Page 51 of Just One Season
I squat down and give her a giant hug.
“I needed to make sure your first practice with Coach Lucyis going okay.”
“It’s going amazing! She showed us pictures of her dog. His name is Bear now!” Ava cracks up.
“Drink some water, girly.” Bri hands Ava her water bottle.
“Glad you’re having fun.”
“SO much fun. Coach Lucy is way better than Bella’s dad.” Ava loudly whispers this last part. “Bye!”
I chuckle as Ava turns and sprints back across the field, jumping onto Lucy’s back. I cringe, but Lucy easily grabs her legs and spins around in a circle, laughing.
“I’m not sure she could be more of a hit with our daughter, actually.” Bri raises her eyebrows and watches the other kids attach themselves to Lucy’s legs. Lucy tries to walk and then falls to the ground dramatically, giggling with the girls as they pile on her.
Thirty minutes later, the practice is over and there’s a line of parents talking to Lucy, thanking her for taking over.
Bri leaves with Ava, but I wait my turn.
“Wow,” I say when the last mom heads to the parking lot with her daughter. “That was impressive.”
Lucy smiles widely. Her cheeks are flushed, and she lets out a breathless laugh.
“That was a lot of fun. I didn’t realize quite how much I’d miss coaching when I left D.C.”
There are so many curls that have escaped her ponytail, and I want to push them back from her face.
“You have a knack for it.”
Lucy’s an adorable coach, wearing a team t-shirt declaring the Kindergarten Snowballs—it’s a little snug, which I don’t mind—paired with black athletic shorts. Plus she threw on shin guards and soccer socks. She looks legit.
“With little kids, yes. I’m not sure I’d want to coach older kids. Definitely not adults.”
“Well, thank you, everyone is grateful.”
“No worries.Really.”
A brief silence falls between us as we stare at each other. The last car pulls out of the parking lot.
“Ava is so sweet.”
“Clearly she loves you. Having a cute dog is definitely in your favor.”
“I probably should’ve brought him to butter the kids up, but knowing Bear, he’d cause chaos. Probably by running around looking for Chihuahuas to fight.”
I laugh. “That was deeply entertaining yesterday.”
“I guess you could call it that.” But she’s smiling too.
“Ready for tomorrow morning?”
“Yes.” She nods. “See you in the square at seven forty-five, right?”
“Then we’ll head to Deep Roots Cafe.”
Nowthat’swhen I’ll get to kiss her.
“Looking forward to it.” Lucy laughs with what might be a tinge of nerves.
