So I wanted to do a little wrap up for this story before I started working on something else. It's shorter but I hope you enjoy.
By the time Eric was able to return home it was almost 9. He was exhausted and didn't enter very quietly, tossing his hat on the counter and dropping his keys inside the hat. Tami and Julie were likely in their rooms, but he noticed Matt was awake and sitting at the dining table with an empty plate of food.
"How long you been up?" he asked.
"An hour I think," Matt responded. "Mrs. Taylor told me I had to eat or she'd make you bench me." Eric couldn't help but smirk as he came over and sat beside Matt.
"How are you feeling?"
"Not great but better. Embarrassed."
"What for?"
"You shouldn't have to take care of me, Coach." Eric sighed and put a hand on the boy's shoulder.
"Son, you can't do it all by yourself. I'm a grown ass man and I still don't do it all by myself. That's nothing to be ashamed of." Matt looked down at the floor, trying to avoid eye contact.
"I haven't talked to Julie since she broke up with me," he mumbled. "I didn't even know what to say to her. It sucks having her see me like this."
"Matt, one of these days you're going to have to man up and get over it," Eric replied bluntly. "Get back together, don't get back together, it doesn't matter to me either way. But avoiding Julie doesn't do you any good."
"I know, Coach."
"I want you to look at me, Matt." Matt complied and looked over at Eric. "No matter what happens, I'm still your coach. I didn't care about you because Julie was your girlfriend, I care about you because you're one of the best damn kids I know."
"Better than Smash and Riggins?"
"You're less of a pain in the ass than Smash and Riggins, I can tell you that much. Except maybe on days like today." Both of them chuckled a little.
"Sorry for the trouble, sir."
"You've got nothing to apologize for, son. I can take you home now if you want." Matt nodded and both stood up. It was slightly chilly as they headed to the car and pulled out of the Taylors' driveway. Neither spoke much on the way home, Matt seeming to be lost in his thoughts and Eric allowing him to be silent for a while. When they reached Matt's house, Landry came outside and approached them.
"Don't you look like a ball of sunshine?" he remarked as Matt passed him.
"Go easy on him," Eric said.
"How's my grandma doing?" Matt asked.
"She's okay," Landry answered. "She still don't like me, but she ate the sandwich I made her and went to bed."
"Thank you."
"Alright boys," Eric interjected. "Get some sleep, I expect to see both of you tomorrow morning." Matt and Landry both nodded, Matt walking to his front door. As he was about to open it, Eric called out, "Hey Matt. You need anything, you better let me know understand?"
"Yes, sir." As he stepped inside, Landry turned to Eric.
"I had a feeling he was sick this morning, but he told me not to bug him about it," he confessed.
"That's alright, don't beat yourself up about it. You're a good man for helping him out, Landry."
"Coach, I think that's the first time you've ever gotten my name right."
"Don't get used to it. Need to get a notecard and glue it to your forehead or something." With a smirk, he clapped the redheaded boy on the back and they went their separate ways.
The next morning, Matt seemed to be back to himself. He was quick on his feet and making most of his plays. Of course some of the other players, mostly Smash, attempted to grill him about where he'd been yesterday. At one point he started to get unsteady on his feet and Eric forced him to sit out for a few and hydrate himself, Matt having learned his lesson that it was better to cooperate. Still, at the end of practice, Matt actually had a smile on his face and he was ready for their game that Friday. Eric gave him an encouraging nod before the teen ran off to class. Matt still had some time before he'd feel fully better but Eric had faith in him. He felt a little bit of pride watching the boy reach his full potential, but of course he'd never say.
Let me know what you guys thought, I've got some more ideas for Coach and Matt stories that hopefully I'll be posting in the next couple of weeks.
