Page 41 of Coach Me
Miles whips his head to Dex. “You did a good job, Dad!” Miles whips his head back. “He got this at our front door this morning.”
“It was the only color with same-day delivery,” Dex adds on to Miles’s sentence.
Will sends a look my way, but I ignore him. It’s bedding, it’s really not that deep.
“Well, it’s perfect. Thank you.”
I send Dex a soft smile first before giving the same one to my nosy brother.
“Alright, well, I’m going to head out. Luce, the suitcase in the car is your travel one, right?”
“Right, can you?—”
Will waves me off. “I’ll bring it.”
“Thank you for helping.”
“It’s what I do.” Will shrugs before turning to head out. I half hold my breath, begging internally that he doesn’t say some stupid overprotective brother crap to Dex, but when he walks by he just claps his shoulder then raises his hand in a wave. “I’ll see you guys in a couple of hours.”
Miles jumps and races to follow Will. “Oh, I’ll show you to the front door!”
I chuckle. “Ever the tour guide.”
Dex shows the first sign of amusement with what I’d qualify as a humorous huff before going all stoic on me again. “Well, I’ll let you get settled.”
Clearly, that’s all the personality I’m going to be getting out of him today. I give him a small nod as he starts to walk out of my new room.
This is still going to be good for me. I’m sure of it. Miles is my focus, anyway, so what if Dex wants to keep our conversations short? I’m here to do a job, and clearly that’s how Dex sees it too.
I pull my suitcase over to the closet space when my phone dings in my pocket.
Jensen
So, since you’re so cool now and getting to travel with THE Boston Blues, do you think you could spare a lunch with little ole me before you leave?
That was really quite dramatic. Also, I’m not sure… Is asking to leave on your first day a bad look?
Technically yesterday was your first day, and today there’s no game so from what I’m assuming it’s your day off.
Rather bold assumption, but I suppose I see your logic.
Just ask, the worst he’ll say is “no.”
Hmph, yeah a “no” is probably all he’ll give me. It would be nice to see Jensen before I’m gone for nearly two weeks. And I did tell Dex that on any days off I wanted to have time for myself. Granted, we haven’t clarified a lot of this job…seems as if that could be a red flag. Maybe that’s just how Dex needs this to be for now. As much of an adjustment as this is for me, I’m sure it feels life-altering for him.
I can go at his pace, and maybe making myself scarce is the best way to start—give him space to adjust…but thinking about asking to leave already has my palms sweating.
Let me feel it out. He had my car transported here by the team so I’m not sure if it’s here yet either. I’ll let you know.
When Jensen thumbs up my message, I slide my phone back in my pocket.
Okay, just ask. What’s the worst that could happen?
Before I let my nerves get too out of hand, I march out the door into the hall and ram right into Dex. Our bodies collide, and the impact starts to send me back onto my butt when Dex’s hands reach out quickly to pull me back up.
The only problem—he pulled a little too hard and now I’m completely pressed against him and…oh my gosh, I think I’m touching it. My hand went in a weird position when he grabbed me and now I’m definitely touching something I should not be.
As soon as the realization hits me, I think it hits Dex too, because his hands are now pushing me back.
