Page 62 of The Coach

I smirk at her. I'm sure she's having the time of her life, and why not? Because I'm such a nice big sister, I fill a glass of orange juice for her and place it alongside some painkillers on the counter in front of her.

"Don't you have an assignment due Monday?" asks Mom.

"It's under control," she murmurs, not opening her eyes or lifting her head.

I look over at Mom and shrug.

"You okay?" she asks me quietly.

I let out a long sigh. "Yeah, I guess." I want to talk to Mom about it all, but she tells Dad everything, and I don't want him to get all protective and shit, so I keep it at that.

"How is that lovely soccer coach of yours doing? Brad. I could hardly believe my eyes when I saw how handsome he was." She smirks, that glint in her eyes she gets when she knows what's going on in one of our lives without us even telling her. I don't know how she does it, but she has always had a knack for reading our minds. That's why I always used to end up in so much trouble in high school; she knew what I was up to before I did half the time.

"He's fine, Mom, probably stressing about today's game right now. Just your typical soccer coach," I huff, trying to throw her off the scent.

She flips the bacon and it sizzles away. She gives me a knowing look. "Probably, without the best player on the team."

I give her a look like whatever. "I'm not the best player."

"They need you playing, though, not on the sidelines because of a silly tackle.

"I know that," I snap. I know I fucked up majorly. It was stupid, but once it was done, it was too late. It's one of those mistakes I just have to live with now.

"How on earth did you get the weekend off, anyway? I thought even when you were suspended you had to show up and watch. You're the captain."

"Normally you do. I'm on leave this week. The team psychologist thinks I need it. They are having one of the other girls fill in as captain."

She looks me over, assessing me, and I know I'm worrying her by saying that. "I knew there was something wrong with you. What's going on?"

I let out a long sigh. "It's just been a stressful year. I was frustrated last week. It was a mistake, shit happens sometimes, Mom."

"Andrea," she reprimands.

"Sorry, but it does."

She wraps an arm around me in a side hug. "Well, I'm glad you're not too old to come home when you need a time-out from it all. We've missed you."

I smile at her. It's nice to be home, to be in the kitchen where my mom cooked all our meals as kids, and just nice to be in an environment where I feel safe for the first time in weeks. Last night was the first proper night's sleep I've had in a while.

"It's nice to have you home. And you want to know what I think?" she says with a small smirk.

I give her a look that tells her I don't, but I know she's going to say it anyway.

"I think you're in love."

"What?!" I squeak, my voice way more high-pitched than I intended it to be. That was the last thing I expected her to say. Cassie has now lifted her head from the kitchen counter and is listening intently to what our mother has to say about the whole thing. Jasmine also picks this moment to enter the kitchen, fresh from a shower. She's wearing a smug smirk, much like our mother's, and I know she just heard Mom's comment.

"You are. I saw it that day after your birthday, when the two of you were together. I know what that look was the two of you gave each other. I might be getting on in years now, but I still remember what it was like when I fell for your father. That's why I moved across the other side of the world for him. I knew right from the start that he was my person. And I think you might have just found yours."

I'm in utter shock. How on earth could she have gotten that from a look between me and Brad all those weeks ago? I didn't even know how I felt about him back then. I choose to ignore her and instead open the kitchen cupboards, grabbing five plates and serving the eggs I have been cooking, Mom follows with the bacon.

I take my plate over to the table and dig in, not waiting for the rest of them. I can't believe she just said that. Could it really have been that obvious back then? We didn't even know we were all that into each other. Is he my person? I'm sure after this week he's done with me completely. And so he should be, I've been such a bitch to him. I know I hurt him last weekend by freezing him out. I wouldn't be surprised if he never spoke to me again other than to yell instructions at me from the side of the soccer field.

Jasmine sits beside me, leaning in so only I can hear. "You know she's right, I've seen it as well. I'm so jealous, I would give anything for a guy to look at me the way Brad does with you."

Dad enters the kitchen through the back door, removing his work boots and leaving them by the door. I throw Jasmine a look, telling her to shut her mouth before he hears.

"Something smells amazing. How lucky am I to have this beautiful lady make me breakfast every morning," he says, wrapping his arms around Mom and kissing her cheek. They still seem so in love, even after four kids. She hands him a plate, and he takes his place at the table with us. "Three of my girls back home with me. How did I get so fortunate to have such beautiful and talented daughters? I couldn't be more proud of all your achievements." He smiles at us proudly, and I wonder if he would still feel that way if he knew what I had been getting up to this year.

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