Sidelined
3.5/5
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About this ebook
When Connor McGuire loses out on his dream job of being the head coach of the local high school football team, he thinks life can’t get any worse. Then he discovers just who got the coveted position—it was a handout to the kid of a well-known, successful college coach. Connor’s sure this is just a publicity stunt, but the kid turns out to be not only a sharp strategist, but a driven and sexy young woman, too. Frustrated in more ways than one, Connor realizes that he might have to step up his game or risk losing altogether.
Coach Charlotte “Charlie” Gibb calls a flag on the play when she finds out that her very male, very attractive, but definitely-rooting-for-her-to-lose assistant coach resents her for taking what he considers to be his rightful position. But never one to back down from a little healthy competition, Charlie is determined to prove her worth—both on and off the field.
Baltsar’s “sweet, funny, witty, addictive writing,” (New York Times bestselling author Samantha Young) is not to be missed!
Suzanne Baltsar
Suzanne Baltsar writes romance novels, manages a small cinema, and has her own film company, for which she wrote and directed a narrative feature in 2014. She writes and lives her happily ever afters in Pennsylvania with a Mr. Brawny look-a-like and a couple of children, some furry, some not.
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Reviews for Sidelined
5 ratings2 reviews
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Sweet. Girl coaching football. Nice continuation.
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5I've received a ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
A cute sports romance novel that features a seriously HOT assistant coach and drum roll please... Another BLONDE heroine. Seriously does authors not know there are people out their with brown/black hair? But I digress. Overall, the story was simple and sweet, and there wasn't anything that really stood out. Cute plot and likable characters, what more can I say? It's a good and easy read if you're looking for something to pass the time with.
Book preview
Sidelined - Suzanne Baltsar
CHAPTER
1
Charlie
The sharp smell of bitter coffee permeated the air as the whir of beans in a grinder grated on my nerves. If I actually had a cup of joe in my hand, maybe I wouldn’t be so on edge, but the line was taking forever to inch forward. And if I was late to my eight o’clock meeting, I’d lose whatever credibility had been afforded to me.
The man in front of me finally stepped aside, blessedly allowing me to relay my order to the young kid at the register. He seemed to be about sixteen with a good amount of bulk, and the possibility that he could be one of my players passed through my mind. Today was my first official day on the job as the new head coach at Douglass High School in Minneapolis, and I was equal parts elated and terrified. I suspected the media would be all over me as soon as word got out that I was the first female high school football coach in Minnesota. One of only a handful of women ever to hold the positon in the entire country.
But I had to get through my introduction to the coaches this morning. This was my first test, the first of many, and to succeed I needed my armor: my comfiest Georgia Tech T-shirt, my lucky orange Nikes, and a calorie-filled drink from my new morning spot, Caribou Coffee.
Plus I had to get to school on time—7:34 turned to 7:35 faster than I would’ve liked.
I stepped up to the counter, reading the kid’s name tag. Hi, Nate, I need a large caramel high rise with extra whipped cream and two dozen assorted bagels, please.
He tapped my order into the register. Thirty-three ninety-seven.
I handed over my debit card. And make it quick for me, okay?
He nodded, offering me a smile. Sure.
He ran my card and had twenty-four plain, blueberry, and everything bagels packed up in no time. I grabbed my drink from the other end of the counter and headed out into the bright morning sun.
I’d moved to Minneapolis from Atlanta only a few days ago and had yet to find a place to live. All of my stuff was split between a Best Western hotel room and my car, but until school and my job as a physical education teacher began, I had no real income, which made it difficult to line up a more permanent home. I hoped I’d find a place soon—I was low on clean clothes and needed to do laundry, preferably in a place where I didn’t have some creepy guy checking out my underwear.
I pressed the unlock button on my key fob, and the lights of my red sedan blinked twice as I made my way across the parking lot. The sun blinded me, and without sunglasses, I had to balance the box of bagels and coffee in one hand to shade my eyes with the other. I broke into an unbalanced jog to close the distance to my car, but a blaring horn and a screech of tires had me jumping backward.
I whipped my head to the right, my heart beating a mile a minute, as a man poked his head out of his window. What the hell are you doing?
"What am I doin’? The last thing I needed this morning was to have a near-death experience with some Jeff Gordon wannabe douchebag.
What are you doin’?"
You ran out in front of me,
he shouted with a wild wave of his hand.
"And you’re racin’ around a Caribou Coffee drive-thru. This isn’t a speedway."
His eyes were hidden by a baseball cap, but I could tell this guy was young. He dropped his arm out of the window, muscles clearly defined. You make it a habit of running around parking lots like a lost animal?
I huffed. You almost killed me, yet this is my fault?
He pointed and snickered at me. Confused, I glanced down and realized that when I’d jumped back, I’d lost control of my purchases. My bagels lay strewn on the asphalt in a crumbled mess while my iced caramel coffee with extra whipped cream had spilled down the front of my shirt in an uncanny replica of a Picasso painting.
Perfect.
Just perfect.
I growled and threw him double birds. Enjoy your day, Mario Andretti. Try not to run anybody over.
He readjusted the brim of his hat and I caught the piercing look in his eyes. He licked his lips, the corner kicking up to a cocky smirk. Don’t hurt yourself, sweetheart. One foot in front of the other.
Fuck off,
I grumbled, and bent down to pick up the mess at my feet as he drove off. By the time I had the pebble-covered bagels and my empty cup thrown away, it was too late to go back inside and order more. Plus I needed to change my shirt. There was no way I’d impress anyone looking the way I did, especially coming into the meeting empty-handed now.
I fished through the backseat of my car for another T-shirt. Finding a single wrinkled one, stained with what looked like mustard, I shrugged—it’d have to do. A case of water bottles in my trunk would suffice as my gift to lay at my staff’s feet.
I raced over to the school and parked in the back by the gymnasium. The athletic director was there waiting for me.
Hey, Jim,
I greeted him with a nod as I grabbed the water.
He smiled back, tender and empathetic. His dark-brown skin was weathered with sun and time, and if I had to guess, I’d assume he was in his fifties. But more forward-thinking than I’d give most middle-aged men—or men in general—credit for. Hey. How’re you feeling this morning?
A wreck, but it’ll pass. I just want to get started.
He gave me a quick once-over. Even with my stained shirt and red face, his confidence in me didn’t waver. He gently squeezed my arm. You okay?
Shifting uncomfortably, I cringed. I spilled coffee all over my other shirt and didn’t have enough time to—you know what, never mind.
He swiped a hand over his bald head. Still looking for a place to live?
How could you tell?
I laughed in spite of myself.
Want me to take that?
he asked, referring to the pallet of water I readjusted in my grip.
No, I’m good.
Do you need help finding a place? I know a lot of people.
I wasn’t normally one for taking charity, not even for accepting help carrying water, but I was desperate. And a door that didn’t open with a slide-in key card sounded lovely. That would be great. Thanks.
Jim nodded and led me through the gym to a long hallway with the girls’ locker room to the left and the boys’ locker room on the right, but we walked past both. There’s an office in the locker room,
he said, his thumb pointing back over his shoulder to the sign that read MEN. But some people were uncomfortable with you being in there, even though the office isn’t anywhere near the changing rooms or showers.
With all my years coaching football, I’d gotten used to entering men’s locker rooms without a second thought, but in this new place I understood the apprehension. What I didn’t understand was why we’d stopped in front of what looked like a closet.
I tried to get you a different room but . . .
Jim’s face fell, and I gulped back the foreboding feeling stuck in my throat. He opened the door with a key and gestured for me to go in first. It was a closet—clean and empty save for a small desk and chair, but still a closet.
"This is my office?"
He dropped the key on the desk. Yeah, it used to be the equipment closet.
His obvious sheepishness at the school’s not-so-great solution made me feel just a tiny bit better. You could fit another chair or two, maybe.
I refrained from rolling my eyes and reminded myself to be grateful. I’d long ago gotten used to these types of inconveniences in order for the men who surrounded me to feel comfortable, but there were times when I didn’t want to be happy with the crumbs. I wanted the whole pie.
As a head coach deserved.
Shaking off the momentary dissatisfaction, I smiled. I’d get over this. I always did, being the odd woman out in the game. After all, it might have previously been a closet, but now this room was my own.
Mine.
I’ll make it work,
I said, and he nodded.
Mrs. LaRue, in the main office, will set you up with a key to let you in the building.
He put his hand on my shoulder. You ready to go upstairs and make history here?
When he put it like that, my nerves got the best of me, and I blurted out the first thing that came to my mind: No.
When he drew back, confused, I corrected myself. I’m not here for the accolades, but I’d settle for a winning season.
We walked upstairs to the main hall and took a right to room 113. This is Coach McGuire’s room. Dick used to show film in here,
he said; the latter, I knew, was the previous head coach.
He stopped just outside to pat my shoulder. You’ll do great.
Thanks,
I said, steeling my nerves before he opened the door. Five pairs of eyes snapped their attention to me.
I’d played football with boys and coached with men my entire life. When people told me I couldn’t, I’d smiled and politely listed my qualifications. This wasn’t about proving anything to anyone. I didn’t care what people thought of me anyway. I’d been raised in the game. I was good at the game. I just wanted to do what I was best at.
But in this moment, my knees knocked like they were fighting each other.
I kept my head up, brave face on. Mornin’, gentlemen.
Jim stood next to me, the lone friendly presence in the room. Guys, I’d like to finally introduce you to our new head coach, Charlie Gibb.
I brought everyone some refreshin’ water to start off our meetin’,
I said, placing the pallet on the desk in front of me before taking in the faces of my support staff. My focus drifted from one man to the next, each of them regarding me with a mix of curiosity and contempt. All except for the last man. No, the last man’s face held only contempt for me. It was Mario Andretti from the pickup truck.
I’d planned on bagels, but I had a little trouble this morning. Consider it an I.O.U.
I smiled.
The guy with the lead foot shook his head deliberately, as if disappointed in me. But he’d created this whole mess to begin with. Son of a bitch.
Don’t worry. I brought some for everyone.
He gestured to the open box of bagels in the middle of the table at the front of the room. Help yourself.
I ground my teeth. No way would I eat his bagels after he almost ran me over. And especially not after he stood up and stretched his hand out to me with a self-satisfied smirk. I’m Connor McGuire, offensive coordinator.
I met his rough palm with my own, squeezing his knuckles with as much strength as I could muster. Obviously this man was out for my blood. He might have won the battle, but I’d win the war.
I was the general of this squad. And I played to win.
CHAPTER
2
Charlie
I dropped McGuire’s hand and turned back to Jim, who smiled. I’ll leave you to it then, all right?
He stepped out of the room, leaving me alone with these five strangers whose wave of incredulity tried to drown me out. I pulled a desk over to sit in front of them, like a buoy keeping me afloat.
So, I know all y’all are probably shocked to see me.
Jim told us who you are, Lloyd Gibb’s daughter,
the one on the end said. He looked young, like he couldn’t even rent a car.
A simple Google search could have told them my dad was Georgia Tech’s head coach, but it wouldn’t have said much about me besides the couple of seasons I’d played in the Independent Women’s Football League and the assistant coaching spot at Tech.
Most people thought I’d gotten to where I was because of my father’s reputation, but I resented that. I’d gone through a hell of a lot more in this sport than any of these men could imagine. I had to work harder, break stereotypes, face sexism and harassment, and do it all with a smile on my face. I’d gotten to where I was because of me. Not because my father was Lloyd Gibb.
Next to McGuire, the man with a gray-speckled beard snickered. Couldn’t hack it at a Division One school anymore?
What’s your name?
I asked him.
Al Berg. Defensive coordinator. Been here for thirty-two years.
Thirty-two years is a long time,
I said. Just about as long as I’ve been alive.
Folding my arms across my chest, I tilted my head. In the last eight years, this team hasn’t won more than four games a season. The last time they made it to the playoffs was fifteen years ago, and they’ve never won a state championship. I know I’ve got a lot to prove, but as far as I’m concerned, y’all got a lot to prove to me too.
Al looked like I’d slapped his mama.
I went on. I may not be who you thought you were getting, but if you can’t let that go, you’re free to leave.
When Al closed his mouth and sat back in his chair, I met each of the coaches’ eyes in turn. I’ve already heard all the whispered rumors and passive-aggressive insults, so if you have an issue with the fact that I wear a bra instead of a jockstrap, you can come to me directly. I have no tolerance for bullshit.
None of them objected, and I folded my hands on the desk, offering a smile. Yes, my father is Lloyd Gibb, but I have played football almost my entire life, through college and then on a professional women’s team.
I side-eyed Al when he mumbled something about girls on the field and cheerleaders. "Where did you play professionally, Al?"
His eyes darted away as he wiped the stupid grin off his face.
Now, since y’all know me, why don’t you introduce yourselves?
I looked to my left where McGuire sat, eyes narrowed on me underneath a perfectly worn hat. Anything else you’d like to tell me about yourself?
Palm down, he motioned like he didn’t want any more cards in a game of poker. The resentment was palpable. But I’d deal with him later.
Al was next, acting less than thrilled to have to speak to me. I teach biology and earth science here too.
I faced the man directly in front of me. He wore a pleasant smile. I’m Ken Yang. I’m a transplant from the West Coast. I’ve been with the team for five years, running receivers and helping out on offense, but I don’t work here. I’m a chemical engineer at PVT Resources. Nice to have you with us.
Thanks.
Next to him, a big, meaty guy ate a bagel Erik Johnson,
he said, wiping cream cheese from his fingers on his shorts. Line coach, special education teacher at the middle school.
Nice to meet you.
You too,
he answered, mouth full.
My southern manners had me cringing inwardly. I was no Georgia peach or delicate flower, but my grandma had always taught me that one of the things that separated us from the monkeys was our table manners.
Last but not least,
I said, turning to the youngest coach on the end.
I’m Ronnie Rosario.
He scratched his head where three lines were shaved into his hair by his temple. I played for Coach Nelson a few years ago and needed some income. He took me on for special teams.
I noticed his solid build and big hands. Did you play anywhere after?
He shook his head. My family owns an HVAC company. I went to work after I graduated.
Hell of a tailback,
McGuire said, his first words to me that weren’t laced with wrath.
Ronnie gave me an embarrassed smile. Didn’t help us much then.
Let’s try to get your team some wins then, huh?
I stood up and patted his shoulder before taking another long look at all the coaches. I’m gonna give this team one hundred and ten percent. I expect the same from you. I appreciate y’all comin’ to meet me early. Tomorrow I want to go over the playbook, see what changes we could make. Same time okay?
But tomorrow is Saturday,
Erik said between bites of his second bagel.
Correct.
I gave him a hard glare so he’d know I wasn’t here to mess around. These five men hadn’t managed to lead their football team to a winning season in years. I was here to do that. And that meant no sleeping in on Saturdays.
He grunted as he chewed, and I assumed that was his confirmation he’d be there. I eyed the rest of the men before moving my desk back into place. Bring your ideas and skills development plans. This is a rebuildin’ year, fellas, I want to start it off on the right foot. See you in my office tomorrow mornin’.
"Your office?" McGuire asked with a raised brow. The silence of the rest of the coaches let me know they were all aware of what his question implied.
I clenched my fists and blinked to the windows. My office didn’t have windows.
There was no way we could all meet in my closet like some sad Harry Potter imitation of an office. Fine. We’ll meet here.
McGuire smirked, but I didn’t give him the satisfaction of reacting and turned to leave.
Thanks, Coach,
Ronnie said, and I smiled at him over my shoulder. At least I had one of them in my corner.
I made my way straight to the main office, where I met Mrs. LaRue. She had me fill out some papers for a parking pass and key to the building before I headed back to my office. Which was much different from the one I’d had last spring.
When I’d sat my dad down a few months ago, I’d asked him point-blank, Do I have a chance here to move up at all? I’ve been at Tech for five years now, and I’m assistant special teams.
And recruitin’ coordinator,
he had reminded me.
"Assistant recruitin’ coordinator," I’d corrected him. The difference between assistant and head recruiter was quite a bit.
He’d given in with a reluctant nod.
You know I can do more.
My dad had rubbed his cheek and taken a deep breath. He’d glanced at me, down to his desk, then back at me. Charlotte, you’re swimming upstream.
What’s that supposed to mean?
I’d asked, my voice raising enough that a couple guys outside his office noticed.
He’d gotten up to close the door. You’re an excellent coach, but you’ve got two things workin’ against you: your first and your last name.
I’d huffed, my face heating with anger. He had begrudgingly taught me everything I knew from the time I was a child, and also liked to keep me firmly aware of just how much I had to overcome. I’ve had to work twice as hard my entire life because of my first name,
I said. I think I’ve shown you and everyone else that I can do it.
And it’s still not enough to change the world.
He’d sat in his chair with a weary exhale. Maybe in a few years the world will be different because of what you’ve accomplished, but for now you’re goin’ to remain assistant special teams coach.
I’d sat forward, trying not to sound pathetic as I asked, What am I supposed to do?
That’s up to you.
I’d left his office in a mood and gone home to open up my computer for a job search.
That’s how I’d ended up here, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, in a diverse and forward-thinking city, with an athletic director who wasn’t afraid to hire a woman and a principal who didn’t care if I was a man, woman, fox, or hound, just as long as he could finally brag about a couple of wins for the lagging school sport. And I could do that for him. For the team. For me.
As I sat down behind my desk, the old leather chair creaked, and I decided I’d make the most of this room. An office did not a coach make.
But in the meantime, I’d grab just a few things: a whiteboard, some markers, magnets, shelves, plastic organizers, a big calendar, and a giant bottle of wine.
CHAPTER
3
Connor
‘This is a rebuilding year,’
Al said in a snickering imitation of Charlie Gibb.
The new head coach.
Charlie Gibb, a woman and the new head coach.
I shook my head. It seemed like I’d been living in the twilight zone since we were informed she was coming on board. To find out I hadn’t gotten the job was a