Page 43 of Coach Me (Boston Blues #2)

Kate gives me a glare. I know my answer is definitely about to play into the rest of our day together.

I exhale, trying to actually think out all my options when Callie comes up by Beck .

“Ahh, Miles, are you about to help shag some balls? I’d love to take your picture!”

Thank goodness. Okay, Callie I can trust without question. A person Dex also trusts.

“You guys get started, I’ll be right back.”

I give Beck and Callie one quick look in warning to please not let anything happen to Miles.

“Thanks, Luce!” Beck calls as I head over to the dugout and back into the hall.

Okay, get a bat and get out. What could happen, really? I let out a breath full of my stress, then look up to find Dex.

He smirks as he leans against the wall. “I have to know, who got you to finally come in here, Beck or Callie?”

“I—uh.” Wait, what did he just say? I walk to him as I process his words. “Dex, did you plan this? I was having an anxiety attack trying to decide if I should leave Miles.” I smack at his crossed arms, but he grabs my wrist and pulls me into the supply closet.

With the switch of the lights, he pulls me to him with a wicked grin.

“I think you’re the one who told me to start using my teammates, baby. Beck and Callie are more than capable of taking care of Miles. Even if they might teach him a bad word or two.” Dex’s hands find my face, and his eyes soften. “I wanted to check on you.”

Strings pull at my heart. That’s why I agreed to this, because even though getting through Dex’s walls was tough, I like that I’m starting to get more emotions out of him.

“I’m good,” I lie, and Dex knows it.

“Luce, let me fix this. I never should have let you be put in this situation.”

I bite at my lip. Does it make me a terrible person that I really don’t want to take him up on his offer because I’m afraid the only solution is him spending the day with them, and that thought kind of makes my chest burn?

“Dex, why didn’t you tell me that Kate actually wanted to spend the day with you and Miles?”

Dex doesn’t flinch or step back—he doesn’t look surprised by my question at all, actually.

“I should have known she’d bring up the one thing I told her was off the table.

That wasn’t ever an option, baby. Kate and I will spend time together as Miles’s parents many times throughout his life, but today isn’t one of them.

You not spending the rest of the day with them doesn’t mean that I’m going to either. ”

Dex walks me back against the wall, his arms now caging me in as he places a light kiss on my lips.

“I have to admit, I like seeing you jealous, Luce. But you don’t have to be.

Kate called my bluff, and I’m sorry I used you in my bet; it’ll never happen again.

If you want to spend the game by yourself, do it.

If you're worried that I have any feelings for Kate, you’re wrong.

I’ll text Kate without hesitation and tell her she’ll be on her own with Miles for the rest of the day if you’re uncomfortable. ”

I sigh. “I’m fine, really. Miles was excited for today, and I don’t want to ruin it. I just got in my head for a second.”

“Then allow me to pull you out of it.” Dex’s hand traces along my jaw and threads through my hair.

When the smile barely touches my lips, Dex leans in to devour it. The kiss is…it’s just Dex. It makes my stomach flip and my heart beats out of my chest, but I’ve also never felt safer and so completely adored in my life.

“You, Lucie Anderson,” Dex whispers against my skin as he kisses down my neck, “are the woman I want”—he kisses back up and across my jaw—“the woman I need.” He gives one more deep, sensual kiss to my lips, then pulls back to meet my eyes.

He lets out a low sigh. “I want to tell Miles about us, Luce. I know you said you were patient, but I don’t know if I am.”

“Dex…if this is about what Kate?—”

“It’s not. Not even in the slightest. It’s about the fact that Miles knows you as his nanny but you’re so much fucking more.”

“Yeah, I’m also the teacher, right?” I try to joke, but my laugh comes out shaky.

I want to be more. I want to be the one for Dex. I also just want to be the right one for Miles too. I don’t want to replace his mom, but this is such a tricky situation. I can be in love with Dex and still not be the right person when he takes Miles into account.

My love for Miles isn’t tied to Dex either. It could be a fair argument that it’s the other way around, actually.

“You are more, Lucie. I knew you could’ve been more the moment you slid your coffee cup in front of me. I didn’t quite realize how much more, but…” Dex’s eyes track over my face before tucking a strand of hair behind my ear. “I think you could be everything that Miles and I are missing.”

My breath hitches as Dex captures my lips again. I melt at this man’s touch. His words. His kiss.

God, I want to stay in here for hours longer with this kiss, but Dex pulls back.

“I mean it, Luce. No matter what backhanded, undermining comment Kate says, she’s the one who didn’t want this extra time to begin with.

I know today is putting you in a real shitty spot.

I know you want to find that balance to make this work, but cut yourself a little slack.

It took two people to get you in here. ”

I crinkle my nose at the reminder of my near panic attack of coming down here. “I didn’t want to let you down by leaving Miles, but then the comment about Kate wanting to spend time with you…it was just a lot in a really short amount of time.”

Dex chuckles. “I know. I’m sorry I roped you into this today. Just think of Kate as Beck.”

I raise my eyebrow. “Oh, I’m so telling him you said that.”

“Hear me out, she’s a bitchier Beck, but I know he wouldn’t do anything on purpose to put Miles in danger and his opinion about you would never have any impact on the way I feel about you .”

I exhale some of the weight off my shoulders. A grumpy Beck, I can do that.

“I should probably get back out there.”

A smirk plays at Dex’s mouth. “A few more minutes won’t hurt.”

He leans back in for another one of those body-melting kisses. I push him back. “Dex,” I draw his name out with a giggle. “Miles might start to wonder where I am.”

Dex lets out a curse. “Not fair, Luce. Now I'm jealous of my own son.”

I playfully run my hands down his chest. “Sorry, right now I am his nanny.”

Dex lets out a low growl. “Tonight I’m going to fuck the word ‘nanny’ right out of you.”

“I’ll hold you to it, Coach.” I lean into him slightly, and just as he goes in for a kiss, I slide around him with a smirk. “So, does Beck actually need his bat? Or is your ploy to get me down here supposed to be obvious when I go back out there empty-handed? ”

Dex shakes his head with an amused grin tugging at the corners of his mouth. He grabs the bat I hadn’t even realized was next to the door the entire time. “I thought ahead, baby.”

I take the bat from him with a sweet smile. “Wish me luck.”

After making my way back out to the field with the mentality of looking at Kate like Beck, things get a lot simpler.

I didn’t have a panic attack when Miles wanted his mom to walk him to the locker room to get his glove so he could play catch with Adam.

Any subtle remarks she made didn’t hit as hard with Dex’s words fresh in my mind.

With warm-ups coming to an end and the official game-day field events starting, Miles wants us to hide out in the dugout for most of it.

When I notice Dex not filtering in with some of the players, I shoot him a text.

What, are you avoiding the dugout now?

Fav Player

I’m in the bullpen helping your brother with something actually.

What a coincidence.

Miles taps on my shoulder. “Lucie, can we get our hotdogs now?”

I slide my phone in my back pocket. “Of course. You know they’re my favorite.” I stand up, reaching for his hand. “We can go to our seats after.”

“Okie,” Miles cheers, then reaches for his mom’s hand. “Come on, let’s go.”

Kate holds Miles’s hand while he pulls her, but eventually she lets go. I force my lips shut when I notice, but Miles swings our joined hands happily as we walk back up to the concessions.

Honestly, I’m grateful he doesn’t let go because the crowd today is insane.

We’ve had sold-out games at home, but this place feels absolutely packed.

It could be the Crimson fan base, everyone is cutting in front of us as we walk, and we even get some already drunken fans yelling Crimson chants when they notice our Blues game-day attire.

I hold Miles’s hand tightly as we wait in line at the concessions. “You want the usual, bud?”

Miles looks up at me with a toothy grin. “Hotdog with mustard. Oh, and a Sprite.”

“Coming right up.” I look toward Kate. “Do you want anything?”

She snarls her nose as she looks at the menu. “I’ll get something later.”

“Okay,” I say with a smile.

After ordering our food, I swallow down a little pride and put on my best teacher voice to ask Miles to hold his mom’s hand so I can carry the food.

“Got it.” Miles grabs Kate’s hand again and swings it up to show me.

“Perfect, I think we can get to our seats this—” My sentence ends as a random person runs into my back, sending all of my food to the ground.

“Oh, I’m so sorry! This other guy ran into me…” the man starts as he picks up our sodas, but unfortunately, the dogs can’t be salvaged. “Let me give you some cash for more,” he blurts out.

“It’s okay, it was—” I stop short as I look at the man in front of me. I blink several times. This can’t be right. No, I think I’m going insane .

“Lucie?” My name comes out as a question, and my heart rate skyrockets.

I look back at this man, who definitely looks older than I would have thought, but there is a resemblance to Will and Reagan. “Dad?”

The word feels so weird coming out of my mouth. I guess I show how I feel on my face because the man in front of me pales.

Miles tugs on my shirt, looking up at me so pitifully. “Lucie, our hotdogs…they’re your favorite.”

“It’s okay bud, I…um…” I look from Miles to my dad , then to Kate, who’s looking at me like I’ve gone insane. Maybe I have, that could actually be what’s happening here.

Kate puts her hands on Miles’s shoulder. “We will wait for you just right over there.”

I contemplate her words for a minute before giving her a small nod. “I won’t be long.”

When they get far enough away, I slowly look to the man in front of me. Ian Anderson feels like a ghost to me, and yet here he stands.

His hair is dark brown, just like my siblings, the wrinkles are deeper, but I’m sure years of drinking did that.

Although he’s standing in front of me, Diet Coke in hand, and besides us running into each other, he doesn’t seem out of sorts.

He doesn’t smell like alcohol. He’s not stumbling or slurring his words.

He looks at me for just a moment and curses under his breath.

“I’m sorry, I know this might be hard to believe, but I didn’t mean to run into you like that.

I try to stay out of sight when I come and watch Will.

I didn’t realize it was you until…” His face softens with a small sigh.

“You look so much like your mother, Lucie. ”

Wait, what? He came to watch Will? Actually, it sounded like he does it often. And I know I look like my mom, but hearing it from a man I haven’t seen in over a decade…

“I think I need to sit down.”

He nods and holds his hand out to the nearby bench. When his hand touches the back of my arm, I jump. “I got it.”

“Right, sorry.” He tucks his lips in a thin line. “I can walk away if you need me to, Lucie. I promise I’m not here to cause trouble. I just came to watch Will pitch.”

Sitting down, I rest my elbows on my knees and rub my temples. “You’re here to watch Will? You’ve watched him before?”

He sighs. “Every game I can make it to for the past few years.”

“Well, he has no idea you do, I can assure you of that.” Oh my gosh, Will. He’s…he—I don’t know what he would do if he found out. I don’t know what I’m doing. I shoot back up to pace in front of the bench.

“I’m sorry. This is just a lot to process. I should really get back to Miles.” My nervous laughter comes out involuntarily. “I just—you watch Will play?”

“I know this is a lot. I’m sorry. I don’t expect anything from you guys, especially from Will, but I’ve been sober for nearly five years. I just want to watch him play—that’s it.”

I pause in front of him. “You’re sober?”

“I swear.” His response is immediate.

My heart swells a bit because I can see that he means it.

“Lucie, I get that I walked out. I’m not expecting anything from any of you. I promise. I’ll go to my seat now and not get up for the rest of the night. ”

My shoulders finally fall down from being pinned up to my ears with tension. “I?—”

But I don’t get to finish my sentence because Kate’s running up to me. “Lucie, I can’t find Miles.”

“Wh-what?” My heart falls into my stomach. “What do you mean you can’t find Miles?”

“He was there one second, then he was gone.” Kate scratches at her face as she squeezes her eyes shut before shooting them back open with a muffled shriek. “Lucie, what do we do?”