Page 116 of Coach Me
Miles sniffles. “Are him and Mommy mad? I didn’t mean to, I just had to pee.”Sniffle. “I thought I saw Callie, but it wasn’t her.”Sniffle.“Then I got confused and I ran into Shannon, but she just told me to find you. But I couldn’t, Lucie, I couldn’t.” Miles cries so hard on my shoulder.
My feet slow as I process what he just said. “Miles, baby, did you say you talked to Shannon and she didn’t help you?”
“Y-yes, she said to find you, but the crowds were scaring me, so I tried to find an office like Daddy’s.”
I’m going to kill her, I swear. Miles sniffles again, which gets my feet back in motion.
“Miles, I promise you, your dad and mom are not mad at all. They are going to be so happy you’re okay.”
I can feel Miles fiddling with my hair. “I didn’t mean to get lost, Lucie. I thought it would be helpful if I went to the bathroom all by myself.”
I run my hand up and down his back. “I know, baby. It’s okay, we found you.”
“You found me. Thank you, Lucie.” Miles nestles his head in my neck.
Tears flow heavily as I carry him all the way back to the concession stand. The moment it comes into view, Dex is already racing to me with Kate not far behind.
Dex takes Miles from my arms, then reaches for me, but I step back as Kate rounds the front to look at Miles.
Miles’s tears start falling in full force again, and I can see the grip Dex has on Miles tighten before Kate’s arms come around Miles’s back.
They need this moment. I can handle talking to the security and volunteers while they have it. I’ll also be talking to Olsson as soon as possible.
I make my way over to the volunteer who stayed at the concession and have them radio to everyone that Miles has been found.
When I hear the girl repeat it out loud, I let out a shaky breath, and my knees wobble for a moment. But then I’m being turned around and engulfed in my brother’s arms. Yep, here come my tears.
“It’s okay, Luce. You found him.” Will’s grip tightens as he pulls me back to look in my eyes.
Will’s face flashes in my mind when he realized our dad was here, and I yelled at him. “I’m so sorry, Will.”
He lets out a small chuckle. “You managed to find the man who walked out on us two decades ago and then organized a twenty-plus person manhunt with asemi-cool head, just to find Miles yourself, and you're apologizing to me because?”
I can’t laugh at the irony of his words, I can barely manage a smile. “My head wasn’t cool at all.”
Will pulls me back in for another hug. “Well, it looked like it was. Not to mention—you found him.”
I sigh a breath of relief when my eyes find Dex over on the bench. Miles is moving his hands around—I’m sure recounting everything in heavy detail—while Dex and Kate sit on either side of him.
I think my panic attack is finally subsiding. I step back from Will and wipe my cheeks. “What are you doing here anyway? Aren’t you supposed to be pitching right now?”
“Are you fucking kidding? I heard your name and a ghost’s name in the same sentence. Miles missing upped myexcuse to leave, but there was no way in hell I was pitching until I checked on you.”
“Will…I didn’t want you to have to face him like that, but he said he’s sober. He said he comes to your games. It might be good for us to hear him out.”
My brother deflates a bit in front of me. “I don’t know if I can do it. Not alone at least.”
Well, this is a rare occasion, Will needing someone else, not actually wanting to do something alone. I know he liked that Callie was independent, and he’s backed off on the take-control front since she’s been around, but asking for help…in an emotional situation? That’s not something Will does.
“I can do it. You can come with me.”
Will gives me a soft smile. “I can take Callie with me, if you want to stay with Dex.”
I look back over to where they’re sitting. Miles is still talking while a security guard waits close by, likely waiting for a moment to cut in and make sure everything is okay. I know today was scary for all of them. This isn’t about swallowing my pride or even attached to any jealousy that they all need a moment together.
I know Dex wants to be with me, or well, I know he did before I lost his kid. Either way, I’m secure enough to know that this isn’t about us right now.
“Let them have a minute.” I look around and realize we’re starting to get a lot of eyes and finger-pointing from fans. “You do realize you’re in full uniform, right?”
