Page 15 of Coach Me (Boston Blues #2)

Lucie

“And we’re super sure about this?” Will asks as he holds the turtle tank in the elevator on the way up to the top floor of Dex’s apartment complex.

“Yes, we’re sure. I need a job,” I reply, not even looking back at him as I look for the number of Dex’s apartment for the fifteenth time.

“Right, and I don’t need to bring up the ‘weird vibe’ between Dex and Tripp yesterday?”

“Right.” The elevator dings and the door slides open.

“Or the fact that Dex got your car moved? And got our car service to take you home?”

“Nope,” I say, keeping my voice chipper.

Brothers. I walk down the hall and wave him off before he can make another comment.

I knew this whole talk was coming from him. Will’s a protector—a “let me take care of you” person—and in a way, I think Dex is too.

His attitude might be a little blunt and prickly at times, but I don’t think Dex is being weird about these things. I definitely don’t think they mean what Will thinks they could mean.

I scan the numbers on the first door we come to, but then keep going.

“You know it doesn’t bother me at all that you took this job, but if you think it’s because I’m upset about you getting fired?—”

“It’s not,” I groan out and slide my suitcase further down the hall to the next door. “I really think this could be good for me.”

I don’t give Will the full reasoning of why I think that, but I know I have to give him a little something.

Will’s savior complex knows no bounds, especially with me and Reagan.

He has every bit of the best intentions, and he’ll back off if we tell him, but it’s that sibling intuition thing that you have to watch for.

“Alright, if you say so. I know Callie’s happy to have another girl around, especially when we travel.”

“See, it’s a win-win. You can stop worrying now.”

I pause at the next door and check the apartment number on my paper for the millionth time. 4878. Yep, this is it.

Will grunts behind me as he tries to readjust his hold. “Alright, alright, but can we hurry it up, please? This thing is really awkward to carry, and I think the duffle bag is about to fall off my shoulder.”

“Don’t be such a baby, we’re here.” I snort a laugh as I knock on the door. “You know you wouldn’t be whining if Callie came with us.”

“Just so you know, I’m flipping you off right now.” Will shakes his head with a sigh. “I suppose how you managed to convince Dex to let you keep these things is another question I’m not allowed to ask?”

“I asked nicely,” I sing.

Now if Reagan had said that, Will would have snarled his nose and told her to not be gross, but since it’s me, Will just shrugs.

When the door still has not opened, I wonder if I need to knock again, but the moment I raise my hand again, it swings open.

“Lucie’s here!” Miles squeals. When he notices Will, he steps out into the hall and looks around. “Did you bring Callie too?”

Will huffs and looks at me. “Think you can work on that for me? Consider it my trade-off for not asking my questions.”

“Oh, hush.” I wave him off. “Hey, Miles, no Callie today, but look what Will did bring…”

Miles snaps up straight, his eyes growing huge. “The turtles! I thought Daddy was kidding!”

Miles’s excitement is so high and as he bounces closer, Will has to take a step back. “Which one’s which? Which one is which?”

“Easy, Miles.” Dex’s voice practically demands my attention.

Turning from Miles to Dex, I see him leaning against the door frame with his arms crossed. A slight corner of his mouth turns up as he watches Miles stumble back a few steps.

Miles snickers. “Sorry.”

Will shuffles his grip again. “Can someone please tell me where to put this thing down before Pip and Pop go plop?”

“Hurry, Will, follow me!” Miles shrieks and zips back through the door, nearly knocking into Dex .

“Slow down,” Dex huffs, but I don’t think it quite registers with Miles. “Will, it’s straight back to the living room. Miles cleared the spot he wanted this morning.”

“Perfect,” Will says as he walks right in.

I, on the other hand, still for just a moment. I meant what I said to Will, I do think this will be good for me, but walking in also feels really weird. I’m going to be living with a guy for the first time ever—minus my brother, he doesn’t count.

“You okay?” Dex asks.

I snap out of my trance. “Yeah, I’m good.”

Well, here’s to figuring myself out, I guess.

Stepping into Dex’s apartment, my steps slow as I reach the edge of the living room. Windows make up the entirety of the far wall that looks over an incredible view and a balcony that I fear Dex may never get me off of on nights where we’re not traveling.

Even with the elevated aspects of a penthouse, Dex’s place feels nice.

It feels like a home, despite knowing that he and Miles spend more time in hotel rooms than here.

It still gives this well-lived feeling. The living room is full of warm creams and browns, and there are some of Miles’s toys on the floor to really hone in on that family feel.

“Is this all you brought?” Dex raises an eyebrow as he reaches for my suitcase. “A duffle bag, a suitcase, and the turtles?”

“Yeah—well, there’s still another suitcase in Will’s car. I just thought I’d pack for the two weeks' travel, plus have some necessities here, then bring some more stuff later.” I shrug.

Does he think it’s weird I don’t have a ton of stuff?

“My sister is still staying in our apartment for a couple months, so there’s really no rush. You might decide I’m not a good fit after spending two weeks with me,” I joke, hoping to lighten the mood, but Dex doesn’t laugh or even crack a small smile.

Maybe my leaving in two weeks isn’t as much of a joke as I think it could be. Being fired from my second job might really send me into a spiral, but even if Dex doesn’t like me, I know I can do this job. I just have to prove it to him.

Dex clears his throat. Yeah, that’s a good sign. “Come on, I’ll show you your room.”

My thin smile is the only response I can muster.

Glancing at Will, he’s holding up Miles so he can look up over the tank while he points out each turtle. A more than thin smile tugs at my mouth at that.

Dex continues through the living room and as he starts down a hall, he points to the first door we come to.

“Miles’s room is this door here, and the next one is his playroom.

There’s an office space on the other end I’m getting cleaned out.

I figured once we get everything situated we can make that into his classroom.

Just let me know what you’ll need and we’ll get it. ”

“Oh, you don’t have to do that. With all the traveling, I’m sure we’ll be used to making makeshift classrooms.”

Dex doesn’t look back and his voice remains just as neutral as can be. “As a teacher, I thought you might like to have a space for that. No one’s using it, so why not you?”

I open and close my mouth. This feels like it might be a touchy subject, and you know what, why not me? He wants to give me a classroom, so who am I to argue? “Okay, I’ll let you know what we’ll need.”

“Great,” Dex clips as he stops to open the last door on the left. “This is you. ”

A moment ago I was silent by choice, but now I’m silent due to the view in this freaking room. I knew it looked incredible in the living room but to also have it in my room—I’m completely mesmerized.

Aimlessly walking up to the window that takes up the entire wall, my voice squeaks but I don’t care. “Ah, is that Blues Stadium?”

“Yeah, can’t see the field, but I imagine any night we do fireworks, the view from here is pretty cool.” Dex’s tone still sounds completely uninterested, but a more excited child’s voice follows.

“And this is Lucie’s room!” Miles yells, and as I look at him he’s got his arms outstretched as if he were showcasing a grand art piece to my brother.

Will lets out a low whistle. “Nice new view, Luce. I guess this puts your apartment to shame, huh?”

I chuckle. The penthouse in Boston compared to an apartment complex in Rowley…yeah, maybe a bit. “In a way, but yours is still greatly appreciated and loved.”

“Yeah, yeah.” Will drops my duffle bag onto my new bed that I’m just now really paying attention to. Will seems to notice the bedding too, because he says what I was just thinking. “Hey, yellow’s your favorite color.”

“It is?” Miles practically radiates excitement at this revelation.

I chuckle. “Sure is, what a happy coincidence.”

Miles whips his head to Dex. “You did a good job, Dad!” Miles whips his head back. “He got this at our front door this morning.”

“It was the only color with same-day delivery,” Dex adds on to Miles’s sentence .

Will sends a look my way, but I ignore him. It’s bedding, it’s really not that deep.

“Well, it’s perfect. Thank you.”

I send Dex a soft smile first before giving the same one to my nosy brother.

“Alright, well, I’m going to head out. Luce, the suitcase in the car is your travel one, right?”

“Right, can you?—”

Will waves me off. “I’ll bring it.”

“Thank you for helping.”

“It’s what I do.” Will shrugs before turning to head out. I half hold my breath, begging internally that he doesn’t say some stupid overprotective brother crap to Dex, but when he walks by he just claps his shoulder then raises his hand in a wave. “I’ll see you guys in a couple of hours.”

Miles jumps and races to follow Will. “Oh, I’ll show you to the front door!”

I chuckle. “Ever the tour guide.”

Dex shows the first sign of amusement with what I’d qualify as a humorous huff before going all stoic on me again. “Well, I’ll let you get settled.”

Clearly, that’s all the personality I’m going to be getting out of him today. I give him a small nod as he starts to walk out of my new room.

This is still going to be good for me. I’m sure of it. Miles is my focus, anyway, so what if Dex wants to keep our conversations short? I’m here to do a job, and clearly that’s how Dex sees it too.

I pull my suitcase over to the closet space when my phone dings in my pocket.

Jensen

So, since you’re so cool now and getting to travel with THE Boston Blues, do you think you could spare a lunch with little ole me before you leave?

That was really quite dramatic. Also, I’m not sure… Is asking to leave on your first day a bad look?

Technically yesterday was your first day, and today there’s no game so from what I’m assuming it’s your day off.

Rather bold assumption, but I suppose I see your logic.

Just ask, the worst he’ll say is “no.”

Hmph, yeah a “no” is probably all he’ll give me.

It would be nice to see Jensen before I’m gone for nearly two weeks.

And I did tell Dex that on any days off I wanted to have time for myself.

Granted, we haven’t clarified a lot of this job…

seems as if that could be a red flag. Maybe that’s just how Dex needs this to be for now.

As much of an adjustment as this is for me, I’m sure it feels life-altering for him.

I can go at his pace, and maybe making myself scarce is the best way to start—give him space to adjust…but thinking about asking to leave already has my palms sweating.

Let me feel it out. He had my car transported here by the team so I’m not sure if it’s here yet either. I’ll let you know.

When Jensen thumbs up my message, I slide my phone back in my pocket.

Okay, just ask. What’s the worst that could happen ?

Before I let my nerves get too out of hand, I march out the door into the hall and ram right into Dex. Our bodies collide, and the impact starts to send me back onto my butt when Dex’s hands reach out quickly to pull me back up.

The only problem—he pulled a little too hard and now I’m completely pressed against him and…oh my gosh, I think I’m touching it. My hand went in a weird position when he grabbed me and now I’m definitely touching something I should not be.

As soon as the realization hits me, I think it hits Dex too, because his hands are now pushing me back.

“Oh my—I—I’m…” I sputter as my brain is still computing what just happened.

Dex’s hands steady me for a moment, but then they immediately leave my shoulders once we’ve both gained our footing. “It’s fine,” Dex grunts out.

It doesn’t feel fine—I, for one, feel mortified. “I-I—I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to touch—I mean—run into you like that.”

Smooth.

“It’s fine.” Dex’s voice is firm as he takes an extra step back from me. “I was just coming to tell you that your car’s in the garage.”

“Great!” Unlike Mr. Cool, Calm, and Collected here, my tone is all high and squeaky. “I was going to see if I could meet a friend for lunch before we?—”

“Yep, go, that’s fine. We leave for the airport at five,” Dex barks before he turns around and leaves me to die of embarrassment.