Page 63 of Succeeding Love

He can have a crush, but I’m not giving him an in. I spent all afternoon making her scream she belongs to me. Those weren’t empty words. She’s mine.

The server walked back over, three tall paper hats in hand. One saidMILF, which obviously went to Lynn. Preston looked mortified, which had even me laughing.

The other two hats were obviously for me and the shithead assistant coach. One saidMUSCLES FOR BRAINS, and the other saidI’M WITH STUPIDwith an arrow pointing down.

Anderson reached for the muscle one, but the server snatched it out of his reach with a disgusted grimace. “It says muscles, not flab,” she sneered, then placed the muscle hat on me and the stupid one on him.

“It fits you so well,” Lynn giggled, staring at me.

“Yours does too,” I smirked, then leaned in and whispered in her ear, “but only I get to do that to you.”

“Stop,” she hissed, her cheeks burning with timidity.

“Sorry. I got muscles for brains,” I pressed my lips to her ear, relishing the way her body leaned into mine. I had almost forgotten that there were kids around. For a second, it was like we were lost in our own little world.

“Gross. Can you both not?” Preston grumbled.

“Oops,” Lynn giggled, leaning away slightly. I didn’t move away from her, though. I was still leaning over her chair, even knowing her son was watching.

He wasn’t the only one watching. A very grumpy coach with a stupid hat was watching my exchange with my girl with a disgruntled face.

“Sorry,” I looked at Preston, my expression not showing any remorse at all. “I was just telling her I liked her hat.”

“Sure you were. Then maybe you should switch.”

I laughed, but complied, switching Lynn’s hat with mine. “I’ve always wanted to be a MILF.”

“You’re dating one,” Preston’s friend said, right before Preston punched him in the shoulder.

“How long have you two been dating?” Anderson asked, looking so awkward with the paper hat.

“A few weeks now,” I looked at Lynn. “I asked her out the second I knew she was single.”

“You asked me out after eating my lasagna,” she laughed. “It was the food that pulled you in.”

“No, your cooking is a bonus.” I smirked. “It was your laugh that got me.”

“My laugh?!” She looked more than flattered. “No. I know it was my lasagna.”

“That was probably the best lasagna I’ve ever had,” I grinned.

“Now you got me craving lasagna,” Coach Cabrera slapped his hand down on the menu right when the server came.

“Uh, we don’t serve that here, old fart. How about a spit burger instead?”

After the server took Lynn’s order, she excused herself to the bathroom to wash her hands. I was laughing with my old coach as the server and another server messed with every one of the kids. That was when Preston moved down to his mother’s seat, and I knew he had something to say.

I looked at him expectantly, a friendly smile on my face as he kind of sized me up. I still had my hand on the back of Lynn’s chair, which was the last thing he started at.

I rested my hand on his shoulder, since it was just a few inches away now anyway, and asked, “Got something on your mind?” My tone was light, but I was nervous as heck. He was his mother’s protector. If I pissed him off or got on the wrong foot with him, it would be detrimental to my relationship with his mother. That was something I wasn’t willing to bet on. I wouldn’t lose the first great thing to happen to me in so, so long. I don’t think I did anything to set the kid off yet, but his stare still made me nervous.

“You really like my mom?” He finally asked.

I felt like I was sitting on fucking pins. I had to work extra hard to keep from moving around in my seat. He was sixteen, but the boy had a stare that would shake a hardened criminal. He’s been the man of his house since his father left, and it shows.

“I like your mother a lot,” I answered honestly. “She’s an amazing woman.”

“I know she is,” he said confidently. “She’s the kindest person in the world, which is why she still puts up with my dad’s bull shit the way she does. She’s been played and hurt enough, so if you are not serious about her-”

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