Page 26 of Coach Me (Boston Blues #2)

Lucie

I slept horribly last night. It felt like my skin was on fire. The sheets felt like sandpaper, and my pajama set was the most uncomfortable thing I have ever put on my body.

All I could think about was Dex. The way he looked at me in the kitchen…his words… I think I’m afraid of you. It’s like they vibrated through me.

All night, I wanted to knock on his door and ask what exactly he’s afraid of.

The only thing that managed to keep me in my uncomfortable bed was the fantasy of him pulling me to him and kissing me as his answer.

Not because I didn’t want that to be his answer, but I didn’t want to find out if it wasn’t.

That, and the fact that I’d have to pass Miles asleep in his bedroom first.

I’m not going to deny that there could be something between me and Dex.

I didn’t dream up that moment yesterday.

But he hired me for a reason, and if—that’s a big if—there’s something that could happen between me and Dex, he’s going to have to make the first move.

I meant what I told Jensen. I can’t entertain the fantasy of Dex—I will only entertain the reality of him.

I felt the pull to Dex yesterday in the kitchen. I felt that tension in his gaze. I didn’t get any clear action.

I pull out my phone to text Jensen. Last night, while I wanted to use all of us cooking together as something spontaneous from my list, I’m going to need a Lucie After Dark one very soon.

Alright, where do I need to go to get a new vibrator?

Jensen

Hi, good morning, I love the bluntness, Princess Peach. New hobby not pleasurable enough for you?

Jensennnn, help me. It’s on the list, I don’t need to elaborate more than that.

Fair. Why don’t you come tomorrow morning on my run around town for a venturing out on the Nice Lucie List, then we’ll go to a store together after.

Obviously going to leave out the sex store part, but I’ll make sure it’s okay with Dex since I’ll have to be back to help with Miles by two.

That works. I work at Tally’s shop at three. The run helps me get out my aggression, so I don’t hit Hank while he makes derogatory remarks as he tattoos.

Hitting is low on the list of things that man deserves.

Tell me the fuck about it .

Sliding out of my bed, I take a shower and get ready for the day. Normally I would wear some Blues merch on game days, but I’ve been wearing it so much I want something different.

I want something I feel good in, something I don’t want to even daydream about my hot boss ripping off because I love it that much.

Flipping through the few things hanging up in my closet, I decide on my yellow athletic dress. Yep, this will do.

Making my way to the kitchen, I pass Miles sitting on the couch with a bowl of cereal, watching some cartoon. “Good morning, Lucie. You look really pretty.”

My heart. “Thank you, that’s so sweet. I like that you’re eating cereal with milk.”

Miles gives me a toothy grin. “It’s good sometimes. Daddy made it, but not as good as you do.”

I chuckle. “I won’t tell him. I’m gonna go get myself some breakfast now too.”

“Okay,” Miles mumbles with his mouth full, but then swallows. “Sorry.”

“That’s okay.” I squeeze his shoulder before I turn the corner into the kitchen to find Dex.

When he notices me, I swear his eyes scan me from head to toe. I can’t really tell if he’s thinking I look pretty like Miles said, but that’s Dex. I’ve been making cracks in his stony demeanor, but they’re just that—cracks. No wall tumbling down. No clear actions.

“Morning,” he huffs before taking a sip of his coffee.

“Morning,” I reply with only slightly more enthusiasm. I need caffeine before anyone gets extra happy Lucie today.

I make it two steps to the coffee pot before Dex sets a full mug in front of me. “I just poured and added milk to it. ”

“Thank you.”

Of course he knows how I like my coffee. I know how he likes his and it’s not necessarily a sweet gesture. We just know these things because of our situation. Let’s face it, Dex didn’t even like me a week and a half ago. Maybe yesterday was a fluke.

I’m just feeling…pentup from no sleep. It’ll pass.

Dex takes another sip of his coffee and I note the trails of his tattoos peeking out of the sleeves of his shirt again.

No, pent up is the wrong wording. I need an orgasm—tomorrow’s plans to go to a sex store are non-negotiable.

“So, tomorrow, could I possibly meet up with Jensen? She runs in the mornings and wants me to join her. I know I’m not technically off, but I’ll be back before two to help with Miles still.”

Dex raises an eyebrow. “You like to run?”

Umm, I didn’t think that part through. I’m sure Jensen will go easy on me; she did say it’s a venturing-out activity. “I might.”

Dex hums as a small tug pulls on the corner of his mouth. “That’s fine, Luce.”

“Thank you,” I mutter as I try to fight off a yawn.

“Didn’t sleep well?” Dex asks.

“Hmm?” I hum, his tone was so nonchalant, and honestly, my brain feels foggy. “Oh, no, I didn’t.”

Dex picks up his coffee and rounds the counter as he heads for the living room. His body lingers behind me for a moment, then he mumbles, “Yeah, I didn’t either.”

You know what really doesn’t help when you're feeling like you want to climb your boss like a tree? Baseball pants. Dex should not be allowed to wear his baseball pants today.

Some days he wears just athletic shorts and a T-shirt in the bullpen, but today he put on his baseball pants. And naturally, Miles chooses today to follow his dad around every place he can.

Miles and I sit over to the side in the shade. He watches each ball being thrown with this bright gleam in his eyes. I really need to switch up my focus here. Miles is in heaven right now—even if I’m in a weird heaven and hell situation.

“So, do you still want to be a pitcher?”

“Yes!” He doesn’t miss a beat. “We’ve talked about this, Lucieeee. It’s the best position, it’s what Daddy was.”

I snort a laugh at his dramatic response—like this kid didn’t change his mind about ten different things this morning alone.

I look over to Dex again as he talks to one of the closing pitchers.

I’ve been meaning to talk to Dex about his retirement.

I don’t want to pry or overstep—we’ve been making good progress on our daily work routine, minus this attraction sparking up fast—but I really think we could make it work so Dex could actually play again.

“That he was. Did you know that your dad was my favorite player to watch?”

Ope, that was a mistake.

Miles’s eyes go wide. “He was?”

Oh no, that’s definitely going to come back up with horrible timing, I’m sure of it. I open my mouth, unsure of how to dial this admission down, but then my eye catches on Will walking our way .

“Yeah, he was, but let’s keep that between us because I don’t want to hurt my brother’s feelings.” Not a big fan of suggesting secrets between me and Miles, but desperate times call for desperate measures, and I’m not afraid to use Will as my out.

When Will reaches us, he slides in on the bench next to Miles. “Hey, what are you two doing?”

“Watching.” Miles giggles an evil laugh.

Will gives me a small look, but I only shrug. Yep, Miles won’t be able to keep this quiet for long.

“Well, I’m done warming up, and I happen to know that Beck brought his PlayStation if you want to come play some games with us?”

Miles’s eyes go wide. “Really? Can I go, Lucie?”

“What kind of games?” I can see it now, Dex going into the locker room to find Miles playing a game he’s not supposed to, and there goes all my good progress.

“Normal games,” Will snarks back. “I already talked to Dex about it.”

“Please, Lucieeeee?” Miles begs.

“Okay, but?—”

Miles jumps off the bench, cutting me off. “Yay! Let’s go, let’s go!”

“So, all I need to do is bring video games for you to like me?” Will laughs as Miles tugs on his arms to pull him up. “Head to the Clubhouse, I’ll be right behind you.”

Miles races back into the stadium without even a goodbye.

I chuckle. “Text me when you need me to take back over.”

“I will. Now go take a break. You look tired. ”

“Hey, Miles said I looked pretty today.”

“You do, but I’m your brother—I see the tired.”

That’s the sibling radar for ya. I guess I shouldn’t mention that I’m tired from being up and thinking about his coach all night.

“Thank you,” I mutter as Will squeezes my shoulder on his way to chase Miles to the Clubhouse.

I’m not exactly sure what to do now. I guess I could go find Callie, but she’s usually running around just as much as I do with Miles. Looking over the bullpen, I find Dex thoroughly occupied talking to Jordan.

The tense face he’s making gives me all the context I need. I nearly laugh when I see the deep breath he takes before speaking again all the way from here.

It seems like he might be here for a bit, maybe I can hide out in his office. Can’t say I wouldn’t mind some peace and quiet before the game starts.

Walking through the hall, some of the players say hi as I pass them by.

You’d think that having my brother play in the MLB for years, I would be completely immune to this, and in a way, I guess I am.

But considering the Blues are secretly my favorite team, I still feel a bit like pinching myself as I walk through the halls.

Turning on the lights in Dex’s office, I look over his setup.

It wouldn’t surprise me if this office didn’t change at all from the person who had it before.

It’s basic, with a picture of Miles on the desk as the only form of decor.

Well, that and a plant that looks like it’s seen better days. I bet it’s missing its previous owner.

Grabbing a water bottle out of the mini fridge, I pour a little into the small wilting thing. I’m not a wiz with plants like my sister, but I can’t imagine a little water will hurt. Really, I can’t even say if it can be saved.

Pulling out my phone, I take a picture of the plant and send it to Reagan.

So is there any hope for this baby?

It’s been a few days since I’ve heard from Rea, which feels weird…

I’m not exactly sure what to make of it.

Reagan’s personality has a tendency to steamroll me in a different way than Will’s does.

I mean, she was standing me up before I got this job to begin with because of all the stuff her and Julie were doing.

Doesn’t exactly help my indifference about her silence, but maybe she’ll text back soon with some smart-aleck remark.

Setting my phone down on Dex’s desk, I look back and forth between all of the chairs he has in here. Not a single one seems truly comfy. My yawn comes hard. Hmm, how weird would it be to sit in his office chair?

It definitely seems like the best option since it has more cushioning than the two across from his desk. I kind of feel like I could use just a small power nap. Ten minutes, tops. I mean it’s not like Dex would care…I think.

Sitting back in the chair, I sigh, closing my eyes. Yep, twenty minutes max.

“What are you doing?” Shannon's voice snaps.

Jumping in Dex’s chair, my eyes fly open. “Goodness, you scared me.”

So, that’s what immediate consequences feel like.

Shannon’s hmph is full of disdain. I hadn’t actually realized how much annoyance could be carried in such a small sound, but there it was.

“Will has Miles, so I was taking a little break.”

“In Dex’s chair? Napping?”

My heart still feels like it’s beating out of my chest. How was she that quiet? I can normally hear her heels halfway down the hall. “Not napping, just resting…”

“Right, and in Dex’s chair, because…” Shannon waves her hand for me to fill in the rest of her sentence.

I don’t know how to answer her. I don’t think “because it looked the coziest” is an answer that will go over well with her. Although it’s not like she caught me rifling through his desk or trying to break into his computer. What does it matter that I was sitting with my eyes closed?

“Because she can,” Dex says as he walks around her into his office and sits in one of the chairs across from me. “Anything else?”

Shannon’s spine straightens. “Don’t forget you have a pre-game coaches’ meeting in an hour.”

Dex doesn’t even look at her when he replies, “We have one every game, I’m pretty sure muscle memory won’t let me forget at this point.”

When the laugh bubbles out of me, I quickly force my lips into a thin line.

Shannon mumbles something under her breath, but it’s drowned out by the clicks of her heels as she turns. Ah, there they are.

As the sound gets further away, I let my laugh out. “Do you want your seat back?”

Dex shakes his head. “No, it’s fine, Luce.”

“Are you sure? If you need to get some work done, I can go?—”

“No,” Dex cuts me off. “Stay here. Miles is having fun with the guys, and as Shannon just reminded me, I’ve got an hour to waste.”

The smirk tugging on his lips makes butterflies erupt in my stomach. “Okay. What do you want to do, Coach?”