Page 15 of Just One of the Groomsmen
Her team barreled into her as soon as she turned around, and as they enthusiastically hugged her, she remembered why her daydreams of moving away were only that.
There was too much here she’d miss, and she couldn’t imagine living anywhere else, her history of being an unladylike ruffian be damned.
…
Addie was turning out to be ridiculously difficult to pin down.
Whoa. Maybe let’s not put it that way. No pinning down. No…just no.
It was like ever since he’d seen her underneath the hood of that car, his thoughts were no longer safe.
Since she’d refused to give the tall bridesmaid his number, he’d have to ask Shep to hook him up. Then he could work on ending his recent drought and everything would return to normal. Or at least his new normal.
He’d spent most of yesterday moving into the houseboat, and by the time Sunday afternoon came around, he went in search of food that didn’t come from a box or can. He’d run into Addie’s mom at the diner, and after exchanging pleasantries, Mrs. Murphy informed him Addie’s soccer game had just started, so he’d driven to the field.
He hadn’t known that Uncertainty ran adult soccer leagues, and when he arrived, he saw that they didn’t.
Parents and several of the who’s who in town sat on blankets and lawn chairs, watching the kids running around the field. It took him a few minutes to find Addie’s brown ponytail in the crowd.
He smugly put on his battered Saints cap, bailed out of his truck, and made his way to the less cramped end of the sidelines.
Addie gathered her team in for a huddle and gestured wildly with her arms, the same way she used to give him and the guys instructions on the sidelines. They’d all fought to let her play on the boys’ teams growing up, and it’d worked up until high school when the town and school had drawn the line.
Tucker never had any doubts whatsoever about her athletic ability, whether it be football, baseball, soccer, or basketball. He knew she’d be an asset to whatever team she played for, and while he’d never admit it to her face—he happened to like breathing, non-broken limbs, and not having her pissed at him—that was around the time he’d started to worry she might get hurt.
Simply because while he and the guys had shot up and begun to fill out, she’d remained scrawny. Then he and the boys would’ve been obligated to retaliate, and it would’ve gotten ugly, no doubt about it.
She absolutelyhatedwhen they treated her like a girl, something he was probably the guiltiest of growing up. Since so many people talked down to her, forever telling her she should be more like her sister, or act more like a girl, or be more of some stupid shit or the other, he’d always felt compelled to defend and protect her.
Even as she proved time and time again that she didn’t need it.
And thank God she’d never listened to those people, because if she had, he’d be missing half of his best childhood memories.
The soccer game burst into action, kids running everywhere—including toward the opposite side of the field where the ball went. Parents yelled and cheered and Addie hugged a clipboard to her chest as she leaned one way and then the other, as if that’d help her team do the same.
The setting sun lit up the strands that’d escaped her ponytail and highlighted her makeup-free face. She had on a team shirt and soccer shorts, and he couldn’t help taking a quick glance at her legs, toned from all her years of sports.
Just a matter of fact, kind of like how she’d commented about him being more “jacked” at the houseboat. In his case, he’d been using exercise in an attempt to quash the restless sensation that wouldn’t leave him alone.
Although clearly that hadn’t worked.
Addie bent to talk to one of her players, and while he noticed the curve of her butt more than he should’ve, the guy standing a few yards behind her unashamedly gawked at it.
A burning sensation he didn’t want to examine too closely bit at his gut. She was coaching a kids’ soccer game. Dude needed to keep his eyes to himself.
Hypocritical? For sure, but he didn’t give a shit.
She’d always attracted assholes who couldn’t handle her, and this prick fit that category, he could just tell. His stupid-ass smirk also made it clear he was the type who dripped false charm and used it on every lady in his path.
Tucker moved closer, putting himself between Addie and the guy’s line of sight, barely resisting the urge to glare at him.
Addie did a double take when she glanced his way, and she flashed him a quick smile and waved before returning her focus to the game.
Take that, chump. She waved atme.
Unfortunately, the dude didn’t seem deterred. He just shifted left so he could continue ogling Addie as she coached the rest of the game.
She really was an amazing coach, one they could’ve used when they were kids—good thing she’d just jumped in and took over the position anyway.
