Page 108 of Coach Me
Well, at least I’m not the only person living in this awkward moment now.
Like the teacher I am, I clap my hands together. “Okay, so, outfield?”
Cool, Luce, way to be cool.
Beck adjusts Miles on his shoulders. “Yeah. Kate, you can come with us. There’s a place you can stand to watch off to the side. Lucie, I need you to do me ahugefavor. Can you go grab my bat? I left it in the locker room.”
And leave Miles… “Beck, I don’t?—”
“Please, Luce. I’ll owe you so much!” Beck gives me this pleading look.
I look around the field. Okay, I trust Beck. Adam’s here, and Miles loves Adam. Plus, Dex said that Miles isn’t unsafe with Kate, but then again, this was his boundary, right?
“It’s fine, Lucie. I think we can be alone for five minutes,” Kate says in a very condescending tone this time.
Great, now if I don’t go, it will definitely look like I’m undermining her.
Beck sends her a snarky smile. “I’ll be here too.”
I’ll be gone, what? Just a few minutes? But then, what if Dex sees me not with Miles like we talked about? Okay, my brain is about to explode.
Kate gives me a glare. I know my answer is definitely about to play into the rest of our day together.
I exhale, trying to actually think out all my options when Callie comes up by Beck.
“Ahh, Miles, are you about to help shag some balls? I’d love to take your picture!”
Thank goodness. Okay, Callie I can trust without question. A person Dex also trusts.
“You guys get started, I’ll be right back.”
I give Beck and Callie one quick look in warning to please not let anything happen to Miles.
“Thanks, Luce!” Beck calls as I head over to the dugout and back into the hall.
Okay, get a bat and get out. What could happen, really? I let out a breath full of my stress, then look up to find Dex.
He smirks as he leans against the wall. “I have to know, who got you to finally come in here, Beck or Callie?”
“I—uh.”Wait, what did he just say?I walk to him as I process his words. “Dex, did you plan this? I was having an anxiety attack trying to decide if I should leave Miles.” I smack at his crossed arms, but he grabs my wrist and pulls me into the supply closet.
With the switch of the lights, he pulls me to him with a wicked grin.
“I think you’re the one who told me to start using my teammates, baby. Beck and Callie are more than capable of taking care of Miles. Even if they might teach him a bad word or two.” Dex’s hands find my face, and his eyes soften. “I wanted to check on you.”
Strings pull at my heart. That’s why I agreed to this, because even though getting through Dex’s walls was tough, I like that I’m starting to get more emotions out of him.
“I’m good,” I lie, and Dex knows it.
“Luce, let me fix this. I never should have let you be put in this situation.”
I bite at my lip. Does it make me a terrible person that Ireally don’t want to take him up on his offer because I’m afraid the only solution is him spending the day with them, and that thought kind of makes my chest burn?
“Dex, why didn’t you tell me that Kate actually wanted to spend the day with you and Miles?”
Dex doesn’t flinch or step back—he doesn’t look surprised by my question at all, actually. “I should have known she’d bring up the one thing I told her was off the table. That wasn’t ever an option, baby. Kate and I will spend time together as Miles’s parents many times throughout his life, but today isn’t one of them. You not spending the rest of the day with them doesn’t mean that I’m going to either.”
Dex walks me back against the wall, his arms now caging me in as he places a light kiss on my lips. “I have to admit, I like seeing you jealous, Luce. But you don’t have to be. Kate called my bluff, and I’m sorry I used you in my bet; it’ll never happen again. If you want to spend the game by yourself, do it. If you're worried that I have any feelings for Kate, you’re wrong. I’ll text Kate without hesitation and tell her she’ll be on her own with Miles for the rest of the day if you’re uncomfortable.”
