Page 13 of In Your Dreams

I mean kids drop out every summer. Some sign up on a whim and don’t really realize the hard work behind it. I guesswith more showing up this year, I should have expected a higher-than-normal amount of withdrawals.

“Hey, you.” Poppy’s words hit me from somewhere to my right. I turn to see her standing at the edge of the field as Aiden jogs from her toward me.

I know I’m instantly smiling. There’s no use trying to hide it. “Hey there, mama.”

“Hey, Coach,” Aiden calls out, coming to a full stop in front of me.

“Hey, man,” I say, holding my hand out for a high-five. “You ready to work hard?”

“Yes, sir,” he says.

“That’s my superstar,” I say. “Head over and put your stuff in the dugout and we’ll get started in a few.”

Aiden heads over while I turn my attention back to Poppy, walking over to her. She’s wearing a light yellow sundress and her hair is down this time. She’s dawning those big sunglasses, not that I blame her. But it also means I can’t see her eyes which is a bit of a bummer.

“I need to get you a team ball cap to shield your eyes so you don’t have to wear those sunglasses,” I say.

“Why? What’s wrong with my sunglasses?” She asks.

“Nothing apart from the fact that I can’t see your eyes,” I say. “And I think you have pretty eyes.”

Poppy presses her lips together to keep from smiling too big but I know I got her. She reaches up and slides her sunglasses down low on the bridge of her nose, revealing gorgeous blues.Damn.

“I figure that will hold you over,” she says, pushing them back into place.

What a tease. I bite my tongue from saying so because Idon’t want to go there just yet. It’s a little too suggestive for where we are. But if I had to guess, I’d say that’s where we’re headed and I wouldn’t mind if we got there this week.

Being suggestive is what I consider the very beginning of foreplay. It’s very gently tilting the scale in the direction we all hope romantic connections go and there’s nothing wrong with that. As a matter of fact, I consider myself a master-suggester.

“I’ll take what I can get,” I say. “Let me go coach these boys while you watch me with excitement.” Yeah, that should plant some seeds.

An hour later, my team is tired. Everyone, including me, is sweating their asses off. Everyone, including Tom, is yawning. If I know anything as a coach, it’s that I know when to call it a day and that time is now.

“Pack up!” I yell, cupping my hands around my mouth. “Good hustle tonight! See you this weekend!”

I jog over to the edge of the bleachers as Poppy steps down toward me. I hold my hand out to her, helping her down to the ground level.

“You worked up a sweat,” she says. “Good job, coach.”

“Yeah, I need a shower for sure. Which means Aiden does too, I’m sure.” I wipe the back of my hand over my forehead.

“If I’ve become used to anything as a sports mom, it’s that sports kids are stinky and require showers,” she says.

“My mother can attest to that fact as well,” I add.

“So, I guess I’ll see you Friday, then?” She asks, tucking her hair behind her ear.

Her eyes grow doe-like as she looks up at me. There’s a sweetness to her, in everything she does, that I can’t help but adore.

“Come hell or high water.”

CHAPTER NINE

POPPY

Agreeing to a date with Parker felt like a good time to reach out to Emma and panic. I’d like to clarify, I panicked and then reached out to her and then panicked some more actually.

Once she calmed me down, we agreed she’d come over Thursday night for a little sleepover so she could help me prepare, decide what to wear, and do some gossiping in general. Thank fuck she didn’t have to work on Friday and I told my dad I wouldn’t be in. I guess that’s a perk of working with your family.

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