Page 63 of Coach Me
I try to give him as much space as possible, which helps. Me leaving today is probably something Dex is grateful for, if I’m being honest.
Especially after our little run-in with Jordan. I know Dex can’t stand him. I think Dex tries to be civil with Jordan, as a coach, but the animosity from them as players is still there.
I wasn’t too sure how volunteering Dex to come with me was going to be received on his end, but there’s no way I would ever go out with Jordan. It might seem odd to say, but if Dex doesn’t trust him, I don’t either.
Jensen purses her lips. “Eh, that could be debated, but I’ll let it slide for now. You’ve spent two weeks with the man, so it’s too soon to tell.”
“There’s nothing to tell. So the man laughs now.”
Elle snorts. “There’s a lot to tell in a man’s laugh.”
“Thank you!” Jensen agrees with her entire chest.
Kylie chips in now, too. “Especially if it happens more since you started.”
Jensen hums while giving me major side-eye. “Interesting, three to one.”
“I think we’re very much overanalyzing a laugh.”
The girls collectively give each other a look.
Goodness, I can feel my chest turning red. “Okay, full transparency. Do you all seriously think I’m not beyond attracted to him? Have you gotten a look at him? Now imagine what it’s like being around him all the time while he’s practically the best dad you’ve ever seen, and you get a front row show of his personality outside of that too… I get to see this man in the mornings when he’s still got that adorable sleepy-man look. I can’t overthink his laugh, I’m barely holding it together as is.”
Another look is exchanged, but this time I feel like I’m being pitied.
“Dex and I have finally seemed to land on good footing with each other. I want to work on myself, and he just wants someone to help with Miles. I’m good. He’s good, and Miles is happy. I can’t entertain the fantasy.”
Jensen tilts her head. “Unless he wanted to entertain?”
I bite back my immediate “yes” and opt to send her a glare as my answer.
Jensen swivels in her chair. “Alright, fine, I get it. I’m a bit of a secret romantic, but believe me, I get why you wouldn’t want to get swept up in the idea of it either, knowing that it might not be in the cards. How’s working on yourself going anyway? Based on these past two weeks, it seems like you’ve barely had time.”
“Yeah, it’s not exactly been the easiest when the guys have a game practically every single day and I’m following a five-year-old around. Miles is great, don’t get me wrong, but there’s not much time without him either.”
“Okay, well, you’re off today, right? Get out, get some space, do something for you! Ya know, besides this.”
I tryto stop the crinkle of my nose at Jensen’s idea. I get that I probably should take advantage of this day off, but I don’t want to. “I mean, just because I spend a lot of time with them doesn’t necessarily mean I need space.”
“Lucie! I thought we weren’t entertaining the fantasy.” Jensen tilts her head again, but now with a blink like she’s caught me red-handed.
“I’m not! It’s just—I don’t know. Can’t I just enjoy being around them?”
The collective looks are back.
“Okay, I’m done talking now.”
Jensen whips her head back to me. “You know what? As your accountability buddy, I insist you do something on your list today. Even if it includes being with Dex, I added stuff to your list for a reason.”
I nearly die in my chair when her eyebrows go up and down with the last part. “Subtle.”
Elle snorts a laugh. “I assure you, we’ve heard way worse. You don’t even have to give us the details—I swear, this is tame.”
I exhale. “I will figure out something to do, but not from your suggestions, Jen. And this is my official request to no longer talk about Dex the entire appointment.”
Jensen mumbles, “Fine,” but her smirk tells me everything. The topic of Dex will most definitely be coming up again—I fear it will a lot.
For the rest of the appointment I try to keep the topics going to ensure they don’t come back around to me. Jensen lets some of her stress out about Tally’s Shop, and Kylie threatens to cut Hank’s balls off with her nail scissors.Which is fair.
