Rule #1: You Can't Date the Coach's Daughter (The Rules of Love)

by Anne-Marie Meyer

  I let out the breath I’d been holding and grabbed the table. “Let’s do this.”

  It took until Friday to plan operation Fix Des’s Mistakes. It also required a lot of negotiation with and bribing of the football team.

  I was grateful to have Rebecca by my side. She helped pump me up when I was having a hard day with Dad or remind me why we were doing this when I passed by Tyson in the hall. There was a method to her madness, and I just needed to trust her.

  So when I walked into the stadium Friday night, I swallowed down my nerves. I was really going to do this. I was going to put myself out there and allow love back into my life.

  Secretly, I hoped that Tyson would come running back to my arms and Dad and Ms. Swallow would make up and pull themselves out of the sour mood they’d been in all week. I was ready to be happy again, and that started with helping those I cared about be happy.

  When I approached the bleachers, I saw the section Rebecca and I had cornered off earlier in the day. We’d decided to set up a romantic spot where Dad and Ms. Swallow could watch the game. We’d laid out a blanket and even provided a picnic basket with snacks and some sparkling cider.

  Now, we just needed them.

  My phone chimed and I glanced down at it. Dad texted me that he was talking with the team and would meet me once the game started. I blew out my breath as I replied back for him to hurry up. I wasn’t sure how long Ms. Swallow was going to stay once Rebecca finally got her here.

  Which was right now. I could see Rebecca talking to Ms. Swallow and trying to strategically guide her over to our picnic setup.

  “I’m just not really in the mood to watch football right now,” Ms. Swallow said. I hated the way her lips turned down or how sad she looked. I guess I’d tried to ignore it all week, but she’d been hurt by everything. Probably just as bad as I had been.

  I smiled as she approached the bleachers. I wanted this terrible nightmare to be over. I was ready to stop hurting those that I loved.

  “Destiny,” she said, when her gaze landed on me. “What are you doing here?” Her eyes roamed over the blanket and sectioned-off spot. “What’s going on?”

  “It was my fault,” I blurted out.

  Her eyebrows rose. “Excuse me?”

  I let out my breath slowly, willing myself to calm down. I had a long night of apologies ahead of me and there was no sense losing my cool now. “My dad breaking up with you. It was my fault. I told him to.” It almost hurt to look into her eyes. I knew I would see frustration and anger there, and I thought I had prepared myself for it. But when I met her gaze, I paused.

  There wasn’t anger or frustration there. Just sympathy. Her lips turned up into a smile. “It’s okay, Destiny. Really. I understand why you did it.” She leaned closer. “My mom left when I was eight. Dad and Uncle Ted took care of me. It was hard when my dad started dating as well.” She puffed up her cheeks before she blew out her breath. “I would never do anything that would come in between you and your dad.”

  I nodded. “I know. I was—am just scared. Scared of opening up and letting someone in.” Well, letting a lot of people in. But it helped to talk about it. Recognizing what I’d done helped break down a part of the wall that surrounded my heart.

  She reached out and rested her hand on my shoulder. “Well, that’s very brave of you, Destiny. There are many adults who lack that kind of bravery.”

  Tears pricked my eyes. Hearing someone say I was brave was doing strange things to my insides. It felt good and like a lie at the same time. But, instead of fighting it, I nodded and smiled, letting her compliment wash over me. “Thanks.”

  She nodded and then reached out, pulling me into a hug. At first, I wanted to pull away, but then I let it happen. I liked Ms. Swallow. She was a good person, and Dad deserved a good person in his life. I was selfish to want to keep her away. Not everyone was evil. Not everyone was Mom.

  “What’s going on here?” Dad’s voice caused us both to jump back.

  I glanced over at him with a sheepish expression. “Peace offering?” I said, extending my hand.

  Dad’s gaze ran over the bleachers and then over to Ms. Swallow, where I swore I saw him blush. Dad. Blushing. Weird.

  “Angelica,” he said, nodding in her direction.

  “Joshua,” she whispered.

  It was strange to watch Dad turn into this bashful schoolboy. Honestly, it kind of creeped me out. I was ready for Dad to start dating; I just didn’t want to experience it firsthand. Plus, there was one more person I had to apologize to.

  But I needed to hear from Dad’s lips that we were cool. So I nodded him over to the edge of the bleachers, and he rolled his wheelchair to meet me.

  “Are you sure about this?” he asked. Apparently, he had things he needed to hear from me, too.

  “Yeah, I’m sure,” I said. “I like Ms. Swallow. And it’s time. You deserve someone special. Someone to take care of you, old man. ‘Cause I’m not going to be around forever.”

  I saw his jaw muscles flinch, and I mentally slapped myself. I was about to ask him if I could date Tyson. I didn’t need to be reminding him what that meant for his little girl.

  “You know what I mean,” I said, hoping my casual attitude helped alleviate any stress he might be feeling about me leaving.

  He hesitated and then smiled. “Thanks. That means a lot. And know that if you need to talk to me, you can. I might not always be happy, but I’d rather you be honest with me.” He stuck out his hand. “Promise to always tell me the truth?”

  I eyed his hand. “Promise not to freak out or make up ridiculous rules?”

  I saw him pull his hand back a few inches, considering my request, and then push it forward again. “Deal.”

  Instead of shaking his hand, I threw my arms around him and squeezed him as tight as I could, with him being in a wheelchair. “I love you, Dad.” Tears stung my eyes, and I blinked them away.

  “I love you too, Destiny.” He pulled back and smiled. “Now, go tell Tyson.”

  I pulled back and feigned shock. “What? I don’t know what you are talking about.”

  He quirked an eyebrow. “Rule number one, never lie to your father.”

  I pinched my lips as I thought about it, but then decided to let that rule stand. I liked it—lying to Dad made me feel horrible, and I was ready to give up that part of my life. So I shot him a sheepish look. “Is that okay?”

  His jaw flinched again, and I could tell he was battling his thoughts. Then he blew out his breath and nodded. “Tyson’s a good kid. If you like him, then I trust your judgment.”

  My heart swelled. Was he really giving me his blessing? “I like him,” I whispered.

  “Then go get him. It’s all ready to go.”

  I rolled my eyes. Could no one keep a secret anymore? I bent down and kissed his cheek, but then I hesitated. “And you go get your girl,” I whispered.

  He laughed and nodded. “I’ll try.”

  I watched him roll away. Happiness and fear conflicted in my chest as I saw him approach Ms. Swallow. Her smile widened when she saw him, and they began to talk.

  Feeling satisfied that I’d accomplished the first step of my plan, I turned toward the back of the bleachers and took a breath. On to the second step—Tyson.

  Chapter Twenty-One

  The roar of the crowd set my nerves on edge as I stood just off the field, where the football team would run out from behind the stadium. There was no way I was going to be able to pull this off.

  I swallowed and glanced over at Rebecca, who was talking to Colton. She’d convinced him to come help. I still wasn’t sure what the story was there, and I felt like a horrible friend for not knowing.

  I shook my head. I couldn’t worry about that right now. I needed to focus on Tyson and what I wanted to tell him. Then I’d corner Rebecca and make her spill the story.

  The announcer’s voice boomed from the speakers as he began building up to introducing the players. I took some short, spastic breaths,
hoping it would help calm me. It didn’t. What was wrong with me?

  I signaled over to Rebecca, who smiled and nodded. I ran over to her and grabbed the edge of the rolled-up sign, pulling it across the entrance to the field and waiting. I really hoped that the football team would remember what we’d talked about.

  After the announcer finished talking about all the Panther’s accomplishments, there was a roar from the football team that echoed through the stadium. I held my breath as I waited for them to appear.

  Well, actually, if the football team did it right, for Tyson to appear.

  And he did. He held his helmet in his hand as he came into view. He looked a bit confused as he kept glancing behind him. Someone must have been just out of sight, waving him forward.

  When his gaze landed on me, I thought my heart would burst from my chest and take off galloping across the field. He moved over to the sign I held out, similar to the ones that the team had run through in the past. Except, this one said two words, I’m Sorry.

  He hesitated, and my breath caught in my throat. What was he going to do? I wouldn’t be surprised if he turned around and ran away from me.

  So when he did, I was grateful Rebecca and I had a game plan.

  I glanced over at her and shook my head. She gave me an encouraging look and then motioned for the cheer team to make their way over to the stadium, where they began chanting and getting the crowd pumped up.

  They were going to buy me five minutes until the game started. I needed to find Tyson and tell him that I’d made a mistake.

  I took off after him. He wasn’t going to be able to get very far. I passed by the team, who shouted out encouraging words to me, but I wasn’t really listening. I was focused on Tyson.

  Thankfully, I found him leaning against a support pole for the bleachers. The same spot we’d talked a week ago. I sighed, thinking about that weekend. Everything we’d shared together. I wanted to share all my weekends with him.

  “Tyson,” I said. He stiffened. I hated what my presence was doing to him. Did he really hate me that much? “I’m sorry,” I whispered to his back.

  He was quiet for a moment before he nodded. “I got that.”

  I closed my eyes, willing him to turn around. “I was scared,” I said, keeping my eyes shut. I needed to get these words out, and if he rejected me after that, so be it. At least I put myself out there.

  “Why?”

  Shivers raced across my skin. He sounded closer. I swallowed as I opened my eyes to see him standing a foot away, studying me.

  Tears formed on my lids when I met his gaze. He was hurting—just as much as I was. I cleared my throat, forcing my emotions down. “Because I was an idiot.”

  He raised his eyebrows. “And?”

  “And, I should have told you when Dad said we could be together.”

  He hesitated. “When did he say that?”

  Great. What was I doing? “When he saw our picture on the news at the hospital.”

  He held up his hand. “You’ve known it was okay for us to be together since then?”

  I nodded slowly. “Yes.”

  “And you’re waiting until right now to tell me?” He ran his hands through his hair. “Why?”

  “I guess I wanted to tell you in a big romantic gesture?”

  He jabbed his thumb over his shoulder. “The sign?”

  I nodded and stepped closer to him. “That and telling you in front of everyone. No more closets.”

  He studied me. “What did you want to tell me?”

  “That I was sorry.”

  He took a step closer to me. “And?”

  I shot him a surprised look. “What makes you think there’s more?”

  He chuckled. I loved the sound of it. It was familiar. “Oh, there’s always more. It’s the Blake charm,” he said.

  I scoffed and started to turn. He reached out and grabbed my hand, pulling me towards him. “Can I confess something or is this Tiny’s confessional?”

  “Operation,” I corrected, letting him wrap his arm around my waist.

  “Operation?”

  I nodded. “Yeah, Bec called it operation Fix Des’s Mistakes.”

  He smiled when I placed my hands on his chest. Even though he had shoulder pads on, I pretended that I could feel his heart beating and that it was pounding as hard as mine.

  “And what was your mistake?” he asked, dipping down to catch my gaze.

  “That I let you go before I told you how I felt.”

  He leaned closer until his forehead rested on mine. “And how do you feel?”

  “I like you,” I whispered.

  He drew back. “That’s all?”

  I widened my eyes. “Yes? Why? How do you feel?”

  His lips drew up in a half-smile. “I believe this is your operation, not mine.”

  I pursed my lips and narrowed my eyes at him. He was going to make me say it first. Blast him. I opened my lips, but before I could say anything, a whistle blew from the field, and Tyson straightened. He shot me an apologetic look.

  “Gotta go, Tiny.” He bent down and brushed his lips on my cheek.

  I swallowed as he let me go and started running toward the opening to the field. It was now or never.

  “I love you,” I shouted after his retreating frame.

  He must have heard me because he stopped and then slowly turned around. “What?” he asked, raising his hand to his ear.

  Heat radiated from my cheeks. “I love you,” I said again.

  He smiled and jogged back toward me. “I’m sorry, did you say something?” He was inches from me, dipping down until his ear was right next to my lips.

  “I love you,” I whispered.

  One of his arms wrapped around my waist and pulled me close. With his other hand, he cradled my cheek and ran his thumb over my lips.

  “I love you, too,” he whispered and then bent down and pressed his lips to mine.

  Fireworks exploded across my skin. I ran my hands up his shoulders and entwined them into his hair. He chuckled and wrapped both arms around me, picking me up and spinning me around.

  In that moment, nothing mattered. Not Dad or my horrible mother. Not Ms. Swallow or Rebecca. It was just me and Tyson, and I didn’t need anything else.

  When he set me back down, his expression turned serious. “Are you ready for this? For us?” he asked.

  I nodded. “Yes.”

  He kissed both of my cheeks, my nose, and my forehead before he found his way back to my lips. “Good,” he said when he pulled back. “Because I am too.”

  Epilogue

  I stood in front of my mirror in my room, staring at my reflection. I felt like a dork, dressed in more taffeta and polyester than I had in my entire life combined. But, I’d promised Cori that I would go dressed as a princess for Halloween, and I didn’t want to disappoint her.

  Things were going well in Tyson’s family. His mom went to rehab for a week, and his aunt came to take care of Cori. That allowed him to finally start making it to practice on time and catch up on his missed chemistry work.

  I loved seeing this relaxed side of him. He was finally getting to act like a senior high schooler.

  I grabbed a bobby pin and tucked an escaping curl back up. Ms. Swallow had insisted that she do my hair. Things were still strange around the house, but both her and Dad knew that I needed time to get used to it, so they made sure to give me my space.

  I wouldn’t ever admit it to anyone, but I loved having her around. She was amazing and made the best cinnamon rolls ever. Plus, she helped calm Dad down when I accidently showed up for curfew a few minutes late.

  I liked having her on my side.

  There was a soft knock on the door. I turned and said, “Come in.”

  The door handle turned and the door swung open. Tyson stood in my hallway dressed as Prince Charming. He even had the foam sword tucked into his belt. His eyes widened as he stared at me.

  “You look beautiful,” he said, making his way over to me
and pulling me into a hug.

  I giggled as I pressed my lips against his.

  “What’s rule number one?” Dad called from down the hall.

  I sighed. Dad and his rules. “No bedrooms,” I called back.

  I gave Tyson an exasperated look, and we shuffled out to the hallway.

  “Thank you,” Dad called back.

  I sighed, wrapping my arms around Tyson’s neck and pulling him down for another kiss. “You look handsome,” I said when I pulled back.

  He grinned. “That was kind of what I was going for.”

  I glanced around. “Where’s Cori?”

  He nodded toward the stairs. “She’s showing Angelica her dress.”

  I cringed. Ms. Swallow had been asking me to call her by her first name for a while now, but I couldn’t bring myself to do it. “She got to you too?” I asked, rolling my eyes at him.

  He shrugged. “Hey, I want to be a part of your life for a long time. So sue me if I want your family to like me.”

  My heart skipped a beat at his confession. He wanted to be in my life for a long time? Was it wrong that it made me ridiculously giddy to hear that?

  I kissed him again. “Good.”

  He pressed his forehead against mine. “But your happiness always comes first.”

  “And mine,” Cori’s voice grew louder as she appeared at the top of the stairs.

  “Of course, yours too,” he said, reaching out and catching her as she ran into his arms. After he heaved her onto his hip, he kissed her cheek.

  I joined in on the hug, allowing the feeling of completeness to wash over me. Sure, my life wasn’t perfect. But right now, it was pretty dang close.

  “Thanks for taking a chance on me,” I whispered.

  Tyson’s lips drew closer to my ear. “Of course,” he said.

  I rose up and kissed him.

  “Blegh,” Cori said, wiggling from his grasp.

  I laughed and glanced down at her. “Ready to get some candy?”

  She nodded. “Ready.”

  The End

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