Page 42 of The Coach

I peek at her through my fingers. “I haveoptions?”

She holds up a finger. “One—you call him. Somehow.”

I snort. “Right. Hey, Stallions front office? Can I speak to your head coach? I think he knocked me up in May.”

Lauren makes a face. “Yeah, okay, maybe not that.” She holds up another finger. “Two—you go to a game.”

I scoff. “And do what, exactly? Wave at him from the stands whilevery obviouslypregnant? Try to get in the front row and yell at him? Hold up a sign?”

Lauren shrugs. “Hey, I bet that would get his attention, actually. What are you thinking for the sign?

She puts on a fake announcer voice, miming holding up a giant poster.

“‘HEY, COACH KNOX—REMEMBER ME? YOU KNOCKED ME UP!’”

I throw a pillow at her, but gently.

She laughs, dodging it. “Fine, fine. But if you’re not gonna call him or show up, then what’s left?”

I chew on my lip, anxiety twisting in my gut. “I don’t know, Lauren. It’s just…weird.”

Lauren softens. “What feels weird?”

I sigh, rubbing my hands over my face. “The fact that he never tried to see me again. He wasn’tthatinto me. What if he doesn’t even care?”

Lauren tilts her head. “You sure about that?”

I glance at her. “Pretty sure, yeah. Heghostedme. Probably something weird about me. He just didn’t like me…enough.”

Lauren softens immediately, setting her phone down and reaching for my hand. “Hey, hey, don’t do that,” she says. “Ivy, don’t make this aboutyounot being enough. Youareenough.”

I shake my head, blinking rapidly as the tears threaten to spill over. “I just don’t get it. We had such amagicalweekend, Laur. I know there are one-night stands, I know that’s how these things work, but…why wouldn’t he at least have thedecencyto reach out?”

Lauren squeezes my hand, her voice firm but kind. “Babe, maybe it wasn’t aboutdecency. Maybe somethinghappened.”

I exhale sharply, trying to keep my emotions in check. “Like what? Whatpossiblyexplains him disappearing into thin air?”

Lauren purses her lips, thinking. “You make a good point.”

I sigh, my voice tired and a little defeated. “I don’t want to think that weekend meant nothing either. But honestly? If he wanted to find me, hecould have.This town is tiny. It’s not hard.”

She opens her mouth like she wants to argue, but then she stops. Instead, she just exhales and nods.

“Let’s sleep on this, and reconvene,” she says softly.

I look away, blinking hard. “Okay.”

Lauren squeezes my hand one last time, then stands. “I’ll see you tomorrow at lunch, okay?”

I nod, swallowing past the lump in my throat. “Yeah.”

She leans down, wraps her arms around me in a firm, steady hug. “You’re not alone in this, Ivy. No matter what happens.”

I let out a shaky breath, holding on just a little tighter. “Thanks, Laur.”

She pulls back and gives me a small, reassuring smile before grabbing her bag. “Get some rest. No more stalking your baby daddy on YouTube.”

I manage a weak laugh as she heads for the door.

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