Page 65 of Scoring with the Coach's Daughter

“You’re in love,” she chuckles at my expense. Yes, it’s quite the new revelation. But unlike Rob, I don’t want to lose Jake. When he left last night, it scared me.

“You’re learning to have an adult relationship while raising a kid. You’re a single mom. Millions of women have figured this out. You will too.”

“Then why do I feel like a failure?” It’s nice to know she gave me a vote of confidence to navigate the situation, I wish I felt it too.

“You expect too much out of everyone but mostly yourself. Lighten up. The way you broke those dinner plates like that, well, that was impressive. The staff was terrified and then happy. They were happy because you didn’t fly off the handle. And, truth be told, it showed them you are human. You need to stop judging yourself every minute of the day. You can be a mom and still be fun. Being human makes us stronger, not weaker.”

“I wish being fun and carefree came with training wheels.”

Maggie laughs at my oxymoron.

“I have faith you’ll figure it out. Now, can I get back to work?”

“Sure.” Her hand is on the door. “And Maggie?”

“Yes?”

“I hope you’re right.”

“Me too, Now, get off your ass, we have work to do!”

I’m in a better frame of mind hours later when I pick Ellie up at school. Her smiles always cheer me up.

“How was your day?” I try to sound chipper, glossing over the fact Jake isn’t here.

“Fine.”

We arrive home and Ellie stomps up the porch steps and goes to her room.

I enter the kitchen, and Ellie suddenly storms in behind me. Her little face is red and she’s furious.

I wait for the fireworks.

“This is your fault!” she shouts.

I freeze. “What?”

She whirls around, her hands balled into fists. “Jake’s gone! He’s not coming back, and it’s because of you!”

I feel the hit of those words like a punch to the gut. “Ellie—honey, no. That’s not?—”

“It is!” She’s crying now, hot, angry tears. “You yelled at him, and now he’s gone!”

My heart stops.

The room spins.

“Ellie…” My voice cracks, but she’s already stomping toward her bedroom.

I don’t try to stop her because I can’t move.

How is this my fault?

She’s wrong. Sure we had a heated discussion but it’s grown-up stuff. I’m sure Jake has lots of experience with dating and he’s older than me, surely he’s more experienced in relationships and it’s not like him to give up without a fight. He’s a football player. Their careers are based on adversity, playing in extreme weather, and teams that kick their ass. I’m one person. There’s no way I can derail him over one argument.

Or did I?

I don’t know where he is.

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