Page 65 of Coach Me
“Kate, we’ve been over this. She’s overqualified and can teach our son. I respect that you’re Miles’s mother, and I’m willing to work with you on the weekend thing. However, let’s not forget that you were the one who said you only wanted one weekend a month and granted me full rights on these decisions.”
The line goes silent for a moment before she sighs. “Fine. I appreciate the weekend switch. Maybe if it’s possible I could get a little more time every now and then? When my work allows it.”
I really should have expected this. Kate hasn’t asked for any “extra” time in seven months, but now that Miles spent half of their conversations talking about Lucie, suddenly there’s time.
As frustrating as it is, Kate will always be Miles’s mom and holding petty stuff against her does nothing but make things worse. Despite how she left and the decisions she made, I do know Miles is physically safe with her. If she wants some more time, I won’t keep that from either of them. However, I let her set boundaries first, now it’s my turn.
“Alright, we’ll talk about it. We can do Friday to Sunday this weekend. We can work out some days when we get back from New York.”
“Thanks, Dex. I’ll look at my schedule and let you know.”
“And no more comments about Lucie—you wanted to behands off. I didn’t hire Lucie to get back at you. I needed help and now I have it.”
Kate goes silent again. She’s the lawyer so she’s strong in an argument, but she also knows when she’s lost. I get that being a mother wasn’t a part of her plan and I won’t judge her for that. At this point I think she’s giving what she can, but I’m going to do the same.
“I’ll bring Miles over before the game Friday. Is ten okay?”
Kate sighs. “Yeah, that’s fine.”
“Okay…” I start to say goodbye, but then I hear Miles yell Lucie’s name from the living room.
My feet start to move toward them instinctively, completely forgetting that I was on the phone until I hear Kate’s voice in my ear again. “One more thing, Dex. Don’t be that cliché guy who dates his nanny.”
I clench my jaw at her words, but then I see Lucie—I see the smile she has on her face while she greets Miles.
“I have to go. Miles will see you this weekend.” I hang up on her before she can respond.
Lucie has grocery bags in her hands, and when I step up to take them from her, the smile she gave Miles doesn’t falter. “Hey, I’m back.”
Yeah, Kate’s parting words don’t mean shit to me. There are other reasons to not date Lucie, but being a cliché is not fucking one of them.
Miles doesn’t miss a beat as he jumps on the top part of the couch and hangs his arms off the back. “Who will I see this weekend?”
“Your mom. She asked if you could spend the weekend at her house.”
“Really?” Miles squeals but then looks at Lucie. “Are you going to come with me?”
Lucie’s mouth gapes open for a minute. I get her hesitation, and really I see where Miles would think that since Lucie does go practically everywhere with him while he’s with me. Telling a five-year-old “no, because your parents are divorced and I only work for your dad” isn’t exactly Lucie’s style.
I know it’s so far from something Lucie would say, without a shadow of a doubt—if Miles really wanted her to go, she’d do it.
“No, bud, we have to let Lucie have some time off, okay? You and your mom will have lots of fun, though.”
Miles’s frown isn’t exactly what I wanted to see, but as usual, he bounces back pretty fast. “Okay, I guess I’ll get to swim! Mom’s place has an indoor pool, so make sure to pack my swim stuff.”
I chuckle. “Okay, I can do that.”
“That sounds like a lot of fun.” The relief on her face doesn’t go unnoticed by me, but now it hits me that if Miles isn’t here…will Lucie leave for the weekend? Will I be alone in this apartment all weekend with just her? I can’t think about that. I need a new topic to focus on.
“So, what’s all this?” I gesture to the bags I took from her.
“Well, I got some groceries. I thought it could be fun to actually make some homemade pizzas if you guys are up for it? Or I could just make them?—”
“No! I want to help!” Miles yells, jumping up from the couch and racing into the kitchen.
Lucie looks to me with that soft smile. I swear I see a damn gleam in her eyes. “What about you, Coach? Want to join us?”
I guess I’m the different side of the same coin because I’ll do whatever Lucie asks when she smiles at me like that.
