Page 136 of Coach Me
Beck fakes being offended. “Callie Bear, have you really spared me so little of your attention?”
The scrape of Callie’s chair being pulled closer to Will fills the silence. “Obviously.”
Beck tosses his cards to the middle. “They’re all where you can’t see anyway, Cals. I’d rather not catch a right hook from Will—I won’t even offer to show you.”
Jensen sends Beck a look. “Alright, I’ve seen your slutty thigh tattoo, but there’s no fucking way you’re pierced.”
Beck gives her that cocky grin of his. “Want to find out, Jennie? I’ll show all my slutty tattoos and piercings if you ask nicely.”
I can see Jensen clench her jaw from here. “In your fucking dreams, Beckham.”
Lucie leans over to me, but she keeps her eyes on Jensen’s reaction. “Is he?”
“I’m not answering that, baby.”
“Fair.” Lucie sits back up with a chuckle. “Anyway! Miles and I have been trying to talk Dex into playing again.”
Ah hell, not this again. Before I can even rebut, everyone piles in.
Beck takes the most offense first. “Why the hell have you not immediately agreed to this?”
Will surprisingly also joins in, even though I was a little worried he might hate this idea. “I second Beck. Actually, bring up the aggression. Why the fuck not?”
Tripp snaps his fingers. “Ems, get your dad on the phone.”
“No, for fuck’s sake, can you all chill out?” I shoot Lucie a look, and she just smiles back at me. She’s lucky I love her so damn much. “I’m perfectly happy where I’m at. You all can drop it now.”
The room sits in silence for five seconds max.
“Nah.” Beck waves his hand. “Hate that. Next option.”
Jensen nudges Adam. “Wait, can he even come out of retirement?”
Adam shrugs. “I mean, yeah. Olsson, I’m sure, would extend him a contract easily.”
“I’m not above forgery,” the love of my life adds.
Beck snaps at poor Emma this time. “Great. Emma, get your dad on the phone.”
Callie pulls out her phone in a flash. “Quit snapping at her, this is her first game night. I’ll do it.”
Fucking hell.“Okay!” I yell, getting everyone’s attention. “I’ll tell you what, you guys win the World Series and I’ll play again.”
The room goes silent again before Beck extends his hand. “Alright, Dad, bet?”
I shake his hand, then murmurs of strategy and team meetings start.
I pull Lucie’s chair closer. “You’re going to pay for that one, baby.”
She looks at me with this wicked smile. “You told me to be more selfish. I want to see my favorite player pitch again.”
Chapter 46
Dex
A few months later – World Series final game
I gave these fuckers a common goal. I should have known they’d make it to the fucking end. For four months, everyone stepped up their game. They even had Emma draw up a poster like some damn affirmation reminding them of why they’re playing.
