Page 43 of Scoring with the Coach's Daughter

As Ellie began to sketch, the lines flowed more confidently, I busied myself with making dinner. I try to ignore the knot of emotions twisting in my stomach. Watching Jake with her was a double-edged sword. He brought out a side of Ellie I hadn’t seen in a while—adventurous, creative, and willing to take risks.

“Sam?” Jake’s voice pulled me from my thoughts. I turn to find him watching me, his expression curious.

“Hmm?”

“You okay over there? You’ve been chopping those vegetables long enough for them to be purèed.”

I blinked and realized I’d chopped the potatoes into minced cubes the size of garlic. Shit! The man turns my brain to goo. “Oh. Yeah, just lost in my thoughts.”

His grin conveys the fact that I’m busted. He doesn’t miss anything. But instead of teasing me over it, he turns back to Ellie, who is now fully engrossed in her work. Her eyes are concentrated on her paper.

“She’s talented,” Jake says, breaking the brief whiff of tension.

“She is,” I agreed, my voice softer than I intended. “My sister was, too.”

Just then, my phone rings. and the caller ID announces Dad. I dry my hands and answer it.

“Hey, Dad,” I said, leaning against the counter.

“Hey, sweetheart,” his familiar voice came through the line. “How’s everything going? Ellie doing okay?”

“She’s good. Busy with camp. We’re just hanging out at homethis afternoon.”

There was a pause. “Have you seen Jake? He’s seeing a doctor not far from you.

Hmm. Was this a setup by my father? “Yeah, in fact, he’s here. He’s staying at the inn.”

Dad’s tone shifted, his concern coming through loud and clear. “Sam, I know you’re a grown woman, but the last thing you need is to get hurt again.”

Dad knows how torn up I was when Rob ditched me. We were together for years, and everyone loved him but he didn’t love me enough to work through my sister’s death or to love a child that wasn’t his. I guess he wasn’t so perfect after all. It’s when the rubber meets the road that we learn the limitations or the flaws of a person. Looking back, I don’t know how I missed it.

Again, meaning it’s been three years since I was in a relationship. Mom tells me to rush out and find a man and dad is pulling me back. Is it any wonder I’m a hot mess in the dating scene?

“I know, Dad,” I said, my voice tighter than I intended. “I’m fine.”

“I’m sure you are.”

I bit my lip, my grip on the phone tightening. “Do you want to speak to Ellie?”

“Sure, that would be great.” I hand the phone to Ellie who chats away, filling her grandfather in on camp and she brags about Jake and how incredible he is.

She’s a cheerleader in the making,

After a few more pleasantries, we hung up, and then the weight of Dad’s words settled over me. Does he know something that I don’t?

Jake’s voice broke the silence and he slid his arms around me and pulled me tightly to his muscular chest. “Everything okay?”

“Yeah. Just Dad being... Dad.”

“Let me guess—he’s not thrilled about me being here?”

I sigh as I turn in his arms to face him. “He just worries. About me, about Ellie. About getting too attached to... anyone. And Mom wants me married tomorrow and to stop living in the past.”

Jake nodded slowly, his expression unreadable. “I get it. He just wants to protect you.”

I met his gaze, and the air between us us heavier than it should be. I want to say something to explain that it wasn’t about him, not really, but the words wouldn’t come.

“Aunt Sam!” Ellie’s voice shattered the tension, and we both turned to see her holding up her drawing, a vibrant, chaotic mix of animals and colors. “Look what I made!”

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