Page 37 of Every Beat of My Heart

What if the right guy was in front of me, but he wasn’t interested? The thought hurt more than I cared to admit. “I’m busy between work and Owen.”

“You should make time for yourself. Is Owen still going to the gym?”

“He’s riding his bike over. He said the weights are a little too easy now.”

“Can I send him a new one? Maybe I could email it to you later tonight?”

“Sure.”

“I’ll email it over later tonight. I’d better let you go.”

The silence between us was heavy. This was the last time we had any reason to speak over the phone socially. There would be no more shared dinners or practicing football in the front yard. It would be easier if I did it quickly like pulling off a Band-Aid. “Night, Jameson.”

“Night, Claire.”

My name on his lips felt like a caress, and my hand trembled slightly when I hit the End button on my phone.

I set it on my nightstand. Then turned off the lamp and slid under the sheets. With the sound of his voice in my ear, I slid my hand under my panties and brought myself to an orgasm thinking of the muscles of his arms bulging as he held himself over me.

I wasn’t sure I was going to survive these new roles in each other’s lives. But it was for the best. Nothing could come from it anyway.

CHAPTER 9

JAMESON

The next few weeks, I worked my hours at the fire department and substitute taught as much as I could at Owen’s school. Not because Claire taught there and Owen was in attendance, but because that’s where I was coaching now. I wanted to be a presence on the campus as much as I could be.

Practices were three nights a week to accommodate my schedule. Several dads hung around practice to act as assistant coaches. The only problem had been Bryce’s dad, Brian, who stood by the fence to yell at Bryce after most plays.

I was firm yet flexible when the kids needed it. Between teaching and coaching, I felt more like a therapist sometimes, but it was the age. The kids were hitting puberty at different times, and it was overwhelming for them. Some were starting to develop crushes, and others were oblivious to the social aspect of school.

I didn’t have anyone to talk to about what was going on, and I wanted to. I wanted to hear how Owen was doing with his workouts and if Claire was taking time for herself. But we’d promised to act like we didn’t know each other outside of football.

Neither one of us wanted the gossip and scrutiny that would come with it. But by the end of the third week, I had to talk to her. I sat on my couch, took a deep breath, and hit Send on her number.

“Jameson?” Her voice came over the line, and my entire body relaxed.

“Hey. I just wanted to check in and see how you were doing.” I wasn’t exactly sure why I was calling. What was it about Claire that had me acting like a teenager with his first crush?

“I thought we weren’t going to do that,” Claire chided, but I heard the smile in her voice.

“I wanted to talk to someone about coaching and teaching, and no one else in my life even understands why I’m doing those jobs.”

“I’m the only one you could call?” Claire asked, a hint of amusement in her voice.

“That’s right.”

“Well, what did you need to talk about?”

“Has Owen done the new workout routine?”

“He has, and he’s excited that he’s starting to see some results. He swears he’s growing muscles and that he feels stronger.”

“That’s great. Exactly what I wanted for him.”

“But he said the weights are getting too easy.”

“I’ll send over new exercises and suggestions for weight.”

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