Page 45 of Waiting for Friday Night

“No point. Just making conversation. We’re going to be seeing each other more. We’ll have to get to know each other. Won’t we?”

“I guess. But seeing as how you and Halle aren’t engaged or married then who knows how much we’ll need to get to know each other.”

Gregory’s eyes narrowed. Quinton kept his expression neutral. He’d dealt with smug assholes since high school. People who thought they had some type of leg up on him for whatever reason. He hadn’t let that intimidate him then and he wouldn’t let it intimidate him now.

“Mr. Gaines, I thought that was you.” A woman’s voice interrupted them.

They both turned as Miriam Parker, the town’s mayor, came up. She grinned her usual welcoming smile as she came over to the two. Miriam was a tall, statuesque woman, with a can-do attitude that resulted in her having over 70 percent of the votes in town for the past two elections.

“Coach Q, good seeing you as well. I’m looking forward to another great year of Peachtree Cove football.”

“I’m hoping to give you one.”

She pumped her fist. “Just what I like to hear. Mr. Gaines, I’m glad I ran into you.”

Quinton spotted his exit. “I’ll let you two talk.”

She shook her head. “No, it’s good to catch you both. Now that we’ve completed the renovations on the old high school and turned it into a community and arts center, I’d like to do something great for the editors of Travel Magazine. We made the finals in Best Small Town, and they’ll be here for a visit soon after school starts. We’re hosting a welcome dinner and we’d like to schedule a tour of not just the renovated center, but of the community college’s campus.” She looked at Gregory. “I’d like to bring them to your literature class. Halle said your poetry is fantastic and you’re really bringing out the best in your students. Would that be okay to bring them by when you’re teaching?”

Gregory immediately nodded and beamed with pride. “Of course. I’m happy to help.”

“Fantastic.” She turned to Quinton. “They’ll be here during the second week of school. I know it’s hectic, but I’d like to have them attend the football game. They’ll sit with the boosters and get recognized at half time, but I’d like to introduce them to our local celebrity. Would that be fine with you?”

Quinton had two Pro Bowl rings, but he was far from being one of the most popular people in the league. “I’m not really a celebrity,” Quinton said.

“You’re close enough, and you’ve turned our team around. This will be a good boost to get us that final recognition. I want to show them the best of Peachtree Cove.”

Quinton shook his head. “I appreciate that, but I’m just a part of Peachtree Cove. Besides, I’m not good at interviews or anything like that.”

“Oh, don’t worry. In fact, the editor for the magazine was particularly interested when he learned you were the football coach. He said you two were old friends and he looks forward to learning more about what you’re doing in Peachtree Cove.”

Quinton frowned. He was pretty sure none of his friends worked for Travel Magazine. He only had a handful of good friends—a few from college, one or two from his days playing professionally and Brian and Cyril here in Peachtree Cove.

“Who is he?”

“Wait, let me check my email.” Miriam dug into her purse, pulled out her phone. “I’ve been dealing with one of the writers, but the editor reached out after we made the finals. Here it is. His name is Khris Simmons, with a K. He says you all went to high school together. Typically, the editor doesn’t come to town for this, but he’s coming to catch up with you. So, we definitely need you for this. Not only will it give the town a leg up, but you get to catch up with an old friend. Isn’t it great?”

Quinton’s stomach soured at the mention of the name. There was no way in hell he was going to play nice to the guy who’d made high school a living hell for him. Khris Simmons wasn’t his friend. He’d been Quinton’s bully.

“Why did he give me this?” Shania asked, confusion knitting her brows together.

Halle looked at the book on the table and smiled. “He knows you like the series and wanted to be nice.”

“Gregory doesn’t have to be nice to me,” Shania said.

“Do you want him to be mean?”

Shania sighed and plopped down in the chair. She frowned at the book. “No. It’s just... You two just started dating and that’s cool, because he wasn’t trying hard to get on my good side.” She poked the book. “This feels like trying to get on my good side.”

Halle hadn’t expected Gregory to show up today with Shania’s favorite book. Not after he’d said they needed to take a break. But he’d apologized for overreacting. Said he should have been more supportive of her and hoped she would give him another chance. She’d been surprised by how much she’d considered saying no, before reminding herself that this was good. This was what she wanted.

“Again, why is that a problem?”

Shania looked at Halle as if she should already know the answer. “He’s not my dad. He doesn’t need to be on my good side.”

“But he is the guy I’m dating. What’s wrong with him wanting to get on the good side of my daughter?”

“I don’t know. It just feels weird and sudden. I think it’s because of Coach Q.”

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