Page 7 of Sweet Spot
I officially feel like an old man. He’s making plans to go out after dinner and the only thing I have scheduled is a night alone, probably working.
“Looks like things are going well for you. Try not to get yourself into trouble. You get caught drinking underage and—”
Heath groans. “Save it. Between you and my brother, I’ve had this same conversation nearly every day since I got here five months ago.Five months.” He holds up a hand and wiggles his fingers for emphasis. “I made it through one semester, didn’t I?”
His sullen expression makes him look like the teenager he is, and I hold back a laugh.
“Noted. Tell me about the team.”
Heath gives me the rundown on school and the Valley U hockey team while we eat. He’s a good kid. Typical freshman looking to jump off the deep end and enjoy everything college has to offer.
I feel a sense of responsibility for him, almost like a kid brother. I met his real brother Nathan last year through a mutual friend.
He worked for me through his senior year of college, coaching aspiring basketball players. Their home situation wasn’t the best at the time and they both needed some extra cash, so I hired Heath to field the hockey questions that come in from other athletes trying to get an edge.
Though my background is golf, my coaching website spans multiple sports and is growing faster than I can keep up with. Heath is just one of the many experts and stars in their field mentoring the next generation of great athletes.
Heath’s a talented kid who won’t need my help for long if he keeps himself out of trouble.
The waitress drops the bill on the table and slides it in front of me as she gives me a timid smile. It’s the first time she’s given me much notice. Her eyes flash to Heath and he gives her a wink as she hurries away.
“Thanks for dinner,” Heath says. “You wanna meet some of the guys?”
Do I? A glance around the busy bar. Since we sat down, the college hangout has gone from a handful of empty tables to standing room only. Classes start back tomorrow, and everyone is ready to see their friends and party, totally undeterred by the chaos. I’m sure I was the same way, but that feels like a million years ago.
I suppress a groan. No, I definitely don’t want to mingle in this crowd. Thirty isn’t exactly old, but the years that separate me from these kids are dog years. However, if I’m looking out for him like a big brother would that probably includes hiking up my old man balls and tucking them into my waistband so I can meet the people he’s spending time with.
3
Keira
Abbyand I meet some of the team at our favorite local restaurant and bar. It’s crowded, which isn’t all that surprising. A new semester starts tomorrow and the best thing about going on break is coming back and catching up with friends.
And this is the perfect place to do that while also bumping into lots of other people. Frat guys, sorority girls, jocks, nerds . . . The Hideout is beloved by just about everyone. Greasy food and cheap drinks, you really can’t go wrong.
We give up on finding a table, grab drinks from the bar, and then make our way over to Erica and Cassidy. The four of us stand in a tiny circle, basically shoulder to shoulder.
“It’s so packed,” Erica says as someone bumps into her from behind and sends her stumbling forward, her vodka and cranberry spilling over the side of the glass.
Abby grabs her elbow and steadies her. “You okay?”
She nods but still shoots a dirty look to the guy behind her.
“Be right back,” Cassidy says. “I’m gonna do a lap and see if I know anyone sitting at a table. Maybe we can squeeze in.”
After she disappears, Abby looks to Erica. “How was break?”
“It was good. I went to North Carolina with Cassidy. You guys should see her dad. Holy silver fox. I mean, I’d seen him a few times before at tournaments, but when he’s at home in old concert T-shirts and sweatpants . . .” She tilts her chin toward the ceiling and sighs.
“You’re ridiculous,” Abby says. “And if Cass hears you, she’s never going to invite you back home with her.”
Erica just shrugs. “What about you guys?” She looks between Abby and me.
“Smith and I split the time between our families. He came to Texas for Christmas, and I went to Alabama for New Year’s Eve.”
Both girls glance to me expectantly.
“It was nice.”
