Page 44 of Catching the Coach
“Mom stop, you’re embarrassing me,” Kessler says jokingly.
Marlene just waves her hands at him and laughs. “Don’t mind me. I’m just so happy.”
Henry pats Marlene's hand a few times before getting up and joining Hudson and Judd. Judd switches his dad spots and comes to sit in his seat with his double decker S’more. He takes a huge bite making half the square disappear.
“So,” he says around a mouthful of chocolate, marshmallow, and graham cracker. “Are you two finally together or what?” he says motioning between us.
Marlene uses the back of her hand to smack him in the chest. “Don’t talk with your mouth full, I raised you better than that. ”
I laugh as Judd rubs at the spot on his chest. He swallows what’s in his mouth then continues, “Well?”
Kessler looks at me, then back at Judd. “Yep, she’s all mine,” he says grinning back at me.
“Thank, Fuck,” Judd says, earning another backhand from Marlene.
“Juddson Davis, language,” Marlene chastises. “Where did I go wrong?” she mutters, shaking her head.
I bark out a laugh, amused by the scene. I hear Kessler chuckle beside me. Judd finishes his S’more and gets up from his seat, walking back to where Hudson is finishing off his second S’more.
“Those look delicious, I’m going to go make one. Want one, Coach?” Kessler asks, getting up from his chair and looking down at me.
I hold up my wine. “I’m good with this, but thank you for asking.” He gives me a wink and heads over to the group. I take a sip of wine and take in the scene before me. Kessler reaches for the package of graham crackers, which Judd snags before he can grab them. Kessler hooks his arm around Judd’s neck and gets him into a headlock. Hudson howls with laughter. Henry just shakes his head and works on his marshmallow.
“I swear those two will never grow out of messing with each other,” she says with warmth in her voice.
I chuckle watching as Judd and Kessler drop to the grass away from the fire pit and wrestle each other. “Have they always been like that?” I ask.
“Oh yeah. Since Judd was old enough to start being the little instigator that he is.” She takes a drink of her wine and looks over at me. “Do you have any siblings?”
I take a huge drink of my wine before shaking my head. “No, I’m an only child.” Not elaborating any further.
“Oh, that’s too bad. As annoying as they are sometimes, having siblings to grow up with and confide in is something I’m glad I have, and my boys.”
I give her a small smile and finish off my wine.
“Do you want a refill?” Marlene asks standing, noticing I’m done.
I look at her and back at my tumbler. “I shouldn’t,” I say
“You don’t have to drive and Kessler isn’t drinking, so you can have more if you’d like.”
I bite the side of my cheek, contemplating, then nod my head in agreement. “OK, but I can get it.”
Marlene waves me off. “I’m already up dear. I don’t mind.” She holds her hand out for my tumbler and I hand it to her.
“Thank you. Only half the amount this time though. I do have to work tomorrow.”
“You got it dear,” she says walking back to the house.
I lean my head back in the chair and look over at the guys. Kessler and Judd have stopped wrestling around and are now devouring S’mores. Henry is putting more wood on the fire and Hudson is poking a stick in the fire. I let out a sigh. This has been a whirlwind of a day. I went from having doubts about pursuing a relationship with this man, to being in a relationship with him and him telling me that what he feels for me is not something he's ever felt before. He looks over at me and gives me a wink. I feel my cheeks warm.
Marlene comes back out of the house and hands me my tumbler and takes her seat.
“Thank you.”
Marlene and I sit there watching the boys joking and laughing around the fire.
“Do you want more kids?” Marlene asks after a few minutes.
