Page 159 of Liam

Liam says out loud what I’m thinking, “Interview for what?”

Lachlan answers, “Coach Harden’s retiring at the end of next year.”

“Coach Harden?” I sit taller and face Roman. “Your old coach?”

“He’s retiring?” Roman asks Lachlan.

On the other end of the dock, Logan and Leo play students while Benny teaches them some dance moves.

“Is he related to Miss Harden?” I ask.

“Husband and wife,” Roman mutters.

Huh. I never put the two together. And I don’t even know why it’s important because—I sitallthe way up.“Wait, he’sretiring?”

“Yeah,” Lachy says. “They’ve been looking for a replacement for the past year, but no one wants to move to the middle of nowhere, even to coach a team that produced a pro.”

“Ten years ago…” Lucas says, offering Dayna and Griffin a beer.

Dayna accepts for Griffin, muttering something about her driving, but she’s looking between Lachlan and Griffin, trying to gauge the situation.

“They don’t have any assistant coaches?” Griffin asks, and Dayna whips her eyes to Lachlan.

“Oh, they do, but they’re all shit-for-brains, which makes sense, since they’re all volunteers.”

Dayna glances at Griffin again, waiting for a response. Since he lost his job, Griffin’s been delivering food just to make money. He’s been searching for other coaching positions, but this close to a new season, it’s impossible to find something, even part time. But—I’m not getting my hopes up. Dayna and Griffin live four hours away. And besides, I had always planned to go back there… forthem. But, if they’re here—but they wouldn’t uproot their entire lives for—“Youjustsaid how you’d like to coach high school baseball,” Dayna says, shoving Griffin’s arm.

My pulse picks up. “You did?”

Griffin cracks open his beer, but doesn’t reply.

“You have to at least interview,” Roman says. “See what the deal is?”

“Yeah,” Dayna encourages.

“Dad should have his number,” Liam says. “He knows everyone. You should call him.” I can hear it in his voice, too, the hope that blooms. He’s fully aware that there are only two reasons I’d go back to Raleigh, and they’re both sitting with us now.

Still, Griffin doesn’t give a hint of what he’s thinking. Instead, he asks Lachlan, “Do you play?”

“Nah,” Lachlan says. “I run track.”

“You can’t do both?”

“I don’t really do team sports.”

“No?”

“I’m the youngest of seven,” Lachlan cracks. “Ineedto be the center of attention.”

Griffin laughs at that, and then Lachlan swims away, and no one mentions the coaching job again. Not even Dayna.

We spend the entire afternoon and early evening in and out of the water, playing with the kids and the “big boy” toys. Griffin seems to have a blast on the jet skis, the ATVs, and dirt bikes. Dayna and Laney hit it off, talking about their crafting hobbies, and Liam and I never leave each other’s side. We get in the water, and I latch onto him while he swims around. I hold on to his waist while he rides the jet ski. I park myself in the crook of his arm while he lies on a towel on the rocky shore.

One day, he might get sick of how needy I am for him, but that day isn’t today, and so I’ll take it while I can.

“Liam!” Linc calls out, and Liam lifts his head. “You want to set up now?”

“One second,” Liam yells back.

---