Page 41 of Cougar

“Whatcha been up to, Dylan?” Coach asks as Dylan places the menus on the table.

He played ball all through high school into his sophomore year of college before he quit, choosing the family business and dabbling in music instead.

“Same ol’ shit.” He waves his hand. “Working my ass off managing this place.”

“He plays, too,” I add. “You should come out and see him and his buddy Alex play live.”

Coach raises his brows. “I’d love to. When do you guys play?”

“Mostly Thursday through Sunday. Unless it’s a holiday weekend or special occasion.”

“I’ll stop by. Maybe I’ll bring my girlfriend for date night.” He smirks.

“Sounds good,” Dylan says with a chuckle just as our server arrives at the table. “I gotta get back to work. Take care, Coach.”

We say our goodbyes to Dylan and place our drink orders.

“Girlfriend?” I tease as I scan the menu.

“What? You don’t think I have enough swagger for a girlfriend?”

I shake my head, chuckling at his use of the word swagger. He’s been hanging out with college kids too long; he’s even talking like them now.

Coach is a decent-looking dude, probably in his late forties, in excellent shape and an all-around great guy.

Our server returns to the table with our beers, takes our food order, and then scurries off to the kitchen.

“What about you? Whatever happened with that pretty blonde? What’s her name?”

“Jules. We’re still friends.” I still care deeply for Jules, and she’ll always be one of my best friends, but I can’t selfishly hold her back from everything she wants out of life. I’m just not the guy to give her those things.

His brows pinch in confusion. “Friends? I thought you were—”

“Not anymore,” I tell him and leave it at that.

He eyes me for a moment but doesn’t push, and we spend the rest of our lunch talking baseball.

After our table is cleared and the tab is paid, he leans with his back against the booth and exhales a heavy sigh. “Your boy called me the other day.” He’s referring to Liam. “Wants to meet up when he’s in town next month.”

“Of course he does. You’re like a father to him.” I snicker.

He shakes his head. “It’s been four years. Why won’t he let her go?”

I shrug. “He’s stubborn. You know that. And he loves her.”

“I already told him I’m not getting in the middle of it. She’s my daughter and my only child.”

“You told him to let her go.”

He tilts his head and bugs his eyes out at me. “And what did he do instead?”

I chuckle. “Come on, Coach. Are you really gonna stand in the way of true love?”

“He broke her heart, Cam.” He sighs as he looks away. “You have no idea what it’s like as a father to see my little girl so broken. I raised her to be tough, and on the outside she is. But on the inside she’s tender-hearted.”

“He didn’t mean for things to go down like they did. He was in pain and he lost his temper. Sometimes his mouth gets ahead of him.”

“Sometimes?” He scoffs. “He’s not going to like what I have to say. She’s moved on. She’ll probably be engaged by the end of the year.”

---