Page 30 of Every Beat of My Heart

Claire glanced around, probably to see if anyone was listening to our conversation. “Is it going to be a problem?”

“I won’t let it be.” It wouldn’t look good if I had a relationship with Owen’s mother. If I put Owen on the team, I couldn’t be anything more than a friend to him and his mom. “He worked hard out there. I’m proud of him.”

“I need to get home and cook dinner. Thank you for your help.” Claire stood, then moved away to find Owen, who was drinking water and talking to a friend.

I couldn’t believe my luck. I’d enjoy having Owen on my team, but it meant I couldn’t pursue anything with Claire. I wasn’t sure she was even interested in me. I was probably overthinking the situation.

After the kids packed up and the parents had exhausted their questions about the process of picking a team and my plans for the year, I wanted to grab a beer with someone. My brothers tended to be judgmental about my decisions, and this was one of those times.

Yet I didn’t feel like hanging out with my buddies from the firehouse. They wouldn’t understand. They were in two camps: the ones that were married with kids and the single guys who went to the bar for a good time.

No one would understand my infatuation with a single mother who was a few years older and a lot more put together than me.

I texted Wes, hoping he wasn’t working late tonight. I needed to talk to someone to get a different perspective.

We met at Max’s Bar & Grill in Annapolis. Sports highlights played on the multiple TV screens above the bar, and the dining room was packed with patrons eating.

Wes slid onto the stool next to me. “I was surprised to hear from you.”

“You go out with Teddy, don’t you?” I asked him, suddenly uncomfortable that Wes was calling me out. I tended to avoid my brothers when it came to any life decisions. I didn’t always want to hear their opinions.

“When our schedules align.”

That meant not often because they worked shift work. “Did Ryder head back home?”

Wes nodded as he caught the eye of the red-headed bartender who indicated she had one more person to serve before us. “This morning.”

“I wish he’d stayed longer,” I said as I settled onto the bar stool next to him.

Wes raised a brow. “Faith has school.”

“It was good to see them. Faith was all Izzy could talk about.” Faith was patient with her even though she was a bit older.

The red headed bartender paused in front of us. “What can I get you?”

“Whatever you have on tap.” I wasn’t picky, and I didn’t intend to drink much since I needed to teach again the next day.

“Same,” Wes said when she looked at him.

When she moved away to pour our drinks, Wes asked, “So what’s going on?”

“I had football tryouts today.”

Wes’s lips tipped up. “How were the parents?”

“Desperate for their kids to get picked.”

“That sounds about right.”

“A few of the kids are really talented, but their attitudes sucks. And there’re kids who have definite potential.”

The bartender placed our glasses in front of us. “Want to start a tab?”

I slid my card across the bar top. “I’ll get it now.”

Wes tipped his head toward me in thanks. “You have enough to field a team?”

“I don’t see how I cannot take the most talented kids if I want the team to be the best.” I sipped the beer, remembering the last time I drank one on Claire’s porch. It felt different than this. I had visions of coming home to Claire and Owen, eating dinner, then throwing a ball. It had felt nice. I never thought I wanted a family, not any time soon. But since I met Claire, the thought had been popping into my head more often.

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