Page 49 of Scoring with the Coach's Daughter

I strain to hear more but I don’t hear the rest of his conversation.

When Jake returns, he hesitates before sitting back down beside me. He must notice something in my face because he frowns. “You okay?”

I force a smile. “Sure.”

He studies me before he asks, “You sure?”

I nod quickly, looking back at the sky. “So, uh… where’s the Big Dipper?”

Jake hesitates for a second, then he explains something about its position, about how you can follow it to find the North Star, but I barely hear him. I pretend I’m listening because I’m quietly digesting the phone call that has me reeling.

I don’t know why I feel so… hurt. It’s not like I have any claim over him. We’re friends having fun. We’re getting to know each other—we’re just playing house. There’s no reason to read more into this. But then he ruined it and alluded tomore.

My phone vibrates, snapping me out of my spiral. I pull it from my pocket, blinking at the name on the screen.

Mom.

I sigh, glancing at Jake before answering. Somehow, this has turned into a night of wellness checks. “Hey, Mom.”

“Sweetheart! I was just thinking about you. How’s everything going?”

“Good,” I say automatically. “What’s up?”

“Mm-hmm. Well, Ellie mentioned that Jake’s staying with you guys.” Her voice takes on that knowing lilt, the one she always gets when she’s digging for something.

I love the fact that Ellie stays in touch with my parents on her Wi-Fi video calls but I didn’t see this coming. I’ve been sold out by a five-year-old.

I shoot a look at Jake, who is staring at the stars, completely unaware of my mother’s interrogation. “Yeah, he’s been staying at the inn for a little while.”

Mom makes a humming sound. “Your dad’s been asking about him. I know he spoke to you a few days ago.

I roll my eyes. “Of course he has.”

“You know how he is. He just wants to make sure you’re okay.”

“I’m fine, Mom. He needs to let me be an adult. I’m raising a great kid, I know how to take care of us.”

“We know you do. We just worry. But, you like him, don’t you?”

My heart stirs. “What?” I stand and walk away from Jake. If I didn’t know better, I’d guess my mother sent Jake here.

She chuckles. “Oh, come on, sweetheart. You don’t have to tell me, but I know you. And I know the way Ellie talked about him before you left.”

I glance at Jake again. He’s still watching the sky, but there’s something thoughtful in his expression. As if he could feel me looking at him.

“I—” Well hell, what am I supposed to say?

“You know your father is overprotective,” Mom continues. “But between you and me, he likes Jake. We both do.”

I swallow hard. “Mom.”

“Just something to think about,” she says, politely giving me motherly advice. “I’ll let you go. Love you, sweetheart.”

“Love you too, I murmur, ending the call.

I rejoin Jake and he turns to me. “Your mom?”

“Yeah.” I shove my phone back into my pocket, exhaling slowly.

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