Page 54 of Catching the Coach
I take his hand and give it a shake. “Shoulders good, thanks for asking.”
“Girlfriend huh? I thought I read in a recent article that you said you didn’t have time for dating?” he says, giving me a smirk. Something about that statement rubs me the wrong way. Maybe it’s the tone he’s using.
I give him a shrug. “When it’s the right person, you make the time.”
“Right,” he says as if he doesn’t believe in that bullshit. I admit, I didn’t either, until Lucy. He nods to Hudson and Kade. “Who are these two?”
I place my hand on each of their shoulders and introduce them. “This is Hudson, Lucy’s son, and his friend Kade.”
Jared freezes mid fist bump, staring at Hudson. Judd and I exchange a look and look back at Jared.
“J, you good?” Judd asks Jared.
Jared blinks then takes a step back, dropping his hand. “Uh, Yeah, yeah. I uh.” He shakes his head. “I’m actually not feeling that great. I’m going to have to take a rain check on going out,” he says. He looks at Hudson again and takes another step back. He turns and heads off the same way he came. “I’ll text you,” he calls over his shoulder before disappearing down the hallway.
“That was weird,” Judd says, still looking in the direction Jared went.
“Yeah. Weird,” I agree. Something niggles at the back of my mind, but I’m not sure what to make of it.
“What’s wrong with him?” Hudson asks, both boys looking at me.
I shrug. “Who knows bud. It’s late, let’s get you guys home.”
The boys and I say bye to Judd and head out towards the parking lot. When we step out of the entrance I hear “Hey, that’s Kessler Davis!” I look to my left and a bunch of paparazzi start screaming my name and rushing towards us taking pictures.
“Kessler, who are the kids?” one yells.
I shield the boys the best I can and usher them to the truck.
“Are they from the Little League team you were photographed with?”
“What are your names, boys?”
“Is something going on between you and that female coach?”
“Don’t answer them,” I tell the boys and keep shoving them towards the truck. I hit the button on my key fob and the boys rush to the back and open the doors, scrambling in. One guy reaches us first and tries to open the door Hudson just closed.
I slam my hand against the door and tower over the guy. His black greasy hair is slicked back and he has a sharp point to the end of his nose, making him look like a shrew. “Don’t even fucking think about it,” I growl
He slinks back and points his camera at me, snapping off a few pictures. “Chill out man, I just wanted to ask the boys a question.”
“BACK THE FUCK OFF!” I yell. I turn to the group. “Get a fucking life, all of you.” I turn and climb into my truck and slam the door. I put my key in the ignition and the engine roars to life.
“Boys, seatbelts,” I say, looking at them in the rearview mirror. They nod and click their seatbelts in place. I put my own on and throw the truck in gear. Security has made their way to the commotion by now and has cleared a path for me to get out of here. I nod to one of the security officers and he gives me a two finger wave. The boys are quiet in the back seat. Once I’m on the freeway and have calmed myself down a bit I check on the boys.
“You guys ok?” I ask, hoping that didn’t freak them out.
“That was crazy,” Kade says, looking at me in the mirror.
“Do you think we’ll be in the paper?” Hudson asks.
“Maybe Suzie Jenkins will talk to you now that you’re famous,” Kade teases Hudson.
“Shut up!” Hudson says.
I let out a sigh of relief and laugh. Doesn’t look like it bothered them too much.
“So,” I say, signaling to get over in the other lane. “Who’s this Suzie?” I ask.
