Page 42 of The Way We Win

“Oh.” Her shoulders drop, and she shakes her head. “I have cousins in Cookeville, which isn’t too far from Knoxville.”

“He’ll have his pick of schools.” I look out at the water. “I figured you’d go with him.”

She takes a step closer to where I’m standing, and my skin tingles at her proximity. “Why would I do that?”

Shrugging, I slide my hand into my pocket. “To be safer, to be closer to your family.”

Looking down, she huffs a laugh. “Going to Tennessee might be exactly what Rip would expect me to do.”

My jaw tightens, and I can’t express how much I hate this guy I’ve never even met. “I hadn’t thought of that.”

“It’s okay.” Her pretty eyes blink up to mine, slightly hesitant. “I’m not planning to move to Tennessee.”

“Are you planning to go back to New Orleans?”

She exhales a little laugh. “You sure are eager to get rid of me.”

“I’m not.” I say it too fast, and I’m concerned I’ve shown my hand. Clearing my throat, I step away from her, closer to the water. “There’s nothing keeping you here with Austin gone.”

“I wouldn’t say that.” She follows me down to the water’s edge. “I’ve made a lot of good friends here. I like my job at the school, and maybe… I don’t know.”

Her voice trails off, and I look over at her. She’s so close, right at my back, her head at my shoulder. “What?”

“Maybe I was hoping someone might give me a reason to stay.” She blinks up at me, and I know she’s holding the door wide open for me.

I should step right through it. Hell, I want to step right through it. The only problem is she doesn’t really know me. No one does.

I cross my arms, looking out at the water. “I’ve decided to make Austin starting quarterback.”

A few seconds pass, and she exhales softly, returning her attention to the rolling waves. “He’ll be so happy.”

“I’m also making Levi a starting quarterback.” Lowering my arms, I put my hands on my hips. “It’s not ideal, but we’ll see how it goes for a few games. We’re playing the Broncos next week followed by the Lions. They’re both 7-A teams, so it’ll be a good test.”

“I trust you.” Her voice is quiet, still open, and I hate this war inside me.

If I can’t be the right man for her, I can at least be sure she’s safe. I can at least make her son happy.

Allie’s had enough disappointment, and Danielle’s words still sting in my memory as she walked out the door.Twisted pervert…

Shoving the past into its box in my memory, I lighten my tone. “I’ve heard my daughter wants to be on the drill team now.”

That makes her smile. “She’s a very enthusiastic dancer.”

I think of Kimmie almost kicking me in the nuts on the field, and I huff a laugh.

Her eyes hold mine again, warm and wanting. “Is that a laugh from serious Coach Bradford?”

“I’m not so serious.” It’s a lie. I’m seriously guarded as fuck.

She turns and faces me. “It must be hard to be alone all the time.”

“Are you kidding?” I deflect. “I’m never,everalone.”

“You know what I mean. What about at night, after Kimmie goes to sleep?”

My stomach twists, and we should go back inside the restaurant now. “I’m usually pretty tired at night.”

“And when you’re not tired? What do you do then?”

---