Page 198 of Risking the Pucking Defense

“Hey,” he says, looking between the two of us, although I don’t miss the way he lingers on me a little longer. “One or two?”

“One? Coach, come on,” Rett jokes. “Machines this good need fuel, you know that.”

Coach laughs as he loads up two buns for us. “Cheese, salads, and sauces are over there.” Rett takes off, and I’m about to follow him when Coach calls me back.

“What’s up, Coach?”

“How are you doing, kid?” he asks, his focus solely on me.

“Yeah, you know. Every day is hard; it always will be. But I’ve got a great group of people around me, and a job I love more than anything.”

He smiles at me, and there’s something in it which tells me that he knows more than he’s letting on. He leans closer as if he’s going to tell me a secret, and when he does speak, what he says makes my breath catch.

“I assured her that she’d be welcome here today.”

Pain shoots through my chest. Despite being personally invited, she still didn’t feel like she belonged enough to attend.

“Thanks, Coach. I’m sure that meant a lot. She’s a busy woman, though. I’m sure if she could have made it, then she would have.”

“I’ve no doubt. I hope you know what a lucky motherfucker you are, snagging that one.”

I can’t help but beam with pride. “I am, Coach. I really am. I don’t have any plans on letting her go any time soon.”

“Good. You both deserve it.”

With a nod, I take off to finish off my burger.

“What was that about?” Killer asks, catching up with me with his own burger in hand a few minutes later.

“Huh?” I ask, trying to play it off.

“You and Coach. Looked serious.”

“Oh, uh…he was just checking in.”

He nods and takes an obscene bite of his burger that leaves sauce everywhere. It really is no surprise that he can’t keep a woman longer than an evening.

“Yur’ goo’ tho, righ?” he asks with a mouthful.

“Yeah, I’m good. Getting back to it helped. And—” I slam my lips closed before I say more than I should.

“And?”

“Nothing,” I lie, shoving my burger into my mouth.

“Do’n loo like nuffin,” he says, having taken another bite.

“Things are good,” I confirm, hoping he drops it.

“It’s gonna be a good season,” he says, and I breathe a sigh of relief.

“Yeah,” I agree. “I think you’re right.”

The conversation shifts to a woman he hooked up with over the weekend, and he tells me how much I missed out because she had a really hot friend who was just my type. I’m not sure how he thinks he knows what my type is, considering he’s never seen me with a woman, but whatever.

Guys come and go, getting more food and beer, and the kids run riot around the garden, but Killer seems content to be kicking back and shooting the shit with me, and without a better option, I stay put. Before long, Rett rejoins us, and when the girls disappear inside for drinks, Linc, Handsy, and Kodie head over too.

Time ticks by, and with the guys distracting me, I manage to take my mind off the woman who insisted on working this afternoon.