Page 42 of Not My Coach

She hangs up, and I’m left staring at my phone.

Babe. She’s never called me babe before. It’s fucking cute. I want her to say it again.

“Evie …” My mom says my name with such disappointment.

“Don’t do that. Don’t belittle me, Mom.” I cross my arms.

“Brett’s coach? I mean, you could have picked any other guy to date. Not one who makes things so complicated,” she says, concerned, and I know she’s only worried, but the words still sting the same.

Crossing my legs on the couch, I sigh, knowing no matter what I say, they aren’t going to change their minds, and that’s fine. I’m a grown-ass woman. I don’t need their permission.

The front door opens, and Brett walks through, a deep scowl on his face.

“Seriously, Eve?” Brett snaps and sits down on the couch across from me, next to my parents.

Now, I feel like this is an intervention, a way for them to get me to quit seeing Nate, and it’s not going to work.

“Shut up,” I bark back, already annoyed by his attitude.

“He’s a lot older than you, Evie,” my dad announces.

“He’s not that much older than me. And besides, I don’t care that he is. That has never felt like a wedge between us,” I admit.

“How long exactly have you been screwing my coach, Evie?” Brett squints his eyes at me.

“First off, stop saying it like that. Secondly, what we are doing together is not just sex. Thank you very much,” I correct him.

I mean, it started that way, but it feels so much more than that now.

“Before the gala?” my mom asks, surprised by my admission.

“Yes.”

“So, that entire night, when he was serving our table, you were hiding what was going on between you two? Real nice, Eves. Didn’t know you were such a good liar,” Brett says, trying to cut me down.

He must forget who taught him to be so tough. Before he got into fights on the ice, I was wrestling him to the ground—and winning.

“Brett, stop acting like a child. Although I know that might be hard for you,” I snark.

“Stop it, both of you,” my mom interjects before pausing. “Evie, are you guys serious about pursuing a relationship? I’m not asking that to demean it. I am genuinely wondering. Because if it is, then we will have to find a way to work through this together.”

My heart is racing, and I feel like if someone looked close enough, they could see it physically jumping in and out of my chest.

I don’t know where my relationship with Nate will end up. But I do know that I don’t want to lose him. He makes me feel alive and seen in a way that no one ever has. I feel safe, secure, and all warm and fuzzy when I’m with him. I’m falling for him. I don’t know if he feels that way, too, but regardless, I have my answer.

“Yes, it is serious,” I answer confidently.

Brett rubs down his face. “Jesus Christ. He’s my coach, Evie! You can’t date my fucking coach!”

“Why, Brett? He’s not my coach. It’s that simple. I have no reason to end what we have.” My eyes are starting to burn from the confrontation.

As much as I mean every word I’m saying, I still hate feeling like they are mad at or disappointed in me.

“I am falling in love with him. I’m not going to deny myself happiness. Not with him. I just need you all to find a way to come to terms with that. Please,” I say, my voice cracking as I rise to my feet. “I love you all so, so much.”

“Evie, you don’t need to leave, sweetie.” My mom stands and grabs my shoulders endearingly.

“I know. But I need to. It’s late.” I give a half-assed excuse that I know won’t fool them, but they accept it anyway.

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