Page 4 of Crazy for the Coaches

“That’s a turn on,” I said without thinking, but Aaron’s quick grin made me feel better as they turned to greet me.

“That’s always our goal,” Steve added.

They both stood from their bar stools. “Let’s find a booth.”

“Hey, Mandy,” Ted, the Mayor, called from behind the bar.

“Back to work here?” I teased. “Had enough doing weddings and running the town?”

“Just coming for a visit,” he said. “Angel will be by later, too.”

“I’ve been friends with his wife from the college, where she’s a librarian,” I explained to the men. “Ted knows everyone.”

“Yes, he just introduced himself to us.” Steve let me slide in. I noticed Aaron was on the end again.

“Are you still in pain from your injury?” I asked.

He looked down at his mug of beer. “Yes and no.”

I waited, sensing he didn’t like to talk about it. I likely shouldn’t be pressing him, but I had a bad habit of blurting things out.

“He could have played again,” Steve said.

“No team would want me back for at least another year. I enjoy coaching, and like that Steve and I can work together.” His brown eyes held mine then. “I really like this opportunity.”

I wanted to reach out and put my hand over his. Normally, I wasn’t the sort of person who liked to touch others. I wanted to hold both of their hands.

“Tell me about your list of lists,” I said, making him smile again as I’d hoped.

“I’m glad Alfonso is coming,” Steve said a while later, after they told me about ideas they had for the team. I’d made my own list of ideas. These two knew more than Eli and I did for sure, and likely more than our manager, who they both seemed to like a lot.

“He’ll stay with us until he decides if he wants to stay at a host place or the college.”

Minor league pay was low, so many players stayed with area families or in college dorms, hoping to be promoted to the majors.

“Do you have a contact with the majors?” Steve asked.

“I was just thinking about that. Eli knows some people through his firm, and we’ve offered them box seats for the season. Do either of you know anyone?”

Steve rattled off a lot of names.

“OK, I need another list,” I said.

“I’ll send it to you,” he said, and I noticed Aaron texted something.

“I sent him a reminder,” Aaron said.

Both men laughed.

We ordered food, and I realized I’d been sitting and talking with them for over two hours. We’d have to wrap up the evening soon as we all had work the next morning, but I still wasn’t sure if this was a date.

“So Mandy,” Steve said, seeming to read my mind again. “We’d love to see you again.”

I nodded slowly. I wanted to see them, but I wasn’t sure how this arrangement would work out. Before I could think about it too much, I blurted out an agreement. “I’d like that.”

Was I supposed to follow them home? Or invite them to mine? This was always an issue for me dating one man, not that it had happened in a long time, I thought. Managing with two men wasn’t that different so far, though I knew it would be.

“This town is terrific,” Steve said as they walked me to the condo. “I have a meeting with the athletic director at the college this week about some underclassmen. I’m going to discuss some of the training and recruiting plans for the team.”

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