Page 18 of Coach Me
“Okay, I know you’re right, but the point of my original question of ‘Who’s Lucie?’ still holds a lot of weight.”
“Fair.” Callie shrugs. “But she’s the first real candidate you’ve had in a long time. Especially for both positions. Come on, Will, back me up.”
Will glances back and forth between his girlfriend and me, his coach, several times before he lets out a breath. “Yeah, I want no part of this conversation, actually.”
“Will—” Callie starts to protest, but Will cuts her off with a quick kiss to the forehead.
“Sorry, Beck’s calling for me. Got to go.”
“Mmm,” Callie hums with anger before sighing as Will takes off down the hallway.
“Not exactly what I would want to see out of my nanny’s brother,” I joke, then instantly regret it when the fire lights in Callie’s eyes again. “I’m not saying I’m on board with your plan, Cals. I still don’t know this person.”
Callie holds her hands up in defense but then her phone digs in her pocket. “Look, I’m just saying it’s an idea. I have to get to Shannon before she has an aneurysm over these first pitch photos. Lucie texted me that they’re sitting inWill’s reserved seats, fourth row back from the pitcher's mound. For today, why don’t you just go check on him?”
I glance at my watch. I’ve got some time to spare, and while I do trust Callie, I really don’t feel comfortable handing Miles off without even meeting the person. In fact, the more I think about it, the less confident in the plan I feel. I know I need someone to help, but there’s this fear I don’t understand that comes with it.
“Fine, but don’t get your feelings hurt if I take him to the dugout with me.”
Callie rolls her eyes. “Oh, yeah. Will’s sister is already five beers deep,” she says with a snark as she pats my shoulder before walking away.
“Not funny, Cals,” I grit out.
“Who said I was joking?” Callie hollers over her shoulder.
“For fuck’s sake.”
Weaving through the crowd of people, I keep my head low and move as quickly as possible. Venturing into the crowd as a coach is one thing, but as the newly retired pitcher, I usually get stopped a lot.
“Dad! Dad, look! It’s Dex Larsen!” I hear what sounds like the voice of a little boy ahead of me.
The ‘no eye contact and keep moving’ method usually works, but I’ve clearly got a soft spot for the kid fans. When I spot the kid tugging on his dad’s shirt, jumping up and down unable to contain himself with excitement, I know I have to stop.
Kneeling in front of him, I swear the kid stops breathing for a second as he grips the ball in his hand with a huge smile on his face.
“Hi there, want me to sign your ball?”
The kid nods his head aggressively before looking up to his dad for late permission. The dad and I chuckle at the same time. Yep, I know how that goes.
After signing one ball, a small crowd of kids makes their way up to me. Some with genuine excitement, and some I know are only getting an autograph for their parental figure.
I finally make it to the reserved rows behind the mound. Heading down the first set of stairs, I scan the rows and spot Miles right away, but then almost just as quickly, I notice the blonde next to him. Not just any blonde, though—thegorgeous blonde from the coffee shop. My Blondie.
What the fuck? This can’t be Will’s sister—she would have said something. She should have said something. I had wanted to know her name that day. Hell, if Miles wasn’t with me and we weren’t rushing out the door, I would have asked her for her number.
Shit, if this is her, that means Blondie here is twelve years younger than me. I could tell she was younger in the coffee shop, but I wouldn’t have guessed there was that much of an age difference.
Maybe this is a friend of Will’s sister, and Lucie’s just at the concessions or in the bathroom—nother.
Miles seems completely entranced as she speaks to him, but that’s not entirely surprising since I apparently have a ladies’ man on my hands. Then again, I can’t blame him on this one. Blondie seems to shine just as brightly today as she did last week.
That definitely feels like a thought I shouldn’t entertain until I know for sure that this isn’t Will’s sister. The hope that she isn’t also seems like something I shouldn’t entertain given my situation, but it’s there.
Walking toward them, she looks my way. Her piercingblue eyes land on me, and it’s as if the light around her intensifies. Hell, she seems like sunshine in human form.
Fuck, maybe I should go ahead and nip this in the bud and bring Miles to the dugout with me. Even if she’s not Lucie, I just thought this girl had a light to her…she definitely can’t be my nanny or even friends with my nanny.
“Dad! What are you doing up here?” Miles exclaims, as if it is unbelievable that I came to see him.
