Page 72 of Poppy Kisses
Dang, he was good. “Next week.” Nerves crushed against my ribs, and I lifted my gaze to Jensen.
He gave me an encouraging smile and eased some of the pressure.
“Aspen said she’d procure all the balls and practice pinnies.” I was growing more excited than I wanted to be. I loved working with kids. One-on-one tutoring fit me well, and so did running them around the pitch. I would coach all day, every day. Aspen was rooking me into helping her run the club and not just coach, and that made my stomach churn. I didn’t need to be involved in planning games or, worse, tournaments.
“Who?” Auggie asked.
“Miss Whitfield,” Jensen said. “Though you might call her Coach Aspen this summer.”
Auggie’s wide gaze landed on me. “Will you be Coach Poppy?”
Hearing Coach Poppy was like getting wrapped in an old, familiar blanket. I hadn’t heard that for years. “I answer to anything as long as it’s respectful.”
“I like Coach Poppy, but I get to call you just Poppy.”
My heart dripped into a puddle at my feet. “I’ll always be just Poppy for you.”
His grin took over his face, and he started another game of tic-tac-toe.
Thank you,Jensen mouthed. His expression warmed, and a smile played over his lips. He gave Auggie a half hug and got ignored.
I lifted a shoulder. Auggie would always be a special kid to me.
Just like I’d never forget his dad, the man who swung me in his arms to run on the beach.
* * *
I was on one end of the couch. Jensen was on the other, and we were watching a show while Auggie took a shower. By the time we had left the restaurant, it was raining. A steady patter hit the house, and as much as I loved to be outside, this cozy evening sunk into my bones. I was more relaxed than if I had gone to a spa.
Beach time. Dining out. And now I was reclining with a hot guy in a nice house.
Auggie sounded like a baby elephant trampling down the stairs. Jensen winced at the way his son’s hands whispered along the wall.
He went straight for the fridge. “Can I have a snack?”
“Yeah, but nothing big before bedtime,” Jensen said. He’d kicked his feet out.
I still had to shower, but Jensen had sat on the couch, and I hadn’t wanted to leave him. I also hoped that he’d hop into the shower with me again after Auggie was asleep.
Auggie grabbed a banana and went to the table. Jensen’s phone rang. He tugged it out of his pocket without taking his gaze off the TV.
“Who is it?” Auggie asked.
Jensen frowned. “Your mom.”
A chill worked its way over my skin. Hassie?
“Mom!” Auggie jumped off the chair.
“Hello?” Jensen answered, his brows drawn together.
I shrank into the corner of the couch even more.
Auggie bounced in front of Jensen as he went through a greeting, his tone cautious. Was it hard to talk to her? I wanted to throw up my chicken and pasta.
“Here he is.” Before Jensen was done, Auggie snatched the phone out of his hand.
“Hi, Mom.” He skipped back to the table.
