Page 21 of Love on the Line

“Just me.” He held up his hands.

“You mentioned your mother when we met?”

A weight settled on his shoulders. “She was diagnosed with an aggressive brain tumor. They couldn’t save her.”

“Oh no. I’m so sorry.” Anne reached across the table and rested a hand on his wrist. Her gentle touch radiated up his arm.

“Yeah, it was bad. That’s why I retired. I don’t have siblings, and my father died in a car accident the year before. She didn’t have anyone to take care of her.”

Anne pulled her hand back and stared at him. Her blue eyes teared up. “Wow. You lost both parents that close together and gave up your career?”

Hell, the last thing he wanted was pity. “I think of it more as being lucky enough to have the money and chance to spend that tough year with her. I’m doing fine. I have the dog.”

“A dog?”

“Yup. I thought it might help my mom, you know, give her something to love and focus on. I rescued a mutt from the kill shelter. And then I had to buy something to drive him around in, so he cost me a pickup truck, but he’s worth it.”

“That’s really sweet. Is he a big dog?”

“Nah. Goober’s medium sized with light brown fur. I think he’s some sort of lab mix.”

“Goober?” Anne’s eyebrow raised.

“Yeah, he’s not the sharpest knife in the drawer. A total goof, hence the name. But he loved my mother.” And he wasn’t the only one that missed her.

“I’m sorry you lost so much in such a short time. Do you ever think about going back to football?”

“I miss playing, but I’ve been out for eighteen months, and my replacement is tearing it up.” He took a sip of coffee. “I interviewed for an offensive coordinator job out at USC. I’ll start in the summer if I get the job.”

“California, huh?” She sat back and crossed her arms.

Didn’t have to be a brain surgeon to read that body language. But hey, he wasn’t there to bullshit her. She needed to know he might only be around until summer, which was all the more reason to keep things casual. “There’s nothing here for me anymore. I have no ties to the area.”

Anne’s mouth turned down at the corners and her eyes softened. “No relatives at all?”

“I have an aunt and uncle, but they live out west, so growing up I never really saw them.”

“Yeah, even though New York isn’t that far, it’s still tough to get together with Maddie. And now both of my sisters are pregnant, which makes it even harder.”

“Really? Both of them?”

“Yup. It’s Sarah’s second.” Anne dropped her gaze and shrugged. “I always thought since I was the oldest, I’d be the first to have a baby.”

She wanted kids? A punch to his gut went wide left. She had to be in her thirties, which meant her biological clock was ticking. Hell, he was nowhere near ready to go down that road, maybe never.

She glanced up and her eyes widened. “I’m sorry, I have no idea why I said that. I didn’t mean…I mean…”

An awkward silence stretched between them. Time for a subject change. “No worries. So, you want to be a vice principal?”

Her hitched up shoulders lowered. “That’s my goal.”

“Well you seem like a planner. You’re organized and punctual. My money is on you to land the job.”

Her face fell, and her back stiffened.

Shit. He’d meant to compliment her. “What did I say to upset you?”

She glanced at him with sad eyes. “Don’t worry about it. Just reminded me of something.”

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