Page 15 of Dear Coach's Daughter
“Did you honestly think I didn’t know?”
“You never said anything.”
"Well, it's pretty clear to anyone around you two what is going on.”
“Are you mad?” I ask.
“Mad?” He laughs. “No, I’m not mad. Hunter is a good man. He’s the guy you want your daughter to bring home—if she has to bring someone home.”
“I do.”
He shrugs. “I’m just surprised that you broke your no football player rule.”
I look back at Hunter. He’s signing a cloth napkin that one of the two respectable women hands to him.
“I wanted to keep it, but he wore me down.”
“I’m just glad to hear you are opening yourself up again. It would have been a shame if you missed out on something great because you were afraid of history repeating itself.”
I point to Hunter. “I’m starting to see it repeat.”
Hunter stands up to take a picture with them.
“This is something that will come up,” Dad says. “People are drawn to people in the spotlight. And Hunter has a bright career ahead of him, which will make him someone people gravitate towards. But you have to understand, kiddo, that boy is head over heels for you. It’s clear from the way he lights up when you walk into whatever room he's in. Of course, you don't see it because you don’t see the before and after. But let me assure you that it happens.”
We both watch as the one woman wraps her arm around Hunter’s waist and pulls herself against him. I’m about to make a move when I see Hunter remove her arm and say something to her that makes the smile drop from her face.
“There you go,” Dad says. “Come on, let’s go eat.”
The anxiety I felt earlier dissipates. I know there will be a shadow where it once was, but I need to trust Hunter. He's given me no reason to think that he will hurt me.
I follow my dad out onto the patio. The women have returned to their tables, and Hunter straightens when he sees my dad.
“Good morning, sir.” He holds out his hand to him.
“Hunter.” Dad takes his hand.
I walk over and pull Hunter's face down to mine and kiss him. It's not for show to anyone. I just want him to know how I feel about him.
He pulls back and looks nervously at my dad.
"Don't worry, son. I know." Dad turns to me. "But just because I approve doesn't mean I want a front-row seat to this."
I chuckle. “Understood.”
“He doesn’t have his gun with him, does he?” Hunter whispers to me.
Dad laughs, and then his face grows serious. “I’m sure you’d love to know.”
I laugh and pull Hunter down into our chairs. “He’s kidding. Right, dad?”
"Of course." He laughs but then shakes his head at Hunter.
I guess I should have warned Hunter of my dad’s twisted sense of humor when it comes to meeting my boyfriends. He loves torturing them.”
“Who’s hungry?” Dad asks, picking up the menu.
I take Hunter’s hand in mine and write a message to him on his palm.
I L-O-V-E Y-O-U.
