Page 24 of The Coach

Dad wraps me a bear hug. He's a big man, tall and imposing with a graying beard. "Happy birthday, baby girl." I take comfort in his embrace.

"Thanks for coming, guys." I beam, so excited to have my entire family under the one roof for the first time since my cousin Drew and his wife Jenna came to visit.

A song I like comes on, and Darcy pulls me by the hand to the dance floor. Luna and my sisters follow us, and we go nuts, dancing like no one is watching.

A few songs in, Amelia wraps her arm around me. "Come and get a drink, Sis." Darcy gives me a look, pissed that I'm leaving her, but she has the others, she's fine. She just likes all the attention on her.

We walk toward the bar and she orders me a scotch. Drinks in hand, we make our way over to a quiet table and take a seat. "You look amazing tonight, Sis," I tell her. "Being single agrees with you."

"Thanks."

"So, how is everything going? You and the kids settled in at your new place?"

"We are. It's so lovely there, and the kids seem happy enough. I can't imagine what it must be like for them now, growing up without their dad in their lives at all, but they're adjusting better than I thought they would."

"That's good." I take her hand. "How are you? Really, not the bullshit you tell everyone else."

She smiles and it reaches her eyes. "Yeah, actually I'm okay. Moving to our own place was the best thing we could have done. I'm over the initial shock of it all now, and you know what? I really do think it's for the best. He was such a jerk to me the whole time we were married. I was putting up with it for the kids, but now that I don't have to, I can move on with my life. We're all happier without him."

"That's right, Sis. He was a piece of shit and you and the kids are better off."

She gives me a definite nod, like she's still trying to convince herself that this is all true. She takes a swig of her drink then places it back on the table with a thud. "Oh, and I didn't tell you the best part," she says, her face now alight with excitement.

"What's that?"

"My fashion label is just about to expand into another hundred boutiques across the country."

"Oh my God, Amelia, I'm so excited for you!" I squeal and throw my arms around her. This is the best news, after the year from hell. It sounds like her life is taking a massive change for the better.

"That's where you two disappeared to. We were looking for you," calls Cassie as she and Jasmine stride across the room to us, drinks in hand. They take a seat at the table, and we all link hands. We have a super special bond and we always have. They are all so different from me and each other but that has never mattered.

Cassie turns her attention to me. "So, what's the birthday girl got in store for tonight? I'm surprised to see you without a date. Bet you have some hottie you're hiding away from us until Mom and Dad leave."

I fiddle with my hair. She's right, normally I would have someone I had organized to meet up with, or I would already be eyeing someone up at the very least, but this year, no one takes my interest. At least not anyone I'm allowed to go home with anyway. "No, not this year," I say a little sadly, my mind going straight to Brad. He's the hottie I would like to be hiding from everyone, but that's not going to happen.

"What! I can always rely on you to have some fabulous story to tell, so I can live through you when my own life is boring as batshit." Cassie pouts, but I'm sure her life is anything but. She's in college; I bet she's having the time of her life.

"She has a story, alright," says Jasmine with a smirk. She gives me a look like,can I tell them?but she doesn't wait for a reply. "She doesn't have a date tonight, because she is pining over her soccer coach," she blurts out.

I shoot her a look for opening her big mouth, when we had an agreement not to say anything. I could kill her right now. If Mom and Dad found out I slept with my soccer coach, Dad would lose his shit. That's a fact. Brad would lose his job for sure, and I would be embarrassed as hell.

She shrugs at me and grins to our other sisters like the whole thing is funny. Give her a few drinks and she forgets how to keep secrets.

I feel two sets of eyes focus on me. I glance up at them and they're wearing the same stupid grin as Jasmine. "Andy, do tell. I need a good story," says Amelia.

"It's not a good story, it's stupid. And I'm not pining over him. It was a one-time thing before either of us even knew he was going to be my coach. Now it's all out of hand because I have to see him like all the fucking time."

"That's the funny part," Jasmine says, chuckling. "She was hating him, thinking he did the dirty on his wife, then he turns up at her training session as the new coach. Can you imagine? What are the chances?" The other girls' eyes go wide.

"Oh, Andy, it could only happen to you," says Cassie.

"I know, right, I have all the bad luck."

"Now what? Was he cheating on his wife?" asks Amelia, looking worried, and I know why. She's been there and it's awful.

I shake my head. "No, it was a misunderstanding. He's separated from her. She did the dirty on him. He was nursing a broken heart."

"Oh, good. So where does that leave you then?"

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