Page 15 of Charming Crosschecks

MOLLY

What just happened?

Molly’s initial shout of excitement echoed in the quiet office after Gerry left, but it was short-lived. She collapsed into her desk chair, her heart pounding so hard she could feel it in her throat. Her mind was completely obliterated, scrambled like a radio stuck between stations.

He asked me out.

The man who had spent months picking on her, snapping at her for every little thing, and grumbling under his breath every time their paths crossed— had smiled. Actually smiled. He had shaken her hand like a gentleman, spoken to her like a normal human being, and—most mind-blowingly of all—asked her on a date.

Tonight.

The thought was so surreal she felt dizzy. She fumbled for her phone, her fingers trembling as she dialed her mom. When the call went to voicemail, she sagged a little, her breath hitching in relief.

“Hey, Mom, listen… funny thing,” she began, her voice shaky with a blend of disbelief and nervousexcitement. “I’ve got a date tonight with that guy I was telling you about. And, um… maybe I was wrong about him. I’ll keep you posted, but I wanted to let you know so you didn’t worry when I missed our talk tonight. Love you.”

She hung up, staring at the phone in her hand like it might suddenly provide answers to the million questions spinning in her head.What am I doing?Before she could spiral further, a shadow fell over her desk, and she glanced up to see Coach Mike standing there. His gaze had landed squarely on the box sitting on her desk, his brow furrowed in suspicion.

“What’s that?”

“Oh, this?” she stammered, instinctively clutching the box as though it might betray her. “I was, uh… just rearranging a few things.”

Coach Mike’s frown deepened, and his voice took on a fatherly edge. “Did he run you off? Are you quitting because of Thierry? If he said something?—”

“NO!” Molly blurted, cutting him off with a nervous laugh that sounded far too loud in the stillness. “No, nothing like that. He was here, speaking with me, and I think I think we’re going to be okay. We cleared the air.”

Coach Mike’s expression softened, and he nodded, the tension in his shoulders easing. “Good. Can I say something that borders on ‘Not-My-Place’?”

Molly blinked at him, thrown by the unexpected shift in tone. “Sure,” she said cautiously.

“You know,” he began, his voice quiet and contemplative, “Brandi and I just kinda met and hit it off. I wasn’t looking, but sometimes things happen when you least expect them. I’d stopped trying because I was tired of the fight… only to learn it didn’tneedto be one.”

He looked directly at her then, his eyes steady and kind. “Look, it’s none of my business, but we’ve got a good team, a group of good people, and I just want everyone to get along. If you’re friends, that’s all I could ask for. If you’re colleagues who can make peace, that works too. And if… something more happened—‘None-of-My-Business’kind ofmore—I’m fine with that. Just don’t bring it to work, all right?”

Molly’s jaw dropped. Her mouth moved, but no words came out for a moment. “Did he… blab?” she finally managed, pointing in the direction Gerry had gone, her voice incredulous.

Coach Mike chuckled, shaking his head. “No. But a ‘dad’ knows when one of his ‘boys’ has a crush on a girl. Don’t break his heart, okay?”

And just like that, he was gone, leaving her office and Molly reeling once again. Her thoughts were a storm of disbelief and exhilaration.

Gerry has a crush on me?

The idea was absurd—and yet, apparently, it was obvious to everyone but her. She stood there, frozen, her pulse racing as fragments of the last few minutes replayed in her mind. The way Gerry had smiled, the warmth in his voice, the way he’d taken the time to talk to her.

Was it possible things really were taking a turn for the better? The big, blond enigma of a man was letting his guard down, inviting her into his world, and tonight, they had a date.

Sure, it was just coffee. Coffee was simple. Casual. No big deal. Except her imagination had other ideas.

What if he kissed me?

The thought hit her like a lightning bolt, and her knees went weak. “Whoa,” she whispered to herself, her cheeks heating as her mind spiraled down a path filled with what-ifs, possibilities, and hope she didn’t dare hold onto too tightly.

For the first time in a long time, Molly felt like something magical might be just around the corner.

Afew hours later, Molly glanced at the clock for the hundredth time, her nerves fraying with each tick of the second hand. She tried to focus, her voice slightly unsteady as she directed Lafreniere, who was stretched out on the gym floor.

“Let’s focus on the hip flexors and psoas,” she said, her tone distracted.

“Such language,” Lafreniere teased, pushing himself off the foam roller she’d handed him earlier.

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