Page 9 of Everything's Better With You
“I’m sure he will be.”
She groaned. “Come on, Joe. Aren’t you ready to have something of your own? Remember how good it felt to create the coed team? You’ve been working under someone else’s parameters for so long…don't you want something that’s yours?”
Joe had considered it. He’d dreamed of producing his own show someday, that is once he was a washed-up dancer no longer able to perform. Had he really reached that point? His back was telling him an exuberant “Yes, Joe! It is time for you to hang up your dancing shoes.” But his heart kept pushing him.One more show. One more season ofDance Machine. One more chance to make something special.
“Say you’ll think about it? What have you got to lose?”
There was that question again.
“Iamthinking about it.”
Eventually Terrence and Terrell returned and Joe was glad to get caught up on their family happenings. Terrell had grown up to be about an inch shorter than his six-foot-tall father, who’d played football for Greenvale. The two Black men had identical athletic builds and confident postures as well as serious expressions, but when you got Terrell laughing, he smiled just as wide as his mom.
Not long after, it was time for the flag football game. Similar to the idea of powder puff, but these kids played flag football to hopefully avoid injuries. There were the usual laughs over the boys donning makeup, pig tails, and pom pons, which Joe loathed, but once the game was on, the competition was fierce. He sat with Marti’s family, but his gaze continued to search for Leslie.
He finally spotted him by the snack bar with all three of his brothers and a few other faculty members Joe recognized. Leslie was holding court, laughing and pounding on one of his brothers’ shoulders, his eyes twinkling with mischief…and Joe couldn’t take his eyes off of him. What would it be like to stand next to the legendary football player, the “nicest guy in the NFL” and share that spotlight, share that warmth and camaraderie? Joe’d wondered for fifteen years. And now he had an invitation, a perfect opportunity, to find out what it would be like. All he had to do was say yes.
At halftime it was customary to introduce notable alumni, and sure enough Barry introduced Joe and Leslie as well as Marti and a few other folks: a woman who’d hit it big in finance, a politician from Kansas, and a former Olympic Men’s Volleyball player, who apparently was coming to join the coaching staff. Joe stood and waved when his name was called and he made eye contact with Leslie, who hadreturned and taken the empty spot next to Joe to watch the “cheerleaders.”
“Did the football players always look this ridiculous?” Leslie asked as he sat down. He handed a can of water to Joe.
Joe smirked. “I can’t speak for theoldendays, but yeah, they did.” He held up his can and Leslie tapped it with a smile.
Marti burst out laughing and pushed Joe into Leslie’s shoulder, the contact making him hyperaware of how close Les was. There was no awkward adjusting to not brush thighs or to make room for Leslie’s shoulders. They just…fit, like puzzle pieces whose curves and ridges were made to go together.Huh.
Les laughed at the antics on the field as Joe and Marti groaned. The guys actually managed to do some stunts that looked legit. He and Marti exchanged surprised looks.
“See? When you join the staff, we can fight over kids like those that can do both cheer and football.”
Marti’s eyes bugged out. “Mr. Payton, you’re really planning to come back and coach?”
“I sure am!”
Joe introduced Marti, Terrence and Terrell to Leslie and they all started chatting as soon as the routine was over.
Much to Joe’s chagrin.
“Yes, I absolutely think that Joe would be the perfect choice for cheer coach and dance instructor.” Marti was definitely not playing fair. She kept looking between Joe and Leslie and her eyebrows could not have gone further up her forehead.
Joe didn’t stand a chance.
“I’m certainly going to do my best to convince him.”
Joe actually loved that Leslie was not a slick salesman. He was such a nice guy that there was no hard, obnoxious push. That did make him pause and think about how Leslie would be recruiting kids for football. Joe figured that Leslie would tell them how it is and be real with them, which was honestly how it should be done. It wasn’t a tough sell anyway, not with Leslie Payton as their coach. Any up-and-coming player would kill to be coached by one of the NFL’s top-scoring quarterbacks with two Super Bowl rings.
Leslie turned and placed a hand on Joe’s shoulder. “Hey, I’ve gotta go talk to some more folks but I want to talk some more and I need to get you settled into your accommodations. When do you fly out?”
“Tomorrow afternoon. I have to fly back to LA and pack to go to New York.”
“Meet me where we parked after the game? I want to go over a few more things.”
“Doyou?” Joe gave him a sly smile.
Leslie blushed bright red and Joe loved it.
“Yeah. Meet me after.”
Leslie’s killer smile left Joe wondering if this was all just a way to get Joe alone for nefarious activities. Not that he was against anything even slightly less than wholesome with Leslie. He’d tried to get him alone for years and life had conspired to keep them apart every damn time. Joe’s self-imposed celibacy was the stuff of legends among his friends. He’d say he didn’t need the distraction, didn’t want the attachments, but really he didn’t want to be tied down to anything, anyplace, anyone.
