Page 65 of The Coach

“We’re on Maple,” he muses, driving one block and turning onto his street.

One street away from mine.

I sit back and look at the houses. Ones I’ve looked at numerous times, neighbors I’ve known and new neighbors I didn’t. Lincoln and I used to ride our bikes all over our neighborhood, flying down hills and racing to see who could get around a full block faster. Maple was one of our frequent racing streets.

Tanner slows down and takes a left turn onto a driveway. I let out a breath when I realized I don’t know his family’s house. I don’t know what difference it would have made but…

“How wild is it that we grew up one street away from each other?” I ask, letting a bit of humor into my tone.

“Small world.” He frowns at his house, his front door opening, and his mother, bundled in a knitted sweater waving at us vivaciously from the porch, her hands covered in rings and bracelets. “Maybe it’s fate,” he comments before getting out of the car, rounding the front and opening my door for me.

I step out of the car, and my breath warms the air in front of me, casting a poof of air with every exhale. It’s cold for late February, colder than I’d like.

“Mick!” Deb says from her spot, “I’m so glad you could make it!” She pulls me into a bone-crushing hug when I’m close enough and ushers me inside.

“What about me?” Tanner asks from behind me, pretending to sound put out.

“Oh please.” His mom waves her hand, and I laugh with her. She ushers me into the living room where two glasses of wine and two beers wait.

“Finally,” Sonny says, picking up his beer. “She made me wait for you.”

I give him an apologetic smile. “I’m sorry, sir. I worked late today.”

“Don’t you dare apologize to him.” Deb gives me a look before turning her glare on her husband and settling her hands on her hips in a way that means business. “This girl works tirelessly to help our veterans heal from serving our country. Don’t you dare be rude.”

I try to smother my laugh at her attitude toward him, somehow defending me and scolding him in the same breath.

Sonny grimaces and stands, pulling me into a hug. “Sorry, Mick. We’re glad you’re here.”

“Thank you.”

We all take seats around the coffee table, a delightful smell wafts from the kitchen, and I realize as I sit here that their house is very similarly built to my own family home. “I love your home.”

Deb smiles at me, placing her hand on Sonny’s knee where they sit closely together. Tanner plops into the love seat next to me when he returns from putting our dinner contribution in the kitchen.

“Thank you, we’ve lived here forever. Though, I’d love to do some updating.”

I catch Sonny rolling his eyes and stifle another laugh.

“Mick used to live here,” Tanner announces. “Over on Elm.”

Deb gasps, her hands slapping both her and Sonny’s knees at the same time. “No kidding! Why, you were so close to us! Where is your family now?”

I smile at her. “Over on Elm still, same house I grew up in.”

Deb looks at Sonny, her eyes shining like everything in her life is clicking into place. “Well, isn’t that something?”

“Who are your folks? We probably know them,” Sonny asks, taking a sip of his beer.

“David and Sienna Ellis,” I reply and immediately get sparks of recognition in Tanner’s parents’ eyes.

Tanner looks surprised. “Do you know them?”

“Of course! Sienna and I are in book club together! Oh, my heavens, this is so exciting.” She clasps her hands together. “Oh, wait until I tell her I know you!”

“Mom, you can’t. Her folks don’t know we’re together yet.” Tanner speaks up, thankfully, because my heart is hammering in my chest.

“Oh, that’s right.” She furrows her brow. “Well, shoot. I’m gonna have to skip book club next week. I don’t think I can trust myself.”

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