Page 10 of Third and Ten

“Right.” I nod quickly, as if it isn’t too late to pretend I don’t care. To be fair, my social media stalking hasn’t been very successful since all her accounts are private. How else am I supposed to get my intel?

“Coach, you know you’re not fooling anyone. You’ve been looking at Aunt Ten the same way I look at Caidence Fontenot.”

Busted.

I cringe. “Have I really been that obvious?”

He huffs at me. “Worse. Everyone’s been calling you ‘Coach Thirsty’ behind your back.”

I curse under my breath. Blake warned about my new nickname, but I’ve been hoping he was just messing with me. “I’m sorry. I’m not usually this weird around women.”

“I figured,” he says. “And just so you know, I wouldn’t have minded if you wanted to ask her out. I even tried to talk you up a little bit, be your wingman and all. But I don’t think she’s interested. Sorry, man.”

I feel the instant pangs of disappointment, even though I’m flattered by Ethan’s inadvertent blessing. He really is a great kid, and sometimes I enjoy spending time with him more than I do with guys my own age. Though, I’m not sure if that says more about me or him.

“Oh…well, thanks for trying. I appreciate it.”

“Yeah, no worries.”

We drive in silence for a minute before I change the subject. “Speaking of Caidence, how are things going?”

He puffs out his cheeks and exhales loudly. “She knows I exist, but barely.”

“Hang in there, man. I have a feeling you’ll make an impression when the time is right. You’ve been looking good at practice. I bet she’ll be watching from the sidelines.”

“Maybe,” is all he says, looking down at his lap.

I reach over to shove his shoulder playfully. “And hey, now that school’s started again, I can always assign a group project. I can be a good wingman, too.” He laughs at me, and his expression lightens.

“You know,” he begins again, his smile growing. “Technically, my Aunt Tenley didn’t exactly say she wasn’t interested in you, specifically. She just said she wasn’t interested in dating anyone at all right now.”

I keep my eyes on the road, trying not to grin like a silly teenager at the slightest bit of hope. “So, you’re saying there’s a chance?”

He laughs heartily at the Dumb and Dumber reference, even though the movie is much older than he is. The others usually glare at me as if I’m an alien once my inner nerd rears its ugly head, but Ethan is one of the only kids who indulges me by laughing at my jokes and recognizing my weird movie references.

“But, if it ever comes up, I didn’t say anything. I don’t think she’d appreciate it if she thought I was setting her up.”

“Yeah, of course,” I promise. “And for the record, I’d only ever repeat something you told me in confidence if I thought you were in danger. So I expect you to extend the same courtesy by not telling your aunt and everyone else that I’m really just a huge dork,” I add with a smile.

“The guys on the team would never take you seriously again if they knew you were this lame.”

“Nah, I’m still bigger than all of you.”

“Fair enough.”

I laugh again as we near his house. “What about dinner?” I ask, knowing how hard it has been for Mrs. Therese to keep a teenage boy well fed while tending to her sick husband. Ethan once let it slip that grocery-store trips haven’t been a priority lately, so I make sure to check on their eating habits by working it into our conversations.

“Yeah, Aunt Ten’s been keeping the fridge stocked. She cooks about as good as my mawmaw does, except she always makes us eat a salad or something healthy on the side.”

“All right, then,” I say as I pull into the driveway. “Maybe one of these days I’ll have to crash dinner at the Robin house.”

“For sure,” he confirms. “I’ll figure out a way to get you an invite.” He pulls his backpack from the back seat before reaching out for a fist bump. “Thanks again, Coach. I appreciate you always having my back.”

“No worries, Big E. I got you.”

“Cool. See you tomorrow?”

“See you tomorrow. Oh, and don’t forget to start looking over your bio notes for our test later this week,” I yell after him as he walks up the front-porch steps. He nods and waves without turning around on his way inside.

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