“I could, sure. But we both know Mara isn’t my biggest fan and she values her friendship with Joss.” His blue gaze was solid and sober, which meant Joss’ whereabouts would remain a secret. For now.
“Fine. Let’s grab that pizza.”
“Best four words you’ve said all night.”
“Yeah, yeah,” I waved off his playful but accurate words. “Sorry man, but I’m just going crazy. I thought she would accept my dinner invitation.”
“We all get it wrong sometimes, Ben. Spectacularly wrong.” Xander clapped me on the back and I looked up at him closely, noticing the tight lines around his eyes and mouth, the tension in his jaw.
“Want to talk about it?”
“If there was a point, I’d love to. But it’s hopeless.”
Before I dig further, my phone buzzed in my pocket. I pulled it out and let out a curse. “It’s Mom. She just texted 911.”
Xander’s eyes widened. “I’m parked near Bread Box. Let’s go.”
Pilgrim was a small town but Xander still managed to make it to my childhood home in about four minutes. We both jumped out and raced to the front door, practically knocking it down in our hurry to get to her. “Mom, where are you?”
“In here!” Her voice sounded normal but my mind raced with images of her injured and on her back, broken or worse, bloody.
But none of that had come to pass because Mom was fine. She stood at the stove with a whisk in one hand, the other on her hip. “Mom. You texted 911. That’s an emergency, in case you were wondering.”
She turned slowly, a knowing smile on her face. “This is an emergency,” she said and her gaze slid to the stack of casserole dishes on the small round kitchen table. “I’m curious as hell to know why Joss, your friend, returned my casserole dishes that I made for a special night with a special woman. That is what you said, isn’t it?”
I sighed as my heart beat returned to normal and relief settled over me that she was all right. “Yeah, that’s what I said.”
“Because your emphasis on special is why I spent all day cooking food that I didn’t get to eat.”
“Mom,” I groaned. She was right, I had said all those things.
“Don’t you ‘mom’ me, young man. I want details and I want them now.”
Xander patted his stomach and leaned in to give Mom a kiss on the cheek. “What is smelling so delicious in here, Rita?”
Her green eyes glittered at Xander’s flirtatiousness and I wasn’t even annoyed because he’d just given me a few moments to figure out what to tell my mother. “I’m making my famous Irish Bolognese, but what you smell are the cookies I’ve been baking all day for our girls’ soccer team. We’re selling them at Saturday’s game so when they win, they can get a proper rest before the next two games.” Her pointed gaze slid my way and I groaned.
“Mom, please. I did what I could to help.”
“Really? What did you bake for the concession stand?”
I raked a hand through my hair and groaned. Again. “Since this is the first I’ve heard of it, nothing.”
“And I wonder why you’ve heard nothing of it?”
“What makes this Bolognese, Irish?” Xander leaned over the simmering pot with a spoon in his hand, ready for a stolen taste test.
“The Irish whiskey I put in it, of course.” She dipped the spoon and handed it back to Xander. “Have a seat, both of you. I’ll feed you while Ben catches me up on his apparently secret relationship with Coach Callahan.”
“There is no Joss and me, Mom.” Saying it out loud made it real, along with the realization that I wasn’t ready for there to be no me and Joss anymore. “Not anymore.”
She nodded and sympathy filled her eyes. “Tell me everything, honey.”
I shook my head. “What’s the point?”
“It’s pretty simple, Rita. Our boy here refuses to date women he works with or who works for him, but still decided to start up something with the pretty coach. She, of course, got it into her head that he’d changed his mind. He did and she walked. End of story.” Xander flashed a cocky smile my way and arched a brow. “Did I miss anything?”
“Nope. That sad summary is accurate. Completely.” Hearing it summed up like that made me sound like a dick, but I couldn’t argue with the facts. “Does it matter at all that I was perfectly clear about my objections before we started anything?”
“Weak sauce, man.” Xander shook his head, reproach in his eyes that turned to a smile when Mom brought garlic bread to the table. “Damn, Rita, this garlic bread smells like heaven.”
“Oh you,” she smacked Xander’s arm and turned to me. “If you had half this one’s charm, you could’ve avoided this mess.”
“The charm wasn’t the problem, Mom. Like Joss said when she, ah, ended things, we just don’t have the same relationship goals.”
“Bullshit.”
“Mom! Where’s the swear jar now?”
“It’s closed when everyone in the house is over the age of eighteen.” She folded her arms, her green gaze daring me to push the issue. “And it is bullshit, and you know it. Does Joss seem like the kind of woman who would make a scene at the office?”
“No. Obviously not. But when emotions are running high, anyone is capable of doing things against their nature.”
“That’s true, so what has Joss done since your break up to make a scene?” Mom brought the sauce and the pasta to the table, along with a salad before she sat and stared at me, long and hard.
“Nothing. She’s been avoiding me. I had to wait for her by her car just to ask her to dinner.”
“Ah,” she nodded. “So not the type to make a scene after all. What are your other objections?”
“That’s it, Mom, but it’s a pretty big objection. I can’t undermine my authority with the staff. I don’t like it either, but that’s just the way it is.”
“Then why the sad bastard look? I mean, if Joss kicking you to the curb was the right decision, you should be happy. She gave you an out and she’s not making it ugly.” Mom folded her arms and nodded. “Makes sense.”
“Sounds like a win-win to me,” Xander said as he piled pasta and sauce on his plate. “But he hasn’t realized one important thing yet.” Instead of finishing that thought, Xander shoveled a heaping fork of food into his mouth and groaned, taking his sweet damn time while he chewed.
“Yeah, what’s that?” The truth was I was dying to hear any insight that would stop the ache in my chest, or get Joss to stop avoiding me.
A smile spread across his face as he continued to chew. “You’re in love with her.”
“I’m not.” It wasn’t possible. “I would know if I was in love. With Joss or anyone else.”
Mom laughed so hard she doubled over in her chair.
“Thanks, Mom.”
“I’m sorry Ben. You are intelligent and kind and caring, but you are oblivious when it comes to emotions. You didn’t cry about your father until I told you it was all right to do so.”
“I was trying to stay strong for you and the twins.” His death made me the man of the house and I had to hold it together while the rest of them fell apart.
“I know that, but it doesn’t change anything. You got no-string sex like you wanted.” She held up a finger, a clear sign this was a long list.
“Mom,” I groaned.
“Don’t deny the truth, certainly not to me. So, you got the no-strings sex even while you romanced her, though my guess is you didn’t even realize that.” She held up another finger. “You were upset when she ended things.” Another finger. “And without her, you’re miserable. Should I go on?”
“Not unless you have some magic plan to help me change things?” Because that’s what I wanted. That’s what these days without Joss had proven to me, that I wanted her. No matter what.
“You could start with a little honesty. About why you really don’t want to date or, or how you really feel.”
“He has to figure that out first,” Xander said with a snor
ting laugh.
“And you,” Mom turned to Xander. “You want a second chance then you need to acknowledge the past and then make up for those mistakes. And sacrifices.”
I had no clue what they were talking about, but the surprise on Xander’s face said he clearly did. “Yeah. Okay. Thanks, Rita.”
Mom patted his hand and smiled. “My pleasure. Now, who could use a drink?”
“Me.” Xander and I replied at the same time, which caused a laugh. And then outright laughter.
“I guess we have our orders?” I didn’t know if Xander planned to take Mom’s advice but my mind already raced with possibilities.
“When a woman plies me with pasta and booze, I am compelled to listen to her.” Xander raised his glass of whiskey. “To wise women and good food.”
“I’ll drink to that,” I said and took a sip.
“Damn straight,” Mom said and knocked back her customary glass of Jameson.
It wasn’t the night I’d hoped for, but maybe it had gotten me closer to having many nights like that in the future.
Joss
“Wow Coach C, look at how many people came out to support us!” The girls were lined up for the national anthem, looking at the packed stands as if a rock star had shown up to cheer them on. “What did you do?”
“I wish I could take credit, but I think everyone is just so proud of you they had to see you girls in action.” Something was definitely going on and I didn’t know what but I was happy to see the town supporting my team. “Let’s show them what they’ve been missing.”
The game got underway and the girls were definitely feeling the home town advantage, thanks to signs of support and cheers so loud the announcer could barely be heard. It was a beautiful sight to see, the town coming out for the girls in this way and by halftime, they were two goals ahead.
“Well, well, if it isn’t the prodigal part-time coach, returned for our final victory.” Tanisha smiled as Chris joined me at the sideline. “Jealous you went on that silly book tour instead of coaching a bunch of teenage girls?”
Chris laughed. “You lot aren’t quite as scary as overzealous fans, so I am kind of jealous. You’ve been doing so well without me, Tanisha, who’d have thought you missed me so badly?”
She rolled her eyes but the bright smile told the truth. “It’s always nice to have eye candy around. No offense Coach C.”
“None taken.” I motioned for her to join the rest of the team, warming up in the minutes before the second half of the playoff game started. “Happy to be back?”
Chris nodded and kept his gaze on the action on the field. “Lila and Tara are here, where else would I want to be?” The smile on his face was genuine and filled with affection. “But it’s nice that my book is doing so well.”
“It’s good. Even better than the last series.” Chris was a talented writer and I was a fan even before I knew him. “Maybe that’s why all these people are here, to catch a glimpse of our local celebrity.”
Chris barked out a laugh and shook his head. “I wish my ego would allow me to believe that, but that chaos is thanks to our friend Ben. He called in favors, used guilt and coercion to get people to turn out and support our Pirates.”
Ben. “Oh.” As principal of the school, it looked good to support all athletic teams, especially the notable ones. “That was nice of him.”
Chris waited until the whistle blew and both teams began game play before he let out the snort-laugh he’d been hiding behind a knowing smirk. “Yeah, he did it because he was feeling charitable.”
“Not charitable, no, but this is part of being principal. Supporting the teams.” And his job was the thing that mattered above all else to Ben, at least more than I mattered to him.
“You don’t believe that.” Chris turned to face me but I kept my focus where it belonged, on my girls on the field. I didn’t need one of Ben’s friends to do his bidding, to convince me that the truth wasn’t the truth. “Oh wow, you do believe that. He must have messed up worse than he said.”
Yeah, that did get my attention. “There was nothing to mess up, because we weren’t ever anything. Not really.”
“Let’s say that is the truth, why else would he have all these people come out to cheer on the soccer team?”
“Because the girls’ team is poised to win the state championship for the second year in a row. It’s a big feather in his cap. As principal.” A small part of me wanted to believe Chris’ implication, but I’d listened to my heart and trusted Ben’s actions over his words and look where that had gotten me.
Still single and grappling with heartache.
“Is that what you want to be true?”
On the ref’s whistle I turned to Chris. “It doesn’t matter what I want to be true, only the truth itself.”
“And that truth is?”
“There is no me and Ben, not anymore. I’m not sure there ever really was anything more than a brief, secret fling.” There. That was the truth that I had learned to accept over this past week, because lying to myself wouldn’t help me avoid this mistake in the future. “But thank you for letting me know about Ben, I’ll be sure to thank him after the game.”
Before Chris could say another word, the Pirates scored another goal. “Looks like that win is all but secure, unless the other team had a miracle on the way.”
Chris was right but even with a score of 3-1, I didn’t dare get my hopes up because that’s what made sports exciting, how easily a team’s fortune could change. Luckily for me and my girls, our teamwork and good luck held, and when the game was over, the Pilgrim Pirates were declared the winners.
“Great job, girls! Two more games to go!” After about ten minutes of cheering, high fives and back slapping, the sweat had cooled and the girls were ready to celebrate. “We’ll do post-game talk on Monday. Enjoy your weekend.”
“Seriously?” Tanisha’s surprise was mirrored on the faces of other players and I nodded.
“Unless you want to spend your Friday night celebrating with pizza and your coach, yeah, seriously.”
“Enjoy your weekend, Coach.”
I couldn’t help but smile at how quickly they jogged to the locker room when faced with an evening void of cute boys and underage drinking. “You too, girls.”
“Good game.” Ben’s deep voice sounded behind me and I steeled myself before I turned.
“Thanks, the girls played well. And thank you for getting a crowd to cheer them on tonight. It helped.”
He laughed and the sound was deep and smooth, and hit me in all the right places. Though, given the current state of affairs, all the wrong places. “I think the four goals we scored might have had something to do with it.
“Maybe,” I smiled. “But the top notch cheering squad definitely helped.” It was strange, to stand here on the sidelines and chat like two people who barely knew each other, who hadn’t seen each other naked and devoured every inch of one another’s body. It was also sad. Heartbreaking, even. “Anyway thanks.”
“I did it for you, Joss. You have to know that.” His green gaze was serious. And sad. I didn’t want Ben to be sad, I’d given him the freedom he wanted to find a woman who didn’t work at Pilgrim High School.
“Ben, I-,”
“Yo, Joss!”
I turned with a smile as Mikki and the Callahan brothers made their way towards me and Ben. “Mikki, you’re looking incredible. Hi Jase. Nate.”
“Hi?” Jase ducked his head and did what was meant to be mimicking me. “Bring it in.” He motioned and I walked into his arms, taking his welcoming hug. “Great game, Coach.”
“Thanks. The girls played well.” I turned to introduce Ben and my shoulders fell that he wasn’t there. Don’t, I warned myself. There was no reason to feel anything at his abrupt departure. We weren’t anything except work colleagues. “Hey Mikki, should we get you off your feet?”
“I wouldn’t say no to a place with a comfortable place to sit and some hot food.” She rubbed her growing belly
to make a point, flashing a smile up at Nate, who seemed to melt before my very eyes.
Nate turned to me, his green eyes blank which was a step up from blatant disgust that I relaxed just a little. “Any place like that nearby?”
“Mayflower if you want pub food or Carriage House if you want real food and good booze.”
“Carriage House,” Nate and Jase said at the same time.
“That gets annoying,” Mikki said and wrapped her arm around mine. “You’ll get used to it or you’ll clunk their heads together to stop it.”
Mikki’s words made me laugh, even as I glanced over my shoulder one final time, hoping for another glimpse of Ben. He still wasn’t there. “Which do you do?”
“Mostly I find it adorable, grown men still so in tune like little boys. With this pregnancy though, sometimes I smack’em both. It really depends on the day.”
“Lies,” Jase accused. “You love us and you know it.”
“Doesn’t mean I don’t sometimes want to do bodily harm to you. Both of you.” Mikki laughed and shook her head. “So who was the hottie?”
I sighed, hoping to do away with all thoughts of Ben for the night. “No one. Not anymore.”
“Not to pry, but it still seems like something.”
I couldn’t help but laugh. I liked Mikki so far and I hoped to see more of her, but I refused to get my hopes up where the Callahan men were concerned. That was a lesson I’d already learned. “That’s because I have a hopeful heart and you have hopeful eyes. Probably because you’re in love and expecting a baby, it’s clouding your vision.”
Mikki laughed. “Some would say its sharpened my vision. Here’s our car.”
“Mine is on the other side of the building in the teacher’s lot,” I told them and gave directions to Carriage House. “You won’t be able to miss it, just look for the burgundy awning.”
Jase stopped and gave me a long assessing look. “You’re not gonna ditch us are you? Because I know where you live.”
I laughed. “I don’t want to have to walk all the way back here after we eat. I’m not running,” I assured him. “Pilgrim is my turf.”
Misbehaving Curves: A Boss Romance Page 13