Page 51 of Coach Me (Boston Blues #2)

Lucie

I scramble for the snooze button on my phone. Waking up in the penthouse in Boston instead of a hotel is a dream—waking up in Dex’s bed with him wrapped around me is a heaven I never want to leave.

Two weeks ago, when Jensen made our nail appointments for nine in the morning, I didn’t know it was going to be pulling me out of Dex’s bed.

He pulls me back to him. His voice comes out all gruff and sleepy. “Morning, baby.”

I roll into him. Between the warmth of his body and his hand making small strokes through my hair, I’m never getting up. Closing my eyes again, I mumble, “Good night, Dex.”

Dex hums in amusement. “I would love nothing more than to stay here all day with you, but you’ve got to go meet Jensen.” I let out a groan, which leads to another low hum from him. “We’re also about to get ambushed in three…two…”

The bedroom door opens with a bang. “Daddy! Lucie! Wake up, we’re decorating the classroom today! ”

This time it’s Dex who lets out a groan.

“Huh, now who’s complaining?”

Miles jumps on the end of the bed. “Not me!”

I pull myself from Dex to sit up and smile at Miles. “No, never you.”

I was worried about how all of this would go over with him. I know he was excited the morning Dex told him, but there’s a difference between telling him and it actually happening.

For the final two nights in New York, Dex and I stayed in our separate rooms…well, mostly. Dex would sneak over to my room after Miles fell asleep.

I hadn’t even anticipated being in Dex’s bed last night, but when we walked inside, Dex took my suitcase straight to his room. He then proceeded to explain to Miles why my stuff was moving into his room, which somehow ended up with Dex agreeing to turn my room into a bigger classroom.

I wasn’t even about to complain. I can teach with that view any day. I can also easily sleep in this bed every night.

Dex sits up next to me. “Alright, bud. Let’s let Lucie get ready while we make breakfast, then we’ll get to work after that.”

“Could Lucie make breakfast? I don’t know how to tell you this, but…” Miles tilts his head. “Lucie is the better cook.”

I try so hard to swallow my laugh, but oh boy, do I fail. Miles joins me in a fit of giggles while poor Dex has to sit with that comment.

“I do the same exact thing she does.”

Miles doesn’t try to stop his laughter, but talks through it. “She just makes it better!”

Dex tosses his hands in the air, then reaches for Miles. “ That’s it. Come here, I'll give you something to laugh about.”

Dex pulls Miles to him, ticking until his laughter comes out in full force. “Lucie was…laughing…too!”

I practically jump off the bed. “Oh no, not me.”

When Dex lets Miles go, he whips around and lunges for me. “Save me, Lucie!”

“Always, bud.” I scoop him up off the bed before setting him back down on the floor. “Let’s get our teeth brushed, then I’ll help your dad make breakfast before I leave.”

“Okie.”

When Miles goes into the bathroom, Dex grumbles. “I make it the exact same.”

I lean back on the mattress to kiss his cheek. “I’m sure you do, babe. You just don’t have the sunshiny touch.”

Dex gives me a cocky grin. “Nah, I lost that when I hit thirty. That’s what I have you for.”

“Oh, really? Needed someone younger to make you less grumpy?” I slide back off the bed, walking to meet Miles in the bathroom.

Dex huffs a laugh, meeting me at the end of the bed. His athletic shorts sit low on his hips. I’m tempted to start tracing the ink on his chest, but I know we’re seconds away from walking in on a toothpaste explosion in the bathroom already.

Dex caresses my cheek. “I just needed you.”

After brushing our teeth, I “help” Dex make some scrambled eggs. It only feeds into Dex’s theory of favoritism when Miles tells him it’s better when I help him.

While Dex gets Miles set up in the living room, I throw some of the eggs onto plates .

Dex walks back into the kitchen, shaking his head. “I told you I’m just as good a cook as you, baby.”

“Hey, I never doubted you. Want me to go tell Miles that you did all the cooking?”

Dex comes around behind me, wrapping his arms around my waist. “No fucking way, I’ll take the silent victory.”

Dex gathers my hair to one side then places a small kiss on my neck. “We have the whole day off and you decide to leave me for hours, just to come back and drag me to a game night at your brother’s place.”

I giggle as he nips at my ear. “Listen, I’m already fighting off a small panic attack at the fact that the first time I’ll be meeting your parents is when they’re babysitting, even though I’m supposed to be the nanny.”

Dex spins me around by my hips. “No, Luce, being the nanny was a detour. You were always supposed to be mine.” Dex tilts my face up by my chin to give me a small kiss. “Take your breakfast and eat while you get ready, I don’t want you to be late.”

I hum softly, taking in the feel of him holding me close. “I’ll be right back after.”

“Take your time. I have a feeling Miles is going to hold us up in switching the rooms around for the entire day. I’d get out of it if I could.”

I give him a playful shove. “It’s your own doing. You just had to move my stuff into your room.”

Dex pulls me back in. “Oh, it was a necessity.”

It takes Jensen a total of five seconds for our butts to hit the salon chair to bring up Dex. “Seriously, just look at her. She’s practically glowing, she's so in love.”

Our nail girls give each other a look, while Jensen sends a smug one my way. “She entertained the fantasy, and look at her now.”

Elle reaches for my hand to start. “So, tell us, how does his laugh sound now?”

“Yeah, yeah, so his laugh is great. I’m living a dream, and Jensen has a thing for one of his best friends. I’m working on that so we can round out the full fantasy.”

Jensen’s jaw drops. “Excuse me, I do not have a thing for Beck. You’ve lost your damn mind.”

“Kylie, Elle, did I mention which best friend?”

Kylie taps her file on the desk with a smirk. “Nope, don’t think you did.”

If Jensen was in one of Miles’s cartoons, I swear there would be steam coming out of her ears. “This was not the point of the conversation I started.”

“Oh, come on, why not give Beck a chance?”

“What? No!” Jensen’s cheeks start to turn red. “Beck has the energy level of a child, where I barely have enough energy to make it through the day as is.”

“Ah, so it’s a time thing—not that you’re not attracted to him.”

“Tell us about his laugh, Jensen,” Elle teases.

“Okay, I’m done here.” Jensen pulls her hand back from Kylie.

We all give her pointed looks as she sets her hands back in front of Kylie. “It’s my turn for a topic shutdown. No Beck talk during the nail appointment. ”

“Fine. Fine. We’ll drop it…for now.”

“Thank you.” Jensen sighs. “Let’s go back to you. Are you still doing your list, or is that all null and void now?”

I thought about it, but then I kind of hated the idea that those guidelines would stop. Dex helped me see that who I am wasn’t exactly about having my siblings’ personalities, but more that I’ve been watching my brother and sister live their lives while I was simply letting mine pass me by.

I give Jensen a shrug. “They were never about anyone but me. If anything, I think the meaning behind them has changed. I have a clearer sense of who I am, but who’s to say I shouldn’t still do things that scare me or have a yes day every now and then? Refill my cup and all that good stuff.”

“And the spicy side? What about those?” Jensen lowers her voice. “Daddy Dex make an appearance on those? Oh, is Daddy your kink?”

Oh, gracious. “Jen!”

Jensen looks at Kylie and Elle. “What? It’s a fair question! Right?”

Elle pulls out my light pink nail polish with a huge grin. “Very fair.”

Kylie laughs. “The jury is going to need an answer, Miss Anderson.”

“Well, I plead the fifth.” I feel my phone vibrate while Jensen boos me for not answering her.

They’re just baseball players

Callie has added Emma Olsson to the chat.

Callie

Game night tonight, be there at 7!

Beck

Roger that Callie Bear.

Tripp

Emma’s riding with me, but we might be a little late. I’m helping them transfer over stuff since we have officially escaped bitchiness.

Adam

Please tell me we’re not playing Monopoly again.

Will

As Miles would say, Adam is a sad loser.

Fav Player

Luce and I will be there.

Beck

Aye, parent’s night out. How romantic. You going to do it in the car or maybe sneak over to Adam’s?

Will

Can I uninvite Beck?

Callie

Lucie! You’re with Jensen right? Ask her if she’s coming!

Beck

If Jennie says she’s coming then no I can’t be uninvited. If she’s not then… I’ll still show up either way.

I snort a laugh. “Are you coming to Callie’s game night tonight?”

Jensen scrunches her nose. “Are we playing Monopoly again? ”

“No, I think after Adam nearly threw out the board after playing with Will, we’re going to have to put that one off for a bit.”

“Alright, I’ll be there.”

I bite back a smart remark about Beck. We’re still at the nail appointment, so technically I can’t bring it up, and mostly I don’t want her to bail.

Jensen’s coming!

Beck

Hell yeah.

“Great, you can also meet Emma. She’s a year or so younger than us, I believe.”

“She’s the girl who replaced Shannon, right?”

Thank God. “Yeah, she’s the GM’s daughter. She seems really cool. Her and Tripp have this weird friendship. He doesn’t even try to hit on her.”

Jensen furrows her brows. “What?”

I switch hands. “I know, I asked Dex about it, but naturally?—”

Jensen reads my mind. “He’s a guy, so he has zero information.”

“None! Mine and Callie’s guess is that it’s just the coach’s daughter aspect. Then again, she’s blonde, so part of me thinks she’s just not his type.”

Jensen rolls her eyes. “I’m not even going to attempt to understand any of those ball players.”

I send a side eye to Kylie and Elle that Jensen does not miss.

“We’re still in the middle of the appointment. The looks fall into the acknowledgements of who we’re not supposed to be talking about right now.”

I hold my one painted hand up. “Alright, I’m sorry.”

“Let’s get back to you. What’s your plan for the rest of the day? You could have yourself a yes day. You know…yes to nails, yes to game night…” Jensen tilts her head with a smirk. “Yes to Daddy Dex.”

I tilt my head to match her smile. “Still not answering that. But I do have an idea. How much trouble would you get in for tattooing me?”

Jensen’s eyes light up. “Shut up, this is the best day ever. Technically, I’m not allowed to tattoo outside of my apprenticeship, but I’d really hate to have you sit through a session with Hank hovering.

” Jensen’s shoulders drop for a moment, then perk right back up with a wicked smile.

“Then again, Hank is off today. One of the other artists, Blake, is the only one working. He’d probably supervise no problem. ”

“I don’t want to get you in trouble, Jen.”

“I’m still down to cut his balls off with my nail scissors,” Kylie mumbles.

Jensen sends her a kissy face. “Man deserves it. Besides, he’s been driving me nuts for a year and a half! It’s not like you’re going to get a sleeve, it’s one session and done. He can consider it my one fuck you for the duration of this hell he’s putting me through.”

I really hate the idea of putting Jensen in this situation, but there’s no way I would go to anyone else but her.

Jensen reaches out her hand. “Pleaseeeee, make it your yes day. Say yes to letting me give you a tattoo! Maybe a piercing too.”

She’s got me there. “Yes to the tattoo. No to the piercing. ”

Jensen lets out a girlish squeal that seems so far out of her character, but I love it.

Elle lets go of my hand. “Well, I hope you know you’re not leaving here until we see what you’re going to get.”