Page 78 of Poppy Kisses
Jensen lifted his head. He rubbed my back with his thumbs, relaxing more than the knots he worked through. “Then coach for Auggie. Every kid out there is an Auggie. A sponge who loves it.”
I pushed my hands over his scalp and skimmed them around his head to frame his face. I appreciated him for more than his rugged good looks. He boosted me up. Even when we were kids, he challenged me because I was the only one he’d seen as real competition. I was the only one he’d cared about.
The deal between us…what if it grew into more? What if…
“Dad!” The front door slammed and footsteps pounded up the stairs.
Jensen pushed back, and my hands dropped away. He jumped up, adjusting himself as he half turned his back to the door. The bulge behind his jeans was noticeable, but Auggie wouldn’t be able to see from the doorway. He definitely wouldn’t get a glimpse with the lightning-fast way Jensen put distance between us.
I was the one who made the rules. Of course, I respected that he didn’t want to confuse his son by telling him that our marriage wouldn’t be real and then him see us making out. Yet hurt echoed through my chest, plucking at each rib until tears pricked the backs of my eyes.
I was being unreasonable. I was stressed. Tonight was basically a replication of the worst debacle of my life, an old professional humiliation that could occur again right here in this town where I hadn’t even started over yet.
No pressure.
That was why I was feeling so emotional. Had to be. Otherwise, I was in for over a year of watching Jensen drive away from me.
* * *
I pushed my sunglasses up my nose. Fifteen kids were in a file, kicking the ball around the fresh lines that Aspen had arranged with the city to paint. Her blonde hair was piled on her head, and she wore aviator shades that were infinitely cooler than my gas station pair.
She was working with another fifteen kids. The age ranges varied, but from the forms they turned in, we could actually make a couple of teams. Then there was Hadley with a group of her friends. They were laughing and joking as they kicked around a few balls. She said she’d work with the younger kids, but this was an intro and a couple more older girls showed up. There could be one team with her age group alone.
“All right, that’s time.” I waved my group in. “Dribble your balls here.”
I dropped to my butt in the cool grass. They formed a half circle around me and dutifully sat. One kid leaned back and pushed the ball back and forth with his heels, touching each side and rolling it back and forth. He was going to have killer footwork if he kept that up.
“You guys did good. I’m really excited for this year and glad that you joined me.”
“My mom said you played pro,” one boy announced.
A group of wide eyes swiveled toward me.
“Uh, not pro, no,” I said.
“The Olympics?”
I chuckled. “No. I played through college.” Sage nods were the only response I got. “So, after we learn some more skills, there’s an app I want to let your parents know about.”
“For games?”
“No, for skills, but it’s only if you want to use it.” My answer was met with disappointment. I stuffed back a smile. “Am I going to see you all on Monday?” Our practices were Mondays and Thursdays. They nodded and half waved their hands in the air. No questions, just an enthusiastic response. “See you all then. I can’t wait.”
Aspen let her group of girls go, and I met her by one of the goals.
“How’d it go?” She grinned, her amber eyes twinkling.
“Great. I think I’ll even see them all back.” I hoped so. I pressed a hand to my stomach. I’d never been this worried before, but the nerves threatened to come back.
She bounced on her heels. “That’s awesome. I’m so glad the first night turned out. I’ve even got some emails from parents in Crocus Valley and a few other towns asking about getting their kids on the team.”
“We’ll need more coaches.”
Her gaze landed over my shoulder. “Any chance your fiancé is harboring a lifelong passion for coaching kids’ soccer?”
My fiancé? Oh—Jensen. Yes. I was engaged. I twirled the ring on my finger. Moments like this felt like I had a foot in two worlds. “I can ask him.”
“You two make such a cute couple. He’s a fan favorite with a lot of the single moms, but I think they all thought his wife was just out of town with the way he wasn’t interested in anyone.”
