Page 131 of Hot Shot

“Hey, Coach—we need you in the box,” one of the other coaches calls from the field, and Wilder turns, acknowledging him.

With his face tight, he kisses my crown, but before he can get away, I grab him around the waist, pulling him in for a hug.

“Ten second hug,” I declare, and he sighs, wrapping his arms around me. It takes five of those seconds for his body to begin to relax, and by the end of the ten, he sighs again. But this time it relieves what’s left of the pressure in him.

Before I let him go, I rise on my tiptoes for a kiss, and he leans to grant my request.

“I love you,” I note. “Get your head in the game.”

One side of his mouth tilts. “Yes, ma’am.”

With a swift kiss, he’s gone. I’m proud of him for only glaring a little bit in Trent’s direction.

Ten second hugs always work.

I pretend like I’m busy, moving things around while sneaking glances at the Wilsons and Trent. They seem to have calmed him down, though he definitely does not look happy. In the end, he turns and heads back to the parking lot.

Guilt scratches at me, and when the Wilsons approach, they don’t look happy either. Paul especially.

“I’m sorry,” I say before they get a word off.

Patty worries her lip, watching her husband with her brows drawn.

Paul fumes. “I don’t like this, Cassidy. I don’t like it one bit. It’s not fair to keep him away like this.”

“I know,” I assure them. “Wilder’s doing his best, but the situation is…” I sigh. “It’s complicated at best. You must know Trent well.”

“Since he was fifteen,” Patty says.

“I wish we knew him better, and outside of everything that’s happened. Although given that they both dated Ashley, I don’t know if they’d ever be friends.”

“No, they’d never be friends,” Paul admits. “I love the boy like my own. Maybe that’s why I can’t believe he’d…” He swallows hard. “I just don’t think he had anything to do with anything. He’s always had a hot temper—it’s why he and Ashley were off and on like they were. But he means well. His heart’s in the right place.”

I nod. “So is Wilder’s. All he wants is to protect us, and Trent is…well, he’s intense, Paul. He shows up unannounced.He’s possessive. And we’ve been caught off guard. I’m sure you understand, right? If Wilder behaved like Trent does, and you didn’t know him at all, would you be worried?”

Paul hesitates, but in the end concedes. “I wouldn’t want him anywhere near Cricket.”

“We’re all in this together, okay? But if you could give us a heads up before he sees Cricket or shows up, it would help a lot. We can get used to the idea in private so this doesn’t happen again.”

“You’re right,” Patty says, patting Paul’s arm. “She’s right.”

He sniffs, almost pouting. “I know. And I’m sorry.”

Satisfied, she says. “And this is why we’re still married.”

With a combined chuckle, the tension eases, and we take our seats to watch the first game.

But I worry Wilder won’t shake it.

CHAPTER 48

HAD IT COMING

WILDER

Iam such a dick.

When Cricket asked where Trent went, I sank into the dirt. Despite my relief that he’s gone, I don’t want it to be like this. I don’t want to keep them apart. But Patty and Paul keep springing it on me, and every time it happens, I trust them less and less. Why won’t they just tell me when he wants to come?

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