"Hey, how was your weekend?" Tad asked as he sat next to me on the bench overlooking the practice stadium the following Monday.

My gaze switched from my iPhone to Tad, a smile crossed my lips as I thought about my two-day break. But more importantly, I thought about yoga and running into Everett. That was what I really wanted to talk about. "It was ok. Have you ever seen Everett outside practice?"

Tad shook his head. "I think I've ran into almost all the other players, even hooked up with a few, but Everett, he's something of a rare bird. I heard he doesn't go out much. In fact, I have never seen him outside of practice or games."

I wanted to ask him about who he hooked up with, but I figured Everett was more important for the time being. For now, I would have to shelve that question. "I ran into Everett on Saturday."

He raised his eyebrows as a smile appeared. "Oh, you did? How?"

"I was out in an Upper Arlington yoga class with my mom."

I thought things would change once I saw him today, but since practice started, he hadn't made eye contact with me. I would say he was avoiding me even. It made me feel confused. He was so eager to talk to me at yoga but now he pretended like I didn't exist. It made my blood boil.

"Oh, that's an interesting development, especially when we already offer yoga for the team."

Now, that was interesting. If we offered it, why did he participate in the one that mainly had middle-aged mothers in it. "Does he attend the yoga offered here?"

He nodded. "Goes every Friday, like clockwork."

I frowned. Something wasn't adding up, and what bothered me more was that I cared to know more. Maybe if I understood him, I could get through to him and help my father because Everett was his main concern at this moment.

"Did he talk to you while you were out?"

Heck, he was so eager to speak to me, but today at practice, he hadn't even made eye contact with me. He was a completely different person here. "He introduced himself as if I didn't know him, as if he hadn't seen me here every day last week. Could you believe it?"

He chuckled as he shook his head. "That sounds like something he would do."

"It does? " Tad knew Everett more than I did and I wanted to know more. "I just wonder why he was there."

Tad smiled at me. "Maybe he likes to hang with housewives."

"Hey, Nojo!" Dad called out to me as he walked across the field with a smile on his face. "Do you have time to help us with a drill?"

I nodded as I pulled out my whistle he gave me just a week ago. As much as I wanted to stay behind the scenes with Tad, Dad wanted me beside him. That was why he gave me this whistle. As much as I hated it, I was using it.

"I'll talk to you later," Tad said as I got up from the bench.

"Lunch, right?"

He nodded. "We'll always have lunch together."

I turned to Dad and noticed his mustache getting a little long. "You need to trim that," I said, referring to his facial hair.

I hadn't told him about my encounter with Everett yet. Honestly, I wasn't sure if I ever would. I was probably making this more of a deal than it needed to. Dad had enough on his plate to think about such a small thing.

He nodded. "I didn't have time today."

He was always busy, but "maybe you should make time," I said as I tapped his shoulder.

"You know, when I met your mother, I had this massive mustache. It was so long I would curl the edges like one of those curly toed shoes."

I shook my head as I thought about it. "And she thought it was hot?"

"By golly, she dug everything about it."

"I have a hard time believing that."

"You can ask her yourself," he said as he stopped in front of the team. He coughed as he tried to get the attention of the boys. Seconds passed, and they stopped talking to look at us. "Ok, Nora here is going to be watched as you do sprints. If you do not cross this line, you get an extra five seconds on your time."

I nodded as I held up my whistle, trying to be confident. "And you better believe I'll be watching."

"Oh boy, now this is going to be exciting," Dad said as he raised his hand over his head with excitement. "You better watch out y'all."

I walked to the red cone with a flag.

"Nojo, are you ready?"

I nodded back at him. "As ready as a possum about to cross the street when a car's coming."

Dad smiled. "Oh, that's a good one. I'll have to remember that." He brought his whistle to his lips and blew it.

Almost instantly, the first wave of players came sprinting towards me. They crossed the white line on the ground, rounded the flagged cone, then sprinted back, all except one player who round the cone. I blew the whistle and shouted to him. "Hey Shelly, that's five seconds."

Shelly swore loudly but kept running.

"You owe a dollar to the swear jar," Dad said as the first wave made it back to him. "Alrighty then, second round, let's go." He blew his whistle as the second wave went shooting towards me.

"Put it on my tab."

"Ok, you're up to $150 and the training season just started."

He swore again and Dad just simply noted it on his phone.

My attention shifted back to the men running towards me as I locked eyes with Everett. He stared at me as he ran closer. I wondered what he was thinking as he crossed the line, but I didn't linger on the thought as they ran back towards Dad.

I couldn't let him consume my thoughts. Everett wasn't something I should waste my time on. He wasn't worth it.

___________________

At the end of the day, my shoes squeeked against the floor as I walked towards Dad's office. But as his office approached, I stopped when a voice rang out from within that didn't sound familiar to me.

The woman's voice was loud and commanding. She didn't sound happy as she talked about funding and numbers. The conversation made me walk a little closer to Dad's closed door in hopes of hearing the entire conversation.

"Ok Paul, you're a great guy and a good coach. I like you. I know your end game, but the board is getting a little worried and how it's progressing."

"Melissa, you know me, and you know the team. I'll get it shaped before the first match."

There was silence, and it made me wonder what she was doing. Was she frowning? Smiling?

"Paul, we cannot have another incident like last year. The team needs to perform."

I racked my head, trying to remember what happened last year. Nothing came to mind. The team did well if I remembered right. So why would she bring something up?

"I swear on my mother's dead body that nothing like that will happen again," Dad's voice rang out in a serious tone.

"Even if it doesn't, those boys will not forget about what happened. You need to find a better way to build the team."

"We will. They will be in tip top shape. You have my word."

There was more silence which made a pit form in my stomach. I always thought Dad was a fantastic coach but she didn't sound so impressed.

"Well, Paul, I'll talk to you later."

"It's always a pleasure, Melissa."

With that she walked out of the office, passing me without even making eye contact.

Her suit and lilac perfume told me she had some prominent position within the university, but I didn't recognize her.

"Nora, I know you're there. You can come in," Dad's voice ran out with a tired sigh.

I nodded as I walked into the office. "She sounds lovely," I said sarcastically.

Dad placed his head in his hands and for a second, I saw dark bags under his eyes. He chewed on his lip for a moment. "The team isn't getting along like they should. Melissa and other board members are getting worried. Without a strong team, we don't stand a chance to make it championship matches at the end of the season."

I had a strong feeling that Everett had something to do with this. He was one that didn't seem to talk to anyone else. "And what are you going to do about it?"

He frowned. "The same thing I always have done, be a positive influence and work on team building."

I sat down at his desk and nodded. At much as this worked in the past, the board knew his tactics but she was still worried. Something had to change. "I'll help you design some team building activities and action items if you want."

He smiled at me. "Aw Nojo, that's the kindest offer. Thank you."

"I am the intern after all, I have to earn my keep."

"I knew I picked the right person for the job."

"Pretty sure I was the only person for the job."

Tyler walked into the room and cleared his throat. "How did that meeting go with Melissa?"

"Oh, it was rough, but I've been in flights with cats rougher than that. We can manage."

He nodded as the three other coaches walked into the office. "I think we should do some brainstorming to improve team relations."

"I'm thinking we should each come up with three ideas," one assistant coach pipped in.

"Great idea Olly. I think this calls for snacks and sodas," Dad said as he looked at me. "Nora, could you get some from the cafeteria upstairs?"

I nodded as I got up from the seat and left, trying not get angry at Dad for sending me off. "I'll be back."

Obviously, He wanted me gone for this meeting but it made anger flare up within me. I took a deep breath as I tried to understand why he wanted me gone.

In a sour mood, I walked up stairs to the cafeteria to get snacks. I picked up the closest items, not caring about what I grabbed.

"Hey," Everett's voice rang out from behind.

His voice caused me to jump slightly, not expecting it. I turned to face his dark eyes, surprised he was still around since everyone else had left at least an hour ago.

I glared at him for a moment. Over the course of the day, he did not talk to me, did not even make eye contact. What was he doing now? "So you are talking to me?"

He shrugged. "Sorry, I get in the zone for practice."

I shook my head as I collected as many snacks as my arms could manage. That wasn't in the zone, that was just rude. There was nothing that could excuse it for what it was.

"What were you doing in yoga in UA anyhow since we offer yoga here?" I asked.

His mouth twitched upwards for a second before falling flat. He looked around the empty cafeteria as if trying to decide if he wanted to speak, then finally walked off without another word.

My cheeks burnt hot as I chewed on my lip to control my words. "Fine," I shouted, unable to stop myself. "I didn't want to talk to you anyhow. Just remember you came to me."