Page 7 of Big Rucking Disaster

Coach rose. “We have a couple of minutes before the final bell.”

We all folded our chairs and put them in a pile against the wall.

I pointed to George and Kenji. “I’m going to teach you how to throw behind your back while moving down the field.”

“Dumbest game ever.”

“George.” The warning came from Coach.

“What? You can’t move forward, you have to move sideways. It takes for-freaking-ever to get anywhere.” He put his hands on his hips.

“I know, isn’t it great?” I grinned.

Kenji high-fived me.

We were off.

Chapter Three

Yardley

“Are you all right?” Johnnie stared into my eyes. He leaned in. Really close.

So I could smell his…aftershave? Body wash? Soap? Something woodsy. “Of course I’m all right.” I might’ve snapped that.

He blinked—clearly not have expecting that shrewish response. “Look, I don’t know you—”

“You’re right, you don’t.” I checked again that we were alone. I’d watched all the kids leave. Well, Kenji had hung around until I’d finally given him the signal to take off.

Johnnie had generously signed autographs for all the kids who wanted one.

George had moved off to the side and pretended to flip through his notebook.

Our guest hadn’t appeared to take offense.

When the bell rang, most of the kids blew out of there.

Kenjy, Greta, and Madison were the exceptions.

To my surprise, Johnnie hauled four balls from his bag. He autographed one for each of the kids—and the fourth one to me.

“I’m fine.”

“No, you’re not. Even I can see you’ve got a headache.”

I scowled.

He rolled his eyes. “Do you want me to tell Louella?”

“Uh…no.” My coworker would get in my face about not having taken something. “I took a volleyball to the head. It’s not a big deal. Hey.”

Damn man moved even closer and gazed into my eyes. His fathomless blue ones stunned in their intensity. Between the gorgeous eyes and the blond hair in a man bun—why did I have to find those so sexy? He was…the whole package. And breathtakingly similar to my ex. Both in looks and temperament.

“Can you take something? Do you need a ride home? Do you have someone at home to take care of you?”

“Steve and Sam will take good care of me.”

His eyes widened. “You’ve got, like, two roommates? Or partners? Sam as in Samuel or Samantha? Or is the person nonbinary and uses Sam as androgynous? Is one a husband or a wife? Are you in one of those triad things? No judgment on my part. And, frankly, none of my business, but that’s so cool. I mean, I didn’t realize you’re gay. Well, if you are gay. Or bi. Not that it matters if you are.”

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