but I just couldn’t make myself interested in the college guys surrounding me. There was something missing with them. It wasn’t their fault, but I needed something more than the twenty-year old guy who thinks it’s funny to send dick pics and has only one hobby; getting shitfaced drunk on the weekends after barely studying all week.

  My mom had always said I was too serious for my age. She was probably right. Which meant I’d need a man, not a boy. Someone who was also serious.

  As we parked in the large, circular, cobblestone drive of the Sutton home, I couldn’t help but be in awe. Their house had been professionally decorated for Christmas and large expensive wreaths hung from every window. And there were a lot of windows.

  In the foyer a 20 foot Christmas tree greeted us. It was covered in gold and red ribbon and large ornaments, with a very expensive crystal star punctuating the top of it. It was lit with white lights, the glow of them making the entrance feel warm and divine.

  I loved this house so much.

  “Dad gets so into Christmas; can you believe all this?” Holly asked, waving her hand around. “Ironically, my mom was Jewish. So we have a menorah in the family room.”

  “How did I never know you were Jewish?” I asked, genuinely surprised.

  Holly smiled, “I don’t know… I sometimes forget myself. Which makes me kind of sad. My bubby and zayde make sure I keep with the traditions though. Bubby texted me yesterday to remind me Hanukkah starts on Christmas Eve this year.” Holly’s large eyes widened all of a sudden. “Which reminds me! Don’t hate me… But I have to abandon you for a week over break. Bubby wants me to come to her house for Hanukkah this year. I haven’t visited in a while and she misses me.” She looked at me, sympathy on her face. “Do you mind staying here with my dad for Christmas? I leave in 2 days and will be gone a week. I should have probably mentioned that earlier.”

  Wow. This was unexpected. My first thought was to be disappointed. I’d been looking forward to hanging with my best friend and experiencing Christmas with her. But I also knew how important it was to her to stay close with her Mom’s family. Holly had very little memory of her mom and her grandparents helped keep her alive in many ways.

  “Of course I don’t mind,” I said. “I just plan on sleeping and reading my break away anyway.” Also, the thought of being alone with Coach made my thighs twitch. Not that anything could or would ever happen, but I loved being near him. And if Holly wasn’t around, I didn’t have to be so sly about stealing glances at him.

  “Dad will probably be gone a ton anyway,” Holly explained as we walked into their grand kitchen. She hopped onto the marble island. “He has practice and tape to watch. The life of a college coach is so dull.”

  Maybe to Holly it was. But to most people, it seemed so glamorous. Coach Sutton was always getting interviewed on ESPN. Especially after the Final Four last year. He and his team traveled all over the place, sometimes in private planes. And in the off season he was able to vacation anywhere he wanted to. The Suttons owned a home in the Bahamas. Holly had taken me with her to visit it last Spring Break. It had blown my mind how beautiful it was there.

  There was nothing dull about being a coach. Not to me.

  “Hello, girls!” a voice called to us, and I turned to watch Coach Sutton stride into the kitchen, a polo shirt and jeans on his tall, muscular frame. When he saw me, a huge, gorgeous smile spread across his face. For whatever reason, Coach was always so delighted to have me around. I think he thought I was a good influence on Holly. He was probably right.

  “Emily!” he said. “I’m so glad you could make it. Wasn’t sure if you’d want to be out partying the night away now that exams are done.

  “You forget,” I teased. “I’m the boring one. Holly is the social butterfly. It’s dorky, but I’d rather just be back in our room reading. Curtis Sittenfeld just had a new book come out.”

  He chuckled, a deep throaty timbre of a laugh, “That’s what I love about you, Emily. You’re an old soul. Promise me to never change.”

  I was still stuck on the word love coming out of his handsome mouth.

  “Emily Foster will never change,” Holly interjected, sliding off the counter and wrapping one of her slender but toned arms around me. “Now feed us. We’re starved. We’re just a couple of poor college students in need of some sustenance.”

  I rolled my eyes, “Yeah, Holly. Looks like you’re really living a life of poverty here.”

  We all laughed. I was the only one that could get away with teasing her like this.

  “Well, let’s g
o, girls,” Coach said, grabbing his keys off the counter. “I’ll drive. I just bought a new Range Rover.”

  “And I’m stuck with his old one,” Holly pouted. “So unfair.” She winked at me. I could never have been friends with her if she was actually serious. Holly sometimes acted like a spoiled princess, but I knew all too well how grateful she was for the blessings she had in her life. Holly wasn’t a shallow person. She was too self-aware for that.

  “I know, life’s so rough,” Coach said and then he winked at me. These Suttons loved their winking.

  Except Coach’s wink made my heart race.

  It was ridiculous how hot I was for him. And so inappropriate at the same time. Holly would kill me if she knew.

  Coach took us to a very posh steakhouse on the other side of town, one where there were multiple utensils for multiple courses. We’d practically had to be rolled out into his SUV that he’d valeted when we were finished.

  So many people had come over while we were eating to say hello to him, to take a selfie with him, to get his autograph. Coach Sutton was about as famous as it got around these parts. I felt important when I was near him, especially since even with all the attention he was getting, he only seemed interested in talking to me.

  “Emily, what’s your plans after Moultrie?” he asked over our kobe steaks. “Holly needs you close. I hope you don’t plan on leaving us.”

  I smiled, “Well, I have another two years to figure that out. I honestly have no idea. I’m just trying to work as hard as I can so that when I get to having to make a decision, I’ll have plenty of options. Although I’ll have no money.”

  He smiled, “You’re going to do great things. I know it.”

  He said it so sincerely that it almost made me tear up. Holly was glad to interrupt.

  “Anyway,” she said. “Emily and I will probably move to New York. She can work in a publishing house and I can work in fashion. We’ll be the more modern versions of Carrie Bradshaw and Charlotte York.”