Page 42 of Coach Me (Boston Blues #2)

Lucie

“Lucie, I can’t wait for you to meet Mommy. We’re going to have such a fun day!” Miles bounces in front of me with nothing but pure joy on his face.

I, however, am trying not to panic. I know I told Dex I could handle this—and I can—but as I’m standing here waiting on Dex’s ex-wife, my anxiety is really kicking in.

Dex mentioned that she knows about us. Apparently, Dex putting his hat on my head during the game was a little more newsworthy than either of us really anticipated. It got back around to Kate, thankfully after Miles left.

He’s still blissfully unaware about me and Dex.

It helps in a way. I don’t feel like a secret fling at all when Dex is perfectly fine letting everyone else know we’re together.

It’s simply navigating Miles. I love this kid so much it hurts.

If I have to wait to tell him that I’m falling in love with his dad for his benefit, then that’s perfectly fine with me.

I look at my phone to check the time and find a text from Dex.

Fav Player

Please come get me if you need me, Luce.

Doubting me already?

Never, baby.

Dex gave me another chance to back out of this, and for a moment, I considered it. I’m not sure what Kate will throw my way today, but if Dex and I are ever going to work, I know I have to make it work with Kate too. I can’t say she’ll like me— she doesn’t have to— we just need common ground.

I’m more than capable of swallowing some pride. I did it plenty as a teacher with overbearing parents, I can do it here.

My game plan is simple: be the nanny. I’ve been “in charge” of Miles while Dex is around. I’ll keep Kate in consideration as the parent, but really, Miles and I have these days down pat. I can handle the little things, but if something major comes up, I can give Kate the opportunity to handle it.

Miles squeals. “Mommy!”

Now I prepped myself all week for how beautiful I knew Kate had to be—I was very much right. She has flawless olive skin, long brown hair, and even without the heels she’s wearing, I’m sure she’s at least a couple of inches taller than me.

Miles races to wrap his little arms around her waist, and she chuckles, leaning over to hug him back. “Hey, baby. I’m so happy to see you.”

Okay, deep breaths. I’ve got this. “Hi, I’m Lucie.”

I hold out my hand for a shake. For a moment, Kate just looks at it, but with a quick glance down at Miles, she caves. “Kate. ”

“We’re going to have the best day ever!” Miles giggles. “I was thinking we could play ‘Escaping Grumpiness’ and get hotdogs. Oh! Can I get mustard on my hotdog?”

Not every food venture has stuck with Miles, but I consider the condiments he now likes on hotdogs as my biggest accomplishment.

“Yeah, I think we can get some mustard for you, bud.”

Kate huffs a small laugh. “And what’s ‘Escaping Grumpiness?’ Is that what you call hiding from your father?”

Don’t answer, Luce, it’s a trap.

Miles shakes his head. “No, silly Mommy. It’s hiding from Shannon. She’s always grumpy.”

Kate raises her eyebrows as she looks at me and says with a whisper, “So, grumpy is code for bitchy, yes?”

Okay, common ground topic. “You guessed it.”

Miles grabs hold of each of our hands and pulls. “Come on, let's get going.”

I laugh. “And what exactly are you wanting to do first?”

Miles drops our hands and looks up to the ceiling as he thinks. “Is it time for warm-ups?”

I check the time again. “Batting practice should be starting. Do you want to shag some balls?”

“Yes!” Miles’s eyes go wide. “And maybe Mommy can meet Callie!”

“Oh, I must meet the girl you claim you’re going to marry.” Kate’s excitement holds what sounds a bit like condescension, but we’re swallowing it all down.

“Alright, Miles, do you remember how to get to the door that leads to the field?”

“Yes!” He nods, then scrunches his nose. “Will you tell me if I go the wrong way?”

I laugh. “Yes, I’ll tell you if we start going the wrong way.”

Kate and I walk in silence. Our eyes focused on Miles as he skips down the hall.

Kate’s heels click just like Shannon’s, but they sound different in a way.

Maybe just because I know Shannon, they come off annoying, but with Kate, I swear they sound different.

Her heels sound like power. I know that might sound crazy, but it’s the first thing I think of.

Dex mentioned that she’s a lawyer, and from what I’ve stalked, a pretty good one too. Her appearance is intimidating, while still gorgeous. I’d hire her, that's for sure.

“I’m sure you won’t be surprised when I tell you that this wasn’t how I wanted today to go.” Kate keeps her voice low. “Did Dex tell you I wanted time with just Miles or both of them?”

My mouth goes bone dry. “Um, Miles.”

Kate gives me a slow nod. “I thought he might’ve.”

Does that mean she wanted to see Dex today too? I’m assuming he told her no, considering I’m the one walking around with her today. I’m not entirely sure how I feel about that…I mean, he didn’t tell me that she mentioned adding him into this mix, but okay, let’s not overthink this.

“Look, I'm just the nanny for today. As weird as it sounds, just think of me that way.”

Kate huffs an amused breath. “Does that mean I can fire you?”

I press my lips in a thin line. “Well?—”

“Yeah, I know.” Kate gives what barely qualifies as a half-smile. “You’re also not just the nanny, though. Seems like you’re also a teacher and something more from what I can tell. ”

“Uhh, yeah…” I trail off as Miles skips right past the stairs. “Hey, Miles, down this way.”

He skids to a stop. “Oh, oopsies.”

Miles races back to us and down the stairs. “Handrail, please,” I say on instinct, then snap my mouth shut. Maybe I should have let Kate take that one. I don’t know, she’s hard to read—just like Dex.

Oh my goodness, did they not work out because they are kind of the same person? Tough, hard-working, attention-demanding presence, and getting emotions out of them is like pulling teeth. This is probably a revelation I should keep to myself.

I let him get a few good stairs in between us before I speak again. Keeping the focus on Miles was my tactic with Dex, maybe it will work here too.

“So, for school, we’ve started the process of getting it approved with the school district. I’ll submit a homeschooling plan to them over the next couple of weeks. As long as that gets approved, we should be good to start after that.”

Kate raises an eyebrow. “Can I see the plan?”

My mouth opens with what I think I’m going to say is “yes”, but then snaps shut. Is this something I need to ask Dex about first? Then again, we’re all Team Miles, right?

“I’m sure we can work something out.”

Kate hums. I’m sure it’s a yeah, right kind of hum, but there’s nothing I can do about it at this moment other than what I’ve just offered.

The rest of our walk down to the field is in silence. Thick, awkward, painful silence.

My anxiety only gets greater the closer we get to the field. If Dex is out here, I’m not entirely sure how things will play out. I’m not here to stand in between them being parents, but this gray area of what Dex and I are feels like it makes things…complicated.

Kate’s words replay in my mind. She wanted time with Dex today too? Or was that just a way to get a rise out of me? If I were Reagan in this situation, I’m sure a comment like that would have definitely started some sort of competition of undermining each other.

The thought of Reagan threatens to pull that locked box out of the back of my head.

Maybe that’s why I even thought of her to begin with.

Dang subconscious is spiraling right now because I’ve never really dealt with this type of cattiness to begin with.

Reagan dealt with those passive aggressive, mean girls growing up—and apparently the douche bags too. I just didn’t know about that.

The thing is, it’s not in me to compete with Kate; there’s no point. She’s Miles’s mom, Dex’s ex-wife. Those are facts I can’t change.

I’m not sure what the true reason is for Kate wanting to come today—whether it’s actually for Miles or some sort of excuse to be around Dex, but a heads-up would have been nice.

Maybe agreeing to this wasn’t my smartest decision.

I can swallow my pride, but I don’t think I’m cut out for head games if that’s the tactic she’s using.

Walking out to the field, Miles jumps on the first person he sees. “Beck! Can I come catch balls with you?”

Beck holds out his hand for a high five that’s raised slightly too tall for Miles to reach without jumping. “Hell yeah.”

“Beck.” My correction comes out on instinct again. Crap, maybe she does think I’m competing with her. Ugh, I’m definitely overthinking all of this now.

Beck scoops Miles up and places him on his shoulders. “Hey, Luce,” he says, giving me a warm smile, then a curt nod to Kate. “Kate.”

“Beck.” She matches his tone.

Well, at least I’m not the only person living in this awkward moment now.

Like the teacher I am, I clap my hands together. “Okay, so, outfield?”

Cool, Luce, way to be cool.

Beck adjusts Miles on his shoulders. “Yeah. Kate, you can come with us. There’s a place you can stand to watch off to the side. Lucie, I need you to do me a huge favor. Can you go grab my bat? I left it in the locker room.”

And leave Miles… “Beck, I don’t?—”

“Please, Luce. I’ll owe you so much!” Beck gives me this pleading look.

I look around the field. Okay, I trust Beck. Adam’s here, and Miles loves Adam. Plus, Dex said that Miles isn’t unsafe with Kate, but then again, this was his boundary, right?

“It’s fine, Lucie. I think we can be alone for five minutes,” Kate says in a very condescending tone this time.

Great, now if I don’t go, it will definitely look like I’m undermining her.

Beck sends her a snarky smile. “I’ll be here too.”

I’ll be gone, what? Just a few minutes? But then, what if Dex sees me not with Miles like we talked about? Okay, my brain is about to explode.