Page 7 of Coach Me (Boston Blues #2)

Dex

“Okay, I think that just about covers it.” Olsson taps on his desk. “Let’s take a beat and I’ll meet you guys in the dugout.”

Thank fuck. I get why we have pregame meetings to an extent, but honestly, with the day I’m having, I just need a break. Five minutes tops where I’m not dealing with anything related to baseball or dealing with the repercussions of taking this damn job.

On top of having another close call on being late this morning, my mother called me asking a million and one questions about things I don’t have answers to.

What school am I going to put Miles in? Why haven’t I decided what school?

Didn’t I know that the sign-ups were most likely already closed?

And about fifteen more, but when I kept answering “I don’t know,” she hit me with, “Well, these are all questions stemming from your actions— time to make some decisions.”

I thought that was going to be her final blow of a question, but then she hit me with, “When should I move in?”

After hanging up with her, I knew I could answer that question confidently—she was not moving in with me. The rest she’s going to have to give me a little bit of grace on. I still have the summer to find someone.

I just hope I haven’t pushed the limit of Olsson’s “bring Miles, the team will help” offer too hard already.

Walking down the hall, I’m tempted to steal a twenty-minute power nap in my office, but I know I need to check on Miles. Walking down the hall, I get the flash of red that is Callie racing down the hall, but I don’t see Miles with her.

“Hey, Cals,” I call before she gets out of earshot.

Callie whips around with a smile. “Hey, Dex, what’s up?”

“I don’t mean for this to come off real dick-ish because I know you’re working, but I have to ask…where’s my son?”

Callie chuckles. “I gave him to a group of drunken ball fans, is that not okay?” Sarcasm laces her tone. “He’s with Lucie. Relax. Have I ever left Miles with anyone unsafe?”

“First, not funny. Second, I’m still dealing with the repercussions of the time you left Miles with Tripp and Beck—and third, who the hell is Lucie?”

Callie huffs. “Tripp and Beck are like giant children, how was I supposed to know they’d teach Miles how to catcall whistle? And I left him with Lucie, because I had to?—”

“Callie, I don’t know who Lucie is! You left my son with a stranger!” The outburst surprises both me and Callie.

Fuck. That’s uncalled for, especially with how much Callie’s helped over this season. My stress might be at an all-time high, but I shouldn’t have let it get the better of me. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to talk to you like that. I just?—”

Callie’s face softens for a moment despite my gruffness. “Dex, it’s fine. Lucie is—oh my word! Why didn’t I think of this sooner?” Callie grabs my arm, her eyes wide.

Fucking hell. She helps me with my son for free. She helps me with my son for free.

“Alright, what’s going on here?” Will’s voice comes up from behind me. “My girl’s got wild eyes going on right now. I’m a little afraid of what that look on her face means.”

Callie gives him a pointed glare. “I always have excellent ideas. This one especially.”

“For fuck’s sake, Callie, my son. Who the hell is Lucie?”

“Lucie? My Lucie?” Will asks.

His Lucie? Isn’t it his Callie?

A smile creeps up Callie’s face as Will mutters some curses.

“My sister is not becoming his nanny.”

“Hold on, no one said anything about your sister or a nanny. I just want to know who has my kid.”

Callie crosses her arms over her chest. “Lucie is Will’s sister, who just so happens to have a degree in early childhood education and currently needs a job. Being a nanny could be worked in, because, let’s face it, you need one. How does a traveling homeschool teacher and nanny sound?”

Well, shit, Callie might be on to something.

“She has a degree? Like a real degree? How old is she?”

“She just turned twenty-four,” Callie exclaims while Will hangs his head with a shake.

“And she has her master’s…I should know it’s real since I’ve paid for it all,” he mutters.

Master’s…okay, she’s definitely qualified—overqualified, really—albeit a little younger than I would have thought about hiring, but I’m borderline desperate on this whole nanny-homeschool situation .

“I told you I have excellent ideas!” Callie hits my shoulder. “Don’t get me wrong, I love having Miles around, but during some games we’re all running around like crazy and I hate having to pass him off to whoever’s closest. I know you feel the same.”

I bring the palm of my hand to my forehead, applying pressure as Callie’s words rattle around in my head.

This could work. If she’s Will’s sister, she should be familiar with how our schedules work…

I think, at least. I know Will is new to the team and all, but the fact that I didn’t know Lucie was his sister reminds me that I don’t know her at all.

“Okay, I know you’re right, but the point of my original question of ‘Who’s Lucie?’ still holds a lot of weight.”

“Fair.” Callie shrugs. “But she’s the first real candidate you’ve had in a long time. Especially for both positions. Come on, Will, back me up.”

Will glances back and forth between his girlfriend and me, his coach, several times before he lets out a breath. “Yeah, I want no part of this conversation, actually.”

“Will—” Callie starts to protest, but Will cuts her off with a quick kiss to the forehead.

“Sorry, Beck’s calling for me. Got to go.”

“Mmm,” Callie hums with anger before sighing as Will takes off down the hallway.

“Not exactly what I would want to see out of my nanny’s brother,” I joke, then instantly regret it when the fire lights in Callie’s eyes again. “I’m not saying I’m on board with your plan, Cals. I still don’t know this person.”

Callie holds her hands up in defense but then her phone digs in her pocket.

“Look, I’m just saying it’s an idea. I have to get to Shannon before she has an aneurysm over these first pitch photos.

Lucie texted me that they’re sitting in Will’s reserved seats, fourth row back from the pitcher's mound. For today, why don’t you just go check on him? ”

I glance at my watch. I’ve got some time to spare, and while I do trust Callie, I really don’t feel comfortable handing Miles off without even meeting the person.

In fact, the more I think about it, the less confident in the plan I feel.

I know I need someone to help, but there’s this fear I don’t understand that comes with it.

“Fine, but don’t get your feelings hurt if I take him to the dugout with me.”

Callie rolls her eyes. “Oh, yeah. Will’s sister is already five beers deep,” she says with a snark as she pats my shoulder before walking away.

“Not funny, Cals,” I grit out.

“Who said I was joking?” Callie hollers over her shoulder.

“For fuck’s sake.”

Weaving through the crowd of people, I keep my head low and move as quickly as possible. Venturing into the crowd as a coach is one thing, but as the newly retired pitcher, I usually get stopped a lot.

“Dad! Dad, look! It’s Dex Larsen!” I hear what sounds like the voice of a little boy ahead of me.

The ‘no eye contact and keep moving’ method usually works, but I’ve clearly got a soft spot for the kid fans. When I spot the kid tugging on his dad’s shirt, jumping up and down unable to contain himself with excitement, I know I have to stop.

Kneeling in front of him, I swear the kid stops breathing for a second as he grips the ball in his hand with a huge smile on his face.

“Hi there, want me to sign your ball? ”

The kid nods his head aggressively before looking up to his dad for late permission. The dad and I chuckle at the same time. Yep, I know how that goes.

After signing one ball, a small crowd of kids makes their way up to me. Some with genuine excitement, and some I know are only getting an autograph for their parental figure.

I finally make it to the reserved rows behind the mound. Heading down the first set of stairs, I scan the rows and spot Miles right away, but then almost just as quickly, I notice the blonde next to him. Not just any blonde, though— the gorgeous blonde from the coffee shop. My Blondie.

What the fuck? This can’t be Will’s sister—she would have said something. She should have said something. I had wanted to know her name that day. Hell, if Miles wasn’t with me and we weren’t rushing out the door, I would have asked her for her number.

Shit, if this is her, that means Blondie here is twelve years younger than me. I could tell she was younger in the coffee shop, but I wouldn’t have guessed there was that much of an age difference.

Maybe this is a friend of Will’s sister, and Lucie’s just at the concessions or in the bathroom—not her .

Miles seems completely entranced as she speaks to him, but that’s not entirely surprising since I apparently have a ladies’ man on my hands. Then again, I can’t blame him on this one. Blondie seems to shine just as brightly today as she did last week.

That definitely feels like a thought I shouldn’t entertain until I know for sure that this isn’t Will’s sister. The hope that she isn’t also seems like something I shouldn’t entertain given my situation, but it’s there.

Walking toward them, she looks my way. Her piercing blue eyes land on me, and it’s as if the light around her intensifies. Hell, she seems like sunshine in human form.

Fuck, maybe I should go ahead and nip this in the bud and bring Miles to the dugout with me. Even if she’s not Lucie, I just thought this girl had a light to her…she definitely can’t be my nanny or even friends with my nanny.

“Dad! What are you doing up here?” Miles exclaims, as if it is unbelievable that I came to see him.

“Hey, bud, I came to check on you,” I say as I reach them. I squat at the end of the row so we can be eye level. “I ran into Callie and noticed she was missing her shadow.”

Miles sends his eyes up, looking at the sky. I guess I should be grateful he hasn’t quite mastered the eye roll yet, but the implication of annoyance is thick on his face. “Miss Shannon said I couldn’t be at the first throw, so I’m sitting with Lucie. We met her at the coffee shop, remember?”

The string of curses that go through my head at Miles’s words is stupid.

Of course, this is Lucie. Of course Miles remembers her from the coffee shop. Dammit, dammit, dammit.

I clear my throat as I force myself to look at her. “Yeah, I remember. I’m Dex,” I rasp out. I don’t extend my hand to shake and I hope she doesn’t either. Why didn’t she say anything? Maybe she didn’t realize who I was?

“She knows who you are, Dad,” Miles drawls.

What the fuck? There goes that thought almost immediately.

Is it weird to feel a little betrayed right now? Why I feel that way is probably a road I shouldn’t go down, but damn it, why didn’t she say she knew who I was?

Lucie’s eyes flash wide and pink blushes her cheeks as she quickly turns to Miles.

“Well, I know of your dad, I don’t exactly know him.

Plus, Callie most likely told your dad that I’m Will’s little sister, and while he knows Callie and knows that she wouldn’t leave you with someone unsafe, he doesn’t know me. ”

That’s for damn sure, and now the only thing I need to know about her is that she is indeed Will’s much younger sister. Consider this door closed and locked tight.

Clearing my throat again, I keep my focus on the reason I came here—to check on Miles. “I’m about to go to the dugout if you want to come with me?”

Miles chews on his lip for a moment, but then exclaims, “But I’m having fun with Lucie, can I stay with her, pleeeease ?”

Miles looks back and forth between me and Lucie, his eyes big and pleading. Damn it, why her? What did I do to be put in this situation? The first real candidate I’ve had in months is both my player’s little sister and the girl who captured my attention in one go.

While I’m too busy kicking myself, Lucie speaks up. “I’m having a lot of fun with you too, Miles. I’m happy to have you stay with me, but it could also be really fun in the dugout with your dad. Or even…what did you call it? The photo cave with Callie after the first pitch photos are done.”

“But I’d rather stay with you!” Miles whines.

Fucking hell. Great, now I either get to be the bad guy who forces my son to the dugout or the guy who swallows his fucking pride so his kid can have some fun.

“You’re sure he can sit with you?” My question comes out in a more clipped tone than I intend, but who cares. The door for nanny has been shut.

Lucie finally looks back at me, her blue eyes softening despite my harshness. “It’s okay with me. I’m not sure if Callie told you, but I have my degree in childhood education. I’m also certified in CPR and know the Heimlich Maneuver.”

Is she trying to impress me right now? Is she thinking this is some sort of trial run or something? It wouldn’t surprise me to find out that Callie told her all about me needing a nanny and homeschool teacher. I should have fucking known her gesture at the coffee shop was disingenuous.

“Man, really gunning for the job, aren’t you?”

“Job?” Lucie’s eyebrows pull together as she frowns. “The job of keeping Miles safe during the game? Sure…but, um, if you’re uncomfortable with him sitting with me, I understand.”

Miles turns to me and places his hands on my shoulders. “Daddy, I’m having fun and I really want to stay with Lucie for this game. I’m happy you came to see me, but it’s okay for you to go to work now.”

“Oh, is it now?” Gee, kick me while I’m down, kid.

I spare another glance at Lucie but she doesn’t meet my eyes.

She simply smiles at Miles. I think she’s okay with me leaving too, and that’s a weird feeling to process—they both are okay with me not being here.

Miles leaving me for Callie never made me feel this weird ache in my chest, but somehow this is different and I don’t like it.

I think I want to stay here and talk to her more. Fuck.

“Alright. I’ll give your name to our security team. If you need me, don’t hesitate to come to the dugout.”

Lucie finally looks at me and gives me a curt nod. Why did it have to be her?

I turn to Miles. “And you, behave, please.”

“Okie, see you later!” Miles beams, all too happy to have me leave and not cramp his style.