Page 107 of Coach Me
Dex mentioned that she’s a lawyer, and from what I’ve stalked, a pretty good one too. Her appearance is intimidating, while still gorgeous. I’d hire her, that's for sure.
“I’m sure you won’t be surprised when I tell you that this wasn’t how I wanted today to go.” Kate keeps her voice low. “Did Dex tell you I wanted time with just Miles or both of them?”
My mouth goes bone dry. “Um, Miles.”
Kate gives me a slow nod. “I thought he might’ve.”
Does that mean she wanted to see Dex today too? I’m assuming he told her no, considering I’m the one walking around with her today. I’m not entirely sure how I feel about that…I mean, he didn’t tell me that she mentioned adding him into this mix, but okay, let’s not overthink this.
“Look, I'm just the nanny for today. As weird as it sounds, just think of me that way.”
Kate huffs an amused breath. “Does that mean I can fire you?”
I press my lips in a thin line. “Well?—”
“Yeah, I know.” Kate gives what barely qualifies as a half-smile. “You’re also not just the nanny, though. Seems like you’re also a teacher and something more from what I can tell.”
“Uhh, yeah…” I trail off as Miles skips right past the stairs. “Hey, Miles, down this way.”
He skids to a stop. “Oh, oopsies.”
Miles races back to us and down the stairs. “Handrail, please,” I say on instinct, then snap my mouth shut. Maybe I should have let Kate take that one. I don’t know, she’s hard to read—just like Dex.
Oh my goodness, did they not work out because they are kind of the same person? Tough, hard-working, attention-demanding presence, and getting emotions out of them is like pulling teeth. This is probably a revelation I should keep to myself.
I let him get a few good stairs in between us before I speak again. Keeping the focus on Miles was my tactic with Dex, maybe it will work here too.
“So, for school, we’ve started the process of getting it approved with the school district. I’ll submit a homeschooling plan to them over the next couple of weeks. As long as that gets approved, we should be good to start after that.”
Kate raises an eyebrow. “Can I see the plan?”
My mouth opens with what I think I’m going to say is “yes”, but then snaps shut. Is this something I need to ask Dex about first? Then again, we’re all Team Miles, right?
“I’m sure we can work something out.”
Kate hums. I’m sure it’s ayeah, rightkind of hum, but there’s nothing I can do about it at this moment other than what I’ve just offered.
The rest of our walk down to the field is in silence. Thick, awkward, painful silence.
My anxiety only gets greater the closer we get to the field. If Dex is out here, I’m not entirely sure howthings will play out. I’m not here to stand in between them being parents, but this gray area of what Dex and I are feels like it makes things…complicated.
Kate’s words replay in my mind. She wanted time with Dex today too? Or was that just a way to get a rise out of me? If I were Reagan in this situation, I’m sure a comment like that would have definitely started some sort of competition of undermining each other.
The thought of Reagan threatens to pull that locked box out of the back of my head. Maybe that’s why I even thought of her to begin with. Dang subconscious is spiraling right now because I’ve never really dealt with this type of cattiness to begin with. Reagan dealt with those passive aggressive, mean girls growing up—and apparently the douche bags too. I just didn’t know about that.
The thing is, it’s not in me to compete with Kate; there’s no point. She’s Miles’s mom, Dex’s ex-wife. Those are facts I can’t change.
I’m not sure what the true reason is for Kate wanting to come today—whether it’s actually for Miles or some sort of excuse to be around Dex, but a heads-up would have been nice. Maybe agreeing to this wasn’t my smartest decision. I can swallow my pride, but I don’t think I’m cut out for head games if that’s the tactic she’s using.
Walking out to the field, Miles jumps on the first person he sees. “Beck! Can I come catch balls with you?”
Beck holds out his hand for a high five that’s raised slightly too tall for Miles to reach without jumping. “Hell yeah.”
“Beck.” My correction comes out on instinct again. Crap, maybe she does think I’m competing with her. Ugh, I’m definitely overthinking all of this now.
Beckscoops Miles up and places him on his shoulders. “Hey, Luce,” he says, giving me a warm smile, then a curt nod to Kate. “Kate.”
“Beck.” She matches his tone.
