Page 57 of Waiting for Friday Night

“Coach Q,” a voice interrupted them.

Quinton blinked and looked around. Who had called him? Someone pointed toward the front of the room. He looked that way and noticed Emily, the guild president, watching him expectantly.

“Can you tell us about your plans when the editors come to town?” Emily asked.

His brain replayed the words she’d spoken. Plans? He was supposed to have plans? “What do you mean?”

She smiled as if he was a kid in class who needed a little extra attention. “I mean, what are your plans related to showing off how you’ve improved the football team? Have you put together a schedule? He’ll be with you all day.”

Quinton scowled. “All day? Why will he be with me all day?”

The president shrugged. “It could turn into a day. He’ll be visiting the school and checking out the education and athletic accomplishments.”

“Then the principal can handle the schedule,” Quinton said. “I’ll just give him the basics of what we’re doing at the team.”

The less time he spent with Khris Simmons, the better. Halle may be right, and that people grew up and got better, but that didn’t mean he could easily forget how much Khris had made his teenage years a living hell. He was the reason Quinton had lost a scholarship to play football and had to work his way onto the team as a walk-on candidate and then prove himself even more every day to get drafted professionally.

A hand rose and a throat cleared. Jeremiah stood and gave Quinton a tight smile. “It’s all good. We’ve planned a day for the editor and included not only Coach Q but other members of our staff. Don’t worry, we’ll be sure to highlight the strides we’ve made with the football team.”

Emily’s worried expression changed into a grateful smile. “Great. Now, Carolyn, I’ve heard the bakery has some sweet treats planned. Tell us about it.”

The conversation moved on to what Sweet Treats was putting together. Quinton’s body remained stiff. It was one thing to have to talk to the guy and give him an interview. A few minutes pretending as if he could get along with him was one thing. But an entire day? There was no way in hell he was spending an entire day with Khris.

Halle’s hand brushed his arm. “Hey, are you okay?”

He glanced at her and nodded stiffly. “I’m good.”

“You sure?” Concern filled her eyes.

“I’m good.”

She frowned and gave him a look that said she knew he wasn’t good but thankfully she didn’t push. The remainder of the meeting revolved around the talk of the upcoming visit and how the different Business Guild members would work to decorate their storefronts and have specials or sales to entice the magazine’s crew when they arrived.

As soon as the meeting ended, he jumped up. He was ready to get home. He turned to Halle.

“I’ll see you this weekend?”

Halle nodded as she stood. “Yes. Shania is looking forward to it.”

He relaxed a little. “So am I. She doesn’t mind that it’s not football?”

Halle grinned and shook her head. Damn, she was fine when she smiled. “She’s good. She enjoys going out to the lake.”

“Then I’ll see you both then.”

“Oh, are you having a date?” came an intrusive voice.

Quinton suppressed a sigh, but didn’t soften his features as he turned from Halle to Mattie. The mayor’s sister and biggest troublemaker in Peachtree Cove.

Halle spoke first. “Hello, Mattie. Can I help you?”

Mattie gave them a false smile. When she spoke, it was loud enough for people mingling about to hear. “I was just wondering if you two were dating now that the cat’s out of the bag.”

“What cat?” Quinton asked, his voice hard.

Mattie gasped as if she couldn’t believe he didn’t know what she was talking about. “I mean that you’re Shania’s father. That has been the talk of the town. Is it true? You donated your sperm and you—” she looked at Halle “—were artificially inseminated?”

“The business between me, Shania and Halle is our own. So why don’t you go find someone else to bother,” Quinton said, not caring about being rude. He was not going to stand for anyone trying to make an issue out of his situation.

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