Page 4 of Dirty Coach To Go

But then Coach smiles.

“I miss having you on my team, Tess. It’s not the same without my star player,” he says lightly. Of course, I wasn’treallythe star player of our team – in fact, I was probably the worst player on the team – but that never stopped the heartthrob coach from believing in me.

“I’m sure the team’s doing just fine without me,” I laugh breathlessly. As he stands beside the table, I inhale the aroma of his cologne. It’s his favorite scent; I even bought him a bottle for his birthday last year. It’s musky, masculine, and a total aphrodisiac. My insides feel like they’re melting.

Suddenly, a voice interrupts, jerking me out of my trance.

“Tessa,” snaps Bobby. Oh shit. I’d forgotten all about my dreadful date. Ugh.

“Oh … hey, Bobby,” I say, practically choking on the words. I’m a bit flustered and still pretty wet. Being around Coach always got me hot and bothered, but I can’t let Bobby see me lusting after Sunnyside’s athletic director. That’s how rumors get started, after all. “You remember Coach Mason, right?”

“Yeah,” Bobby says while extending his hand out toward the older man. “How have you been, Coach?” Mason takes Bobby’s palm and smiles genially. I can’t help but notice how Coach towers over Bobby, even though the teen boy is a football player.

“I’m great. How are you? How’s college?” Coach Mason asks.

“Pretty good. I’m playing football at one of the top schools in the country,” Bobby brags. God. This again.

But Mason is kind.

“Good for you. Well, I need to get back to my date, but hopefully I’ll see you around, Tessa,” Coach Mason says as he places his hand on my back one last time. Sparks fly, but they’re cut short as jealousy courses through my veins.Date? What the hell?

Immediately, I’m crushed. Even though I know he must be popular with the ladies, it’s still awful to know that he has an actualdate.

I turn and watch as Coach walks over to a table where a pretty blonde woman is seated.Shit. My heart sinks, and I feel sick to my stomach. While I’m stuck over here with Bobby, she gets to make kissy-face with the man my heart desires. I fight back tears as I sink into my chair.

“Do you know what you want?” Bobby asks with no real interest in knowing the answer.

“Yeah,” I reply with a lump in my throat. “A burger.” This date just got ten times worse.

“Cool. Me too,” Bobby says as he stares at his cellphone. He’s not making eye contact with me, and he didn’t even apologize for being almost an hour late. What a jerk.

“Are you ready to order now?” our waitress asks.

“Yeah, I’ll have the Texan Burger,” Bobby says with his eyes still locked on his screen, his finger moving in a blur. Our waitress rolls her eyes as she jots down his order.

“Can I have the double patty melt, please?” I politely ask.

“Right away,” she says, flashing me a smile.

I glance at Coach Mason and his golden-haired date. They seem to be having a better conversation than Bobby and I are. She laughs hysterically as he tells her a story. He always has a funny anecdote up his sleeve; it’s just part of his charm. He could make the most serious nun in a Catholic school crack a smile.

God, I wishIwas the one sitting across from him laughing at his witty tale. But instead, I’m sitting across from this acne-ridden boy, who seems to be more concerned with whatever is on his phone instead of me. Bobby hasn’t said a word since arriving, which is all the better, come to think of it.

Even worse, I can’t help but sneak glances at Coach Mason and his date. Who is that blonde? Does she know how lucky she is? Coach is probably the sexiest man alive and I’d love to see him naked. Is that what she’s going to be treated to later tonight? Envy fills my veins and I can feel my skin turning green. He’s so close, yet so far away.

But I have to suck it up because I have no other choice. After all, what can I do? Sashay right up to Mason’s table and blow him a kiss? Touch his knee suggestively under the table while sliding my hand higher? It’s totally inappropriate, but that’s what I’d love to do… and more.

3

Mason

Iglance back at the buxom eighteen-year-old with the curls that spring with every step she takes. Damn, I’ve never seen her look so good. She’s always been beautiful, but she’s a woman now, and it shows. I can’t believe she’s on a date with that little turd, Bobby Frazier. I used to listen in disgust as he would gossip like a teenage girl in the locker room about his conquests. Tessa doesn’t need a guy like that; she needs a man to nurture her and help her grow. That asshole would destroy her self-esteem.

I admire her voluptuous body from a distance. She’s gained a few pounds, and she’s wearing them flawlessly. I try not to stare too hard at my former student athlete, but I’ve always had trouble keeping my eyes off of that teenage tease. Out of all of the girls I’ve ever coached, Tessa is my favorite. Something about her is special to me. She has a light about her that the superficial women I’ve dated have never possessed.

I was hoping I’d run into my sweet softball star this summer, but I hate that our encounter had to be so brief. I guess it’s a good thing that douche Bobby showed up or else I would’ve forgotten I was supposed to be on a date with Violet. The vibrant blonde seems to have no idea that Tessa has roamed through my mind for our entire date. I just couldn’t shake the image of her in that floral dress out of my head. Whenever Violet wasn’t looking, I’d snuck glances at the gorgeous brunette.

Wanting Tessa like this is wrong – she’s my former student for crying out loud. But she’s a grown woman now, a college student venturing off into adulthood. For two years, I fought my feelings for her because I couldn’t blur the line of our relationship. The curvy teenager was just a kid, and I was her mentor, her guide. Her parents and the school had entrusted her to my care, so to fantasize about the girl was taboo. I’d never touched her, but I could feel myself falling for my softball player.