Total pages in book: 113
Estimated words: 106772 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 534(@200wpm)___ 427(@250wpm)___ 356(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 106772 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 534(@200wpm)___ 427(@250wpm)___ 356(@300wpm)
Wasn’t that special?
“Uh . . .” She looked back at the Vaughns before looking at me. I could see it in her hazel eyes, the confusion. My sour attitude came off me in waves. I was sure of it. “I wanted to remind you about dinner.”
“Dinner?” Hell yes, I wanted to have dinner with her, but not with her boyfriend there.
“This morning, I invited you to dinner with us. Actually, it wasn’t dinner, but you were going to come over and fill me in on the travel stuff. I think we’re getting sandwiches. What can I get you?”
I couldn’t stand there and look at her, not without being pissed. She was the first woman I had met since Brianna, and I liked her. It was a schoolboy crush, the same I warned my boys about, and yet I had fallen quickly. Her boyfriend walked toward us, and I had zero desire to meet him.
“Maybe some other time.”
I greeted parents in the hall, and instead of leaving, I went toward my office. In there, I kept the lights off and the blinds pulled, needing some space to clear my thoughts.
Of course, they were about Antonia. From the first time I’d seen her across the gym, I’d had this wild attraction to her. It had only increased when she came into my office the next day and told me about Miriam.
This woman was putting her life on hold to take care of her friend’s kids and planned to raise them after her friend died, which only increased my attraction to her. I really thought that after breakfast this morning, I would be in the clear to ask her to lunch or dinner, or just spend time with her at the house.
When I invited her to use my home gym, I meant it and hoped she would take me up on my offer. It was there for her to use whenever she needed to get away or wanted to exercise without the gym bros staring at her.
I needed to heed my own invitation and hit the weights or the heavy bag when I got home. My gym was the perfect place to let go of whatever was building inside.
An hour after the game, I finally left my office. The coast was clear; all the players and parents had gone home, and I was certain I wouldn’t run into Antonia. I assumed she’d be at Miri’s, eating the sandwich she said they were going to get for dinner.
On my way home, I stopped at the Ridgeview Diner, one of our most popular places and the bar I liked to hang out at. I walked in and headed to the left where the bar was, then sat down at the first empty stool.
“Coach, what can I get for ya?” Lee Waters, the owner, said.
“Working tonight, huh?”
“Yep, short staffed,” he huffed.
“Sorry to hear that. I’ll get the fish and chips dinner and a water.”
“Sounds good.” He walked away, only to return a minute later with a tall glass of ice water.
“Thanks.” I drank most of it down, wishing it were something stronger, but that would have to wait until I was home. When I started teaching, I vowed not to drink in town where my students could see me. A lot of the parents and some of the kids, when they were younger, used to watch me play, and they saw me as a role model. To me, role models didn’t drink and drive, even if it was just one. Sometimes, that was all it took.
My dinner came, and I ate in relative peace. A few people I knew came in, said hi, and congratulated me on the win before moving on to their table.
While I ate, I watched a college game on one of the TVs in the bar and chatted with Lee whenever he refilled my water. I paid my tab and drove home, taking the long way around so I wouldn’t have to drive by the Vaughns’ house. It was petty, but for my own good.
As soon as I got home, I let Scout out in the back. Normally, I’d take him for a walk, but it wasn’t in me tonight. He deserved better from me, and I would have to make it up to him tomorrow. I stayed out with him, mostly out of fear of coyotes or bears. Regardless of my backyard being fenced, hungry wildlife would find a way to a food source.
After changing into some shorts, Scout and I went into the garage. I turned on some music and began working the heavy bag. With each punch, I told myself my feelings for Antonia were ridiculous. I knew love at first sight didn’t exist, and anything I’d imagined was nothing more than seeing a beautiful woman across the court after being alone for so long.