Page 126 of Coach Me
“I’ll make do. I think I have someone I can call in who’s pretty comfortable with all this, but I’ll keep your offer in mind.” Olsson looks through the glass door at Miles and Lucie. “Seems like Lucie’s working out. I knew she would be good for you, and I’m not talking about working for you.”
I let out a chuckled curse. She’s more than good for me. “Yeah, she’s exactly what I needed.”
Chapter 43
Lucie
Miles has pretty much been glued to my hip since we left the hotel. Not that I’m complaining—I did consider glue several times this morning while we got ready for today’s game. Thankfully, he got the metaphorical sense of what I was going for.
Sitting on the benches to the side of the bullpen, we watch a couple of the guys throw some pitches. Dex stands close by, watching and correcting when needed. I’m not sure if he got the glue memo too, but he hasn’t seemed to venture too far from us either.
Miles wiggles on the bench. His eyes narrow on Tripp and Beck in the outfield.
I nudge him with my shoulder. “You know, if you want to go catch some balls, you can.”
Miles scrunches his nose. “Well, I kind of do…” He peers up at me, and I can practically see the hesitation to even finish the sentence in his eyes.
“I know yesterday was scary, but we shouldn’t let it ruin doing something we love.” I boop his nose. “Not to mention,Miles, I think the entire team will be keeping a close eye on you today. You’re a very loved boy.”
Miles gives me a toothy grin. “You’re right, I’m gonna go get my glove!”
He shoots off the bench, nearly colliding with Dex on the way out. Pulling myself from our seats with less enthusiasm, Dex pulls me to him when I get close to plant a kiss on my forehead. “He gonna go shag some balls?”
“Yeah, it took a little convincing, but not much. Something tells me we might be able to get today to replace what happened yesterday.”
A smile tugs at Dex’s lips. “I thought it might.”
“I’m going to help him get his glove and go out there with him. You have fun coaching.” I step around him, but turn back and send him a wink. “Maybe if you watch them throw enough, you’ll change your mind about retirement.”
Dex tilts his head back, that smile growing ever so slightly. “How long until you and Miles let that go?”
I shrug, walking backward toward the door Miles just went through. I don’t want to give Dex too much opportunity to rebut, so I take a few more steps before I toss back, “I don’t know…shall we find out?”
Dex tries to hide his laugh as he runs his hand over his face. When he looks at me, I can see the smart aleck remark on the tip of his tongue, but I turn around and step into the hall.
I’ll give it until the end of the season. Miles and I will wear him down.
Before I can pull open the locker room door, Miles swings the door open. “I got my glove! Let’s go!”
“Hold up, Hotshot.” I catch him before he races around me. “Let’s put on a little sunscreenfirst.”
Miles’s arms practically drop to the floor. “Ah, man.”
“That’s funny, Lucie used to make the same face when I’d tell her to put sunscreen on when we were kids,” Will says, walking down the hall…with my sister. Will looks to Reagan. “You remember that pout, don’t you, Rea?”
Reagan gives me a soft smile. “Lucie would pout, and I’d just run away from you.”
Miles lifts his head with the thought. I might be a little taken aback with Reagan making a random appearance, but I don’t miss that mischievous glint in his eyes.
“Don’t even try it,” I say before he can even attempt an escape. I turn back to my siblings now standing right in front of me. I want to ask what’s going on, but I also don’t want to freak Miles out again. I need my family members to stop ambushing me. “Miles, this is my sister Reagan. I don’t think the two of you have officially met yet.”
“Hi, Miles, I’ve heard a lot about you. Specifically, that you give Will a run for his money with Callie.”
Miles tilts his head to the side. “I don’t know about money, but I do love Callie.”
Reagan laughs while Will whispers a curse. “I swear, Lucie, you were supposed to help with this.”
I hold my hands up. “I made no such promise. You said it, I never acknowledged it.”
