Page 44 of Scores Of The Heart

Simon is still gaping, and Andrea doing all the talking.

“I think it’s just a bug,” she says. “Nothing serious.”

There was probably no need for me to stop to ask them. Though, from the looks on their faces, I could probably prize anything out of them right now.

“Great play on Friday,” Simon says, finally finding his voice. “That tackle in the final minutes had everyone holding their breaths.”

We didn’t play the best so far, but thankfully still won.

I spare a glance at him. “Thanks, we’re taking no prisoners this time around,” I say. I’m taking a leaf out of my mom’s book and using it as my walking mantra.

I feel the same about something else. And it irks me that she isn’t well and can’t be there.

Hopefully, she will still be able to make our coffee date before the team heads off for the game at the end of the week. I’ve been looking forward to it ever since we made plans. I just wonder if we’re going to be able to keep it discreet.

I mean, we can always say we ran into each other as work colleagues, so there’s a way around getting spotted in public. At least for the first few times.

Surely that won’t class as doing anything untoward.

Yes, I’m the captain and my job is to keep everyone in line, including myself.

But there’s something just too irresistible about this girl, even for me.

It’s going to take a goddamned miracle to stay away from her.

CHAPTER 10

Cindy

Ever since the kerfuffle with my mom on Sunday, I’ve had a pain in my head that won’t go away. All my life I’ve suffered this when things get too much. My stomach hurts and my head spins. I think it’s anxiety.

The fact I don’t see Mom too often is probably a good thing in that regard. I don’t know how I would put up with it if I saw her every week. I know that sounds awful, but her scrutiny has only gotten worse over the years. Not better.

You would think as we got older she would have toned it down, but she’s still the same as she ever was, and I have no regrets about what I said.

The truth is, I don’t think about that time too much anymore. Even if it shaped me in a lot of ways as I got older. But my mom seems intent on not letting me forget.

Thank God I have Caitlin, otherwise I’d think I was going insane.

Susie calls me on Tuesday night, and I have to admit I’m feeling a lot better.

I have been working a lot lately, and don’t spend a lot of time doing nothing, even when I’m at home. Henry loves it. We curl up together on the couch and watch movies. I’m sure he’d love it if I was home all day, every day, and I don’t think I would mind either.

“How are you feeling?” Susie asks me as I lay back on the couch with Henry laying on my chest snoozing away.

“Okay,” I say, though it’s not convincing. She knows all about the Mom lunch debacle. “Better than I did on Monday. Wild horses usually can’t drag me away from the team meeting.”

“I bet you’re bummed about that.” Yep, she knows all about the Tyler situation, too.

She likes the game, but she’s not one of those real invested girls in the hype. I know she won’t say anything to anyone.

“Just a tad.” I sigh. Tyler and I have been texting every day, and I’ll be back at work tomorrow. We have our coffee date before the team goes away for the weekend, too.

“You need to tell me about that kiss again.”

I laugh for the first time today. I haven’t told her where his hand brushed past. “It was more like a brush of the lips.”

“Still,” she says. “It’s Tyler Peterson, for heaven’s sake!”

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