Page 21 of Third and Ten

He gestures toward the receptionist before adding, “Jada, will you give her a card with my personal number, just in case?” Then he gives me an awkward wave and a “see you later, Tenley” before disappearing into his office again.

“So, you and Blake already know each other?” Jada asks with a bubbly smile, handing me a blank form on a clipboard.

“Yeah, we were classmates. I’m originally from Camellia,” I explain as I fill out the form.

“You must go way back, then,” she replies, exchanging the clipboard for a business card. “He rarely hands out his personal number.”

I lift my shoulder. “He also coaches my nephew’s football team.”

“Then you must know his brother, too. Aren’t those Bourgeoises just the best?” she asks with a hint of mischief in her eyes.

I nod, realizing I’ll never find a safe space again so long as I live in Camellia. “Aren’t they, though?”

CHAPTER 8

JD

Though the circumstances are unfortunate, we get a Friday night off when the coastal team we’re scheduled to play is hit with a tropical storm. While the damage isn’t devastating, the overwhelming sense of guilt inspires me to forego our regular Saturday-morning team meeting and organize a small supply drive instead.

“Thanks for coming to help,” I call out to the football team and spirit groups. “We’ll be accepting donations for the next couple of hours. Let’s get a crew stationed out front to unload everything as people drive up, and the rest of you can sort what they bring in. A volunteer will drive everything down to the people in Cameron later this afternoon, so we’ll need a little help to load up the trailer, too.”

The noise level in the gym immediately rises again as the kids begin shuffling around and pairing off to attend to some of the duties. I pull out my phone to post another reminder on social media, hoping to get at least a few members of the community to show up.

“Hey, Coach,” I hear a familiar voice greeting me.

“You’re late, E,” I reply automatically. “You still trying to milk that sprained ankle?”

“Sorry, it’s my fault.” I glance up to find Tenley standing in front of me. “I accidentally slept in after an early-morning delivery,” she says, looking remorseful.

My pulse immediately quickens. “Oh, well, it’s all good, then.”

“I figured you wouldn’t mind,” Ethan retorts with a smug look.

I narrow my eyes at him slightly, and he thanks Tenley for the ride before scampering off to find a job. She holds out a bag in front of me, but it takes me a second to wake up and accept her offering since I’m too busy trying not to react to seeing her in fitted leggings.

“I grabbed a few things. But if you notice anything missing after you get all the donations in, I can bring more when I come back for Ethan later.”

“So, uh, you’re not busy today?”

“Not particularly.”

“We could use your help,” I lie.

She glances around, probably noticing how bored most of the kids look. “Could you really?”

I shrug innocently. “I was kind of hoping to get an adult woman’s expertise regarding what household items and toiletries they might need the most?” I phrase it as a question, hoping to bait her into staying. “Unless you’re still tired, that is.”

She hesitates, eyeing me skeptically. “I guess I could stick around and help for a bit. But I am on call.”

“I’ll take you for as long as you’re free.”

Ugh.

Why does everything I say in front of her have to sound so dumb? Plus, hasn’t Blake been telling me to make myself look less desperate and more unavailable?

“Okay, then,” she answers, still looking at me as if she can’t believe I’m really this weird. “Where do you want me first?”

Oh, no. Please. Don’t.

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