Page 20 of I Got You

She frowns. “I never gave you my number.”

I rub my chin, remembering that I didn’t tell her. “I put my number in your phone when you gave it to me at the hospital just in case you or Cole needed something, then called mine. I forgot to tell you.”

“Well, aren’t you slick?” She tips her head to the side and then focuses on the bunny in her hands. “I should apologize for laying all of my problems out on your dashboard. Not to mention acting like a crazy woman and the completely unprofessional parking lot hug.”

“It’s ok. Happens all the time.” I deadpan.

She snorts. “I’m sure you have no lack of unwanted hugs.” She pauses, searching my face this time like she’s trying to figure me out. “Anyway, thank you for helping me that day and tolerating my meltdown.”

“How are the kids?”

“They’re doing ok. They never had what Cole and I had with him, so…I have difficulty reconciling whether that’s good or bad. At least their world hasn’t turned upside down…yet.”

I can hear the worry in her words and try to find the courage to say it, but there’s a Grand Canyon size pit in my stomach. A sheen of sweat breaks out over my entire body, and I can’t look at her, so I train my eyes on the fire. I bite the inside of my cheek, hoping to force my mouth open.

“What if I could help you out with that?” In my peripheral, I see her head snap in my direction.

“Uh…what now?” Her shock and hesitancy are written all over her face.

I sit back, trying to appear way more confident than I am, while my singed skin starts to itch with irritation. “What if I said I’d help you make sure that the kids stayed with you?”

Maggie stares at me, her mouth open and at a loss for words. “I’m…not sure I understand. What are you saying? Are you saying you’ll marry me? Why would you do that?”

I can’t answer that. I’m not sure I could explain it even if I tried.

Still gaping at me, she stutters around like she’s trying to comprehend what I just said. “We don’t even know each other. How do you know I’m not some psychopath? Or what if you actually never smile? Like you aren’t capable of doing it. Plus, you’re Cole’s coach. You’re really interested in taking on four kids? This won’t be for just a couple months, and they’ve had enough people disappear on them.” She inhales, trying to slow herself. “I’m sorry. You can’t be serious. Are you?”

“Yes. I’m serious.” My stomach punches my esophagus in revolt.

Her eyes return to the blazing fire in front of us, and I realize that even though there are people around, no one seems to notice our intense conversation, which is only mildly comforting.

She turns her body towards me, the shock still in force. “I need a minute to process this.”

“Ok.” I’m on the edge of a panic attack myself, but I try to look cool. Cool. Just be cool. Shit. Damn it. What did I just do?

“Miss Maggie.” We both turn to one of the players standing next to Cole. “What is this about you and Cole and a Staying Alive routine? We’ve got to see this.”

“No way, man.” Cole shakes his head and takes a step back from his teammates. “I was in junior high.”

She tries to smile and shake loose from our conversation.

“Come on. We want to see our star quarterback strut around like John Travolta. Besides, Miss Maggie, you never told us you could dance any other way than in those fancy ballet shoes.”

“Her ex-boyfriend is a notorious hip-hop dancer,” Cole instigates. “Don’t let her fool you.”

A surprising curiosity spikes at the mention of an ex-boyfriend, but I push it down along with all of my nerves. “I don’t think you’re going to get out of this.”

“Get up here, Miss Maggie. You and Cole have been holding out on us. I’ve got the song all loaded up.”

She looks at me again, searching my face like she’s trying to make sense of the curve ball I just threw at her. “We need to finish this conversation.”

“We will,” I assure her.

The players start chanting her name as she slowly stands and walks toward their tables. Cole moves to take his place beside her, shaking his head. Maggie slips off her shoes as the music starts to play, and she and Cole slap each other's hands, breaking into a remarkably smooth and what looks like a professional rendition of Staying Alive.

I can’t help the smile that creeps over my face as they laugh and move together. The team surrounds them, cheering them on, and Maggie clearly has more up her sleeve than ballet. It only takes another minute before her brothers, and Alivia join in, moving as if they, too, have had some instruction. They dance and laugh with smiles so bright I can’t hide my own, all my previous discomfort fading with the sun.

The picture is clear to me. Maggie isn’t a psychopath. She’s created a family for these kids, and I’d guess she’s doing an excellent job. It may sound absolutely insane, but I’m confident that I want to help her and these kids.

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