Page 27 of Dibs
“Actually, I’ve heard some great things about the program you’ve got going with your travel team, and I was curious if you were interested in taking over the freshman team.”
“What about Harris?”
Harris was the assistant, and it would seem logical he would be considered first.
“I talked to him before coming to find you. He’ll be retiring in the next year or two, so he agrees it would be better to bring in someone fresh. Someone who will stick with the team for a while.”
The idea of coaching the team Dylan would play for in a couple of years was tempting. However, I wouldn’t have time to coach the travel ball team if I were coaching at the school.
“Can I think about it?” I asked.
He nodded. “I can give you a few days, but we need to get someone in there soon. Practices start as soon as we get back from winter break.”
“All right. I’ll let you know soon.”
For the rest of my lunch break, I thought about the pros and cons of coaching for Coastside High. After my baseball dreams were crushed in college, I followed in my parents’ footsteps and decided to become a teacher. A part of me had wanted to coach for the high school when I got hired, but there hadn’t been an opening in the baseball program for years. Figuring I was done with that part of my life, I put all of my focus into being the best teacher I could be. But when Dylan said he wanted to play baseball, my excitement for the game came roaring back. I loved coaching, and I could picture myself out on the field helping prepare young athletes for their high school playing careers.
I needed to talk to my boys. Working with the high school team would take up a lot of my free time, plus I didn’t know how Dylan would feel about me not coaching his next season. If they were okay with it, I needed to figure out what to do about spring ball. Lucky for me, I had an idea that might make everyone happy.
* * *
As I mannedthe grill in my backyard, I heard my doorbell ring through the open sliding glass door. The steaks were almost done, and I assumed Dylan would answer the door, knowing how excited he was to have Jase coming over. He’d tell Chase where he could find me.
A few minutes later, I heard Heather laugh, followed by the deep rumble of Chase’s voice. I pulled the meat off the barbecue and made my way inside.
“Hey, man,” Chase greeted me the second I walked into the kitchen. “Thanks for inviting us over for dinner.”
“Of course,” Heather responded before I could say anything. “It only makes sense with how often the boys hang out that we should all get to know each other better.”
Heather was talking as though she was regularly involved in Tyler and Dylan’s lives and expected to get to know their friends’ parents. The only reason she was part of the dinner was because she always came over on Fridays. When I’d texted Chase, whose number I’d gotten from Jamie, and told him I wanted to chat about spring ball, he’d mentioned Friday was the first night he was free.
Chase quirked a brow in my direction, probably just as confused by Heather as I was.
I set the tray of steaks on the counter and grabbed a couple of beers from the fridge, handing one to Chase. “Where are the kids?”
“Jase followed Dylan up to his room, and Jamie offered to keep Cammie for the evening knowing a girls’ night would be more fun than hanging with her brother and his friends. I’m going to pick her up later,” he replied.
I chuckled. “Can’t say I blame her.”
“Well, guys, dinner is ready. Why don’t you take a seat at the table, and I’ll bring the food out,” Heather offered.
“Can I help with anything?” Chase asked.
Heather placed her hand on his bicep and squeezed. “That’s sweet of you, but I’ve got it.”
My jaw clenched when it took her a few more seconds to remove her hand. There was no reason for her to touch him, and I wondered if I was mad because I didn’t want Heather touching anyone else or if I didn’t want someone else touching Chase.
I shook my head. Why did the thought even enter my mind? Chase was my friend, or at least we were on the path to becoming friends again. Heather was probably just being cordial.
“Boys, dinner is ready,” I called from the base of the stairs.
Within seconds, it sounded like a herd of elephants running around. Chase and I sat across from each other at my dining table, while the boys pulled out their chairs. Jase spent so much time at our house, he even had a “usual” seat.
It took a few minutes for Heather to bring out all the food. As she placed the bowl of rolls on the table, she said, “These are a special recipe that’s been in my family for years. I hope you enjoy them.” She smiled at Chase before taking her seat and scooting it a little closer to him.
“Everything looks great,” he replied, and we began passing dishes around the table.
“Well, I love cooking. I’m sure Gage wouldn’t mind you coming over for dinner whenever the boys get together.”
