Chapter 193: DNA - Cole

"Son." The relief on Coach's face is visible when he opens the door after I ring the bell.

The word 'son' seems to hold a different meaning now, even though I know that is what he calls all the players.

"Amy said you wanted to see me." Is the words I seem to find in me to say. The truth is, I want to know the real answer, if he is my father or not, just as much as he probably does.

"Please, come in." He steps aside and lets me enter his home, which I always thought was very nice, the kind of place that I would one day want to buy for Monet. It's clearly expensive, but it still has the feeling of home. "Please, follow me."

Mrs.Murray and Amy don't seem to be around when I follow him to his study, the place decorated with pictures of him and players that have gone pro, him and the rest of the coaching staff, and a new one of our team holding the trophy of the championship.

"Do you want to take a seat?" He sounds apprehensive. "Can I get you anything to drink?"

My nutrition has been the last thing on my mind since that damn reporter revealed everything, I could go without a glass of water until I know where the fuck I really come from.

"I'm good." I frown as I turn aound to face him. "I went to the prison where I thought my father was after I left here. He said he killed my mother because he started suspecting that I might not be his."

"I'm so sorry, Cole." There's real regret in Coach's eyes. "I honestly didn't know, and I know you might not want to hear this, but I didn't even know your mother's name. She must have gone through something that night we spent together, because she didn't want me to know her real name, and we used condoms, too."

Yeah, that information isn't what kids want to know about their parents, but if it has something to do with my paternity, then I want to know all of it.

"I think Monet's mother might have known something." I frown. "She left me a letter, I still haven't read it, but I suspect there was a reason she pushed me to take the scholarship here."

"And f I had known you were out there after your mother died, I swear I would've claimed you if you were mine."

I shake my head. "No, I was supposed to be raised by Kamila." Of that fact, I'm sure. If it wasn't for her, I might not have made it to where I am now. "I was in a really bad way. I was violent, and deeply depressed to the point where the state told her to sign me over, but she fought for me tooth and nail. She helped me learn how to control my emotions, and I'm not saying you wouldn't have, but that woman saved me."

Coach nods, gulping. "I'm sorry that things were so hard for you, and I'm really proud of you for overcoming all of that."

I shake my head, that darkness inside me still trying to take over everything. "I'm not quite sure I'm there yet, I still struggle sometimes."

"Then your'e really good at hiding it."

I think that over, and he's right. I still pretend sometimes, that I'm okay, when deep down I just want to end it all. I want to take a knife, and this time, stab myself instead.

"Monet holds me together." I blink, trying not to cry. "Every time I feel like I'm going under, she somehow manages to pull me back."

"Then you're really lucky." Coach smiles. "And don't ever fuck that up. Don't make the same mistakes that I made. You are the best quarterback this program has ever seen, and it's an honor to see you grow. You hold onto that girl, you hear me? You don't ever hurt her by doing stupid shit."

"I won't." That's an absolute certainty. There is not another girl in this world I would ever have eyes for, not when the one who has my heart was made just for me. I will never fuck that up. "I would like a DNA test if you don't mind. I know that you said you used condoms, and if I'm not your son, I'm someone elses, and maybe I can find them or something."

Coach chuckles, pulling open a drawer and retrieving a home DNA kit. "You are my son, Cole, just ask my mother. She called yesterday, said when she saw you here at Christmas she said you look so much like me when I was young."

I shrug. "Maybe that's just coincidence."

I see the resemblance now, too, but lots of people look alike.

"I'm pretty sure you are my son." Coach smiles softly. "And my family and I are happy to welcome you, to have you and Monet as a part of us. Everyone is really excited to get to know you, you have grandparents and an uncle and aunt. You have some crazy cousins too."

That sounds so foreign to me. It's not something we've ever had before. Kamila's parents have passed on too, and she was never in touch with her extended family. Maybe Monet would like it, having a bigger family. Maybe we have to get used to the fact that we're not all that alone anymore apart from Luke and his family.

We take the DNA test, swabbing our cheeks, and Coach seals the kit.

"I'll send it back as a rush order, we can have the results back in a few days."

I feel awkward when he gets closer to give me a hug, He's hugged me before, but always as my coach, and never as whatever the hell we are. But I let him pull me into his arms, and I must say that it feels foreign, but not bad.

My new phone rings in the truck after I leave, and I smile when I think it's probably Monet asking me how it went, but it's Antoine instead.

"Where are you!" He asks, sounding frantic.

"Dude, I'm okay, I got back early this morning and..."

"No! Listen to me." He's talking fast, and I pull over when I hear the urgency in his voice. "Chrystal was running past me, and I followed her, okay? She was fucking hysterical, but I managed to calm her down a bit."

"Is she okay?" I frown, knowing that Monet would be worried about her.

"She got a fucking video from James!" He shouts into the phone. "You better get here quick, man!"

"What was on the video?" I'm scared to ask, wondering why Antoine is so shook up about this.

"We've already called the police, okay, but I think I can be faster in tracking her than them."

"Who are you going to track? What the fuck are you talking about?"

"The video, Cole!" He emphasizes my name like I'm stupid and can't comprehend what he's trying to say. "Monet is in the video! He got her!"