Page 18 of Wes
Chapter Seven
Natalia
Wes: Good morning, beautiful! I hope you have a wonderful day!
I read the text a few times and sigh. For the last few days, he’s given me space, only texting in the morning and at night. I reply back to both messages, but past that, neither of us texts throughout the day. I miss our random texts. The ball has been put firmly in my court.
After the revelation of our children’s identities, I’ve been hesitant. Jeremy has yet to bring any of it up. He’s not visibly upset from what I can tell, but his silence on the matter is making me a bit edgy if anything.
Before I can address Wes, I need to talk to Jeremy. Wes isn’t wrong. My relationship—or potential relationship—with Wes is my business and not my child’s, but we’ll both take their feelings into account.
High school is hard enough without your mom dating your coach. “That’s not weird at all.” I scoff. “But it’s not every day you meet a man who makes you dream of more.”
I toss my blanket aside and make quick work of getting dressed. Today’s shift will be shorter so I can make it to the game. Jeremy still doesn’t know, and I hope he doesn’t twist this and think it’s a way for me to see Wes. It’s not.
My nerves over seeing Wes are an entirely different being. Iwantto see him.
Downstairs, I find Jeremy dressed and ready. “Good morning, honey!” I say and grab my mug and pour a cup of coffee.
“Morning,” he mutters after swallowing his orange juice.
Grabbing milk and sugar, I feel him watching me as I move around. I peek at the clock and realize it’s now or never. “I wanted to talk to you about a few things this morning.”
“Okay.”
After putting the cap on the milk, I place it back in the fridge. “I’ll be at the game tonight,” I say and peer at him. His eyes widen a little before looking hard at me. “I wanted to surprise you about it but worried you’d think this was about Wes—I mean Coach.”
Jeremy nods. “So you’re saying it’s a coincidence the first game you’ll make it to this season is after you started dating my coach?”
I bite my tongue, tempted to scold him for the ice in his words. “Yes, it’s pure coincidence. Until Saturday, I didn’t know he was your coach, honey.” When he doesn’t reply, I move in front of him. “I need to know how you feel about this.”
Jeremy pushes his fingers through his hair, and I note he needs a good two-inch trim. “It’s weird, Ma.”
Rubbing the side of his arm, I nod. “You’re telling me…”
“Why are you feeling weird?”
“He’s your coach, honey. I’ve always shielded you from my dates, and like you pointed out the other day, I haven’t gone on a date in a very long time.”
He thinks on it for a moment. “Do you like him?”
Sighing, I face him. “I do, and honestly? It terrifies me.”
“He’s a nice coach…”
“So you’ve mentioned,” I say and chuckle.
“Mom, I’m not a little kid anymore. You don’t have to hide it if you’re dating.”
“Jer, you’ll always be my baby, and I’ll always protect you. It’s my job,” I say and cup his face. My young man is going to be a wonderful grown man, and his father can’t lay claim to him or his upbringing. I bubble with pride and gratitude. My parents protected me and my son. For that and so much more, I’ll love them until my dying breath.
“I know, I know. Reece says his mom is a real—piece of work.”
I raise my brow, amused he caught himself and saddened Reece feels this way about his mother. “Oh yeah?”
“Yeah. She lost her marbles at one of our games. I like Coach, but I’m worried about her,” he says and chews on his lower lip, an anxious tick he’s had since he was a toddler.
“Why?”
