Page 20 of The Coach

Tonight is going to be interesting.

The only seats left are across from myself and Ava, and the three of them slot into the empty spots. I glance Andy's way, hoping to get her attention, but her eyes look anywhere but to me. It seems like something is bothering her, and I have to wonder if this situation is as hard for her as it is me. Because the more time I spend around her, the more difficult it is to avoid the temptation.

We all order and enjoy our meal. The conversation around the table flows easily as the girls chatter excitedly about the win. But as the night goes on, the more I can't help but notice Andy's not her usual self. She's quiet and appears uncomfortable to be here. She could just be tired from today's game, but I don't think that's it.

After dinner, everyone moves down toward the back of the restaurant where there's a bar. I get a drink with Ava and some of the other coaching staff and take a seat at a table. I have only just sat down when my phone rings, and I glance at the screen to see who's calling. The name Madeline lights up the screen, and I hit decline. I have nothing to say to her.

"Madeline?" asks Ava, looking over my shoulder.

She's being nosy, but I don't mind. She's been a good friend to me since I arrived in LA. "Yeah, she's playing hardball with the divorce settlement. We're only in the beginning negotiations but she's already being difficult."

Ava smiles at me sympathetically, not what I was going for by telling her. I hate that people pity me for my failed marriage. It makes me feel even more pathetic than I already do. "I'm not surprised, with everything you've told me about her, but I'm sorry you have to go through it." Her hand drops to my thigh, and she gives it a squeeze.

I glance at her, trying to work out if I'm reading her correctly. She's giving me flirty vibes tonight, and I don't know whether that's just her being friendly after a few drinks or something more. "Thanks, hopefully it'll all be over soon, and I will never have to see her again." I leave it at that, not wanting to elaborate any further tonight.

I'm suddenly very aware that I don't really know much about Ava. She asks a lot of questions about my life, and I'm happy to talk about it, but I haven't really gotten to know her at all. "What about you, anyone special in your life?"

She drops her chin then looks back up at me through long, fluttery lashes. "Not at the moment. I have terrible luck with relationships. I've all but given up, really." The look in her eyes, I can see she hasn't given up completely, though.

My phone starts up again. Madeline's relentless. "Sorry."

"You should answer it," she suggests, a look of disappointment flashing through her eyes.

I feel bad to cut off our conversion, but Madeline isn't going to give up if she wants to talk to me, so I better answer it. "I won't be a sec," I offer to Ava. I take the call and walk away from the table.

"What do you want, Madie?" I snap into the phone, not in the mood for her shit at all.

"Brad, sweetie, so nice to hear your voice. Just a quick call to let you know I'll be in LA next month. I have a photo shoot I'm doing, and I want to catch up with you." Her voice is all sing-songy like she's happy. And it confuses the hell out of me. Has she been drinking?

"Why?" is all I can say, because I can think of no logical reason why I would want to see her in person.

"I have something I need to talk to you about," she says like it's the most normal thing in the world that we would catch up. I haven't talked with her at all since I left. Any communication we've had has gone through my legal team.

"Just tell me over the phone," I demand. I don't like playing her games, and she sounds like she's in a mood to play.

"Brad, don't be that way. I'm coming to see you. It will be better in person, okay?"

I really don't want to see her again. But I guess it must be important if she's called, especially after how we ended things. "If you must," I say, defeated. I have never been able to say no to her.

"Text me your address, and I'll let you know what time works for me. Got to run now, sweetie."

"Yeah, okay." I disconnect the call and wonder how she always gets what she wants from me. I let her walk all over me when we were together, and now, after everything she did, I won't just tell her to fuck off and let the lawyers deal with her. There's no love there anymore, I know that for sure, but she has a hold over me still, and I hate it.

I run a hand through my hair, frustrated with myself, then tuck my phone back in my pocket. I should get back to our group. Making my way back toward our table, the first thing I spot is Andy chatting to some guy. He has his hand slung over her shoulder, and she laughs at something he says.

Her eyes flick to me, noticing that I walk by her. She looks guilty and I'm sure my expression shows her just how unimpressed I am that she's flirting with some young idiot. She shrugs like she doesn't care what I think.

My fists ball at my sides, anger radiating through me. The guy whispers something in her ear, and her gaze lands back on him. Is she trying to piss me off on purpose? She knows how I feel about her. I think I made that obvious last weekend, right before she walked away from me. Then all week, she has been acting like it never happened, but every time I talk to her, I feel it. The sexual tension between us is insane.

This is clearly her attempt to either make me jealous as hell or just piss me off because we can't act on our impulses toward each other. She is succeeding at both. I want to rip his fucking hands off her and drag her back to my room, caveman-style—but I can't.

I am her coach and nothing more.

First Madeline calling, now Andy being overly flirtatious with some dickhead. I know I have no right to be upset with her. We can never be anything other than what we are, coach and player. But I'm internally raging about it. I hate that she is so easily moving on to someone new, when I'm still hung up on her, and she fucking knows it.

I order another scotch from the bar and slump down into the seat next to Ava. "I think this is the last one. I'm nearly done for the night," I tell her.

She gives me a disappointed pout, then places her hand over mine. "Stay a bit longer Brad, for me." Her eyes plead with me, and for the first time with her, I worry about where this is going between us.

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