Page 11 of The Coach

“Speaking of, have you talked to Dad recently?” Matt asked.

“No, not for a few days. Why?”

“He mentioned having a date with someone. A woman.”

I let the idea sink in. We knew that our dad would eventually start going out again, but after what happened this summer, the notion of him dating wasn’t even a blip on my radar. And the fact that Matt had topoint out our dad was seeing a woman showed just how crazy things got. “You think that thing with Danny is really over?”

Matt shrugged. “Guess so. I’ll chalk it up to the mid-life crisis. Some men buy new cars; some have an affair. Our dad decided to experiment with his sexuality.”

“It looked more than just experimenting to me.”

“He was lonely and horny, and Danny was willing and available. Let’s just leave it at that.”

“Okay. So, what’s going on with you?”

Matt spent the next half hour talking about some new anime he was into, but I barely listened. Sure, I nodded and hmm-ed at all the right places, yet my mind was elsewhere. Somewhere in a neon-lit locker room, where Blake had me sprawled over his lap and spanked my naughty ass. Stuck on repeat.

8. Blake

A car horn honked outside my house, snapping me from the daze I had been in ever since I got home. Was it eight o’clock already? I went to the window and peeked outside through the curtains. As promised, Mandy was here to pick me up, her car parked on my driveway, the engine still running.

I checked myself in the mirror once again before leaving: a pale blue dress shirt, dark blue jeans, and black shoes made for a formal, yet casual look. Used to living in sweatpants and hoodies, my own reflection seemed unfamiliar. I even styled my hair and trimmed my beard a little. How long had it been since the last time I made an effort to dress up? I couldn’t even remember; probably while Jen was still alive. But I didn’t want to go outlooking like a bum. Grabbing my suit jacket, I rushed out and slid into the passenger seat of Mandy’s car.

“My, my, you clean up well,” she said, assessing me.

I tugged at my shirt collar. “What, am I overdressed?”

“No, no, not at all.” She smiled, pulling out of the driveway. “You are perfect.”

“Thanks,” I said, looking at her. Her hair was down, her makeup heavier than I was used to seeing on her. She wore a striped black and white blouse, and a knee-length black pencil skirt—elegant, but not overly dressy. “You look good too.”

“Flattery will get you everywhere,” she said, winking.

She drove us to the Water Street Grill, a cozy nearby tavern that I hadn’t had the chance to try out yet. Unlike in Boston, our dining options in Williamstown were somewhat limited. On the other hand, everything was within walking distance from home, and the vibe was more intimate, warmer. I trusted Mandy’s judgment. So I simply followed her lead as the hostess took us to our table and the waiter took our orders. I went with steak, while she took seafood.

“I knew you’d go for raw meat,” she quipped.

“Well, you know I’m a meat guy.”

“You most certainly are.” She said it like it was double entendre and I pointed my finger at her like she was a naughty child.

“Remember, you promised—no psychoanalyzing!”

“I know. But you’re making it hard on me!”

Now she was making puns, and I had to chuckle, relaxing a little.

“Anyway, I’m so glad we finally went out for real. I’ve been throwing hints at you for weeks, but you seemed clueless.”

She looked pretty in the soft orange candlelight. I bet Tyler would look pretty, too. Realizing what I just thought, I almost fell off my chair. “Um, yeah, I’m glad too. But you know how complicated these things could get. When you date someone you work with.”

“Sure, but we’re both adults. I believe we can be professional about it.”

“I suppose.”

“Look, let’s just go one step at a time, and see where it goes. No pressure, no expectations. If it doesn’t work out, we can remain friends and colleagues.”

“I like the sound of that. Okay, you got yourself a deal.”

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