Page 7

seven

Miles

“ A ll right, kids, skate from goal to goal three times. Go!”

That should tire them out a little.

Who am I kidding? It’s not even going to deplete their ever-refilling reserves of energy.

It’s been a long time since I’ve been around young kids this much, and after just an hour, I’m beat. I’m going to propose a raise for our K through five teachers. They’re the freaking heroes of the teaching world.

Although middle schoolers are pretty tough.

The ones in high school are mostly little assholes.

So, all in all, there are various ranges of suckage.

“We’re done!” Ethan says as he skates up to me, struggling to catch his breath.

Next in the line is Joe, who cracks me up because he’s a total natural with skating. However, he has zero hand-eye coordination when it comes to the puck. The kid can do figure eights around the ice, but put that stick in his hand and forget it. I’m not sure how to tell his parents that maybe figure skating would be more his speed.

“You’re done, huh? What about your teammates?” I ask the boys as they’re starting to approach.

“They’re slow,” Ethan notes. “No one can catch me.”

“And that earned you another lap. Teamwork is everything, and you never leave your team behind. Go.” I point to the other side .

Now he’ll be last.

The next kid to approach is Kai. He’s getting better and better each time he gets on the ice. “Done, Coach.”

“Good job.”

“I tried,” he says in between panting.

I laugh a little as he drops his head, pulling in huge gasps of air. “I’m proud of you, Kai. You’re giving it your all.”

“Mom says I have to try my best. Otherwise, what’s the point of doing it?”

“I like that. She’s right.”

My gaze moves to the stands, where she sits each practice. Today she’s wearing a pair of leggings and a tank top with a sweatshirt that falls off one shoulder. Her auburn hair is pulled up on her head, and I swear no woman has ever looked more beautiful to me.

Penelope’s gaze finds mine and she smiles before waving. As I go to lift my hand, I see Kai waving frantically at his mother and thankfully don’t make a freaking fool of myself because I thought she was waving at me.

When I glance back down at him, his gaze meets mine. “Do I need to do another lap too, Coach Miles?”

“No, buddy, you’re good.”

He grins. “Can we hit the puck at you again?”

There is zero doubt what their favorite part of the clinic is. Try to hit the coach as goalie.

“We can. Let me get my gear.”

I head to the side area, and Penny is standing there, having moved from the stands. “Hey.”

“Hey.” She smiles and my chest tightens.

Fucking hell. I really need to get it together or I’m going to look like an idiot. Well, more of an idiot than I do at the end of each practice.

“Everything okay?”

She nods. “Yeah, just wanted to see if practice was almost over? I have to get to work.”

I glance down at my watch. We’re already five minutes over. “Shit. Sorry I ran a little late. We’re almost done. I was just about to start their favorite part of the day. ”

She grins. “Ahh, it’s when you stand in the goal and they just continue to hit you with pucks?”

“That’s it.” I start pulling my gear on, not that it helps, because the fuckers always manage to find an open spot.

I wasn’t a goalie, but Doug was, and I’m using his stuff—only he’s a good four inches shorter than me, so I have some exposed areas.

“Well, I’ll let you get to it. I’ll just need to grab Kai as soon as I can. I would take him now, but I’m pretty sure he’ll never forgive me.”

“If you need to go, I can bring him to you.”

Her eyes widen. “Oh, no, that’s okay. I can call Hazel.”

“Penny, it’s really no big deal. I’ll get the boys done and bring Kai to you. I’ll even share my location with you so you can watch us drive to you.”

She pulls her lower lip between her teeth. “I don’t know ...”

“I’ve had about six thousand background checks between the marines and the schools. I have been left in command of thousands of kids, and I’m just an overall good guy. I promise, he’s safe with me. Eloise would never leave Ethan with me if I wasn’t capable.”

I normally don’t have to beg to let me help them. In Ember Falls, it’s usually the other way. I have to say no, because otherwise I’d be a damn nanny all summer. Which is what I think Eloise has basically decided I am.

There’s a flash of panic in her eyes; then she closes them, inhales, and blows out a long breath. Glances down at her phone and then to me. “All right. I really can’t be late. I know Hazel is great, but I can’t push it. You’re sure?”

“I promise. What’s your phone number?”

Her brow lifts. “Is this a ploy?”

“Completely,” I confess. Only half joking. “No, it’s so I can share my location, remember, that was part of the deal?”

“Right, part of the deal.”

I flash my signature smile, but before she can agree, which I’m pretty sure she’s going to, one of the impatient children decides to ruin my game .

“Coach Miles! We’re ready!” Joe yells. No doubt Ethan put him up to it.

“Relax, I’ll let you have an extra three hits if you don’t ask again.”

“Each?” Ethan does speak up this time.

I swear, that kid is going to be the death of me. “If you behave!”

I go back to Penelope, who is trying to suppress her grin. “Now where were we?”

The laugh she was holding back comes out. “Sorry, I just ... now I don’t know that I want to leave and miss this.”

“I won’t go out there until you’re gone.”

“Oh?”

“Nope. It’s contingent upon me having to drive Kai to you.”

She purses her lips. “Hmm, well, in that case, I wouldn’t want to deprive the children of their fun.”

“Yeah, it’s all about their needs,” I agree, but the sarcasm is dripping from each syllable.

“All right, I’ll text you so you have my number.” She grabs her phone out of her purse and I give her my number. “I just texted you. I should go. Thank you for doing this and don’t forget to share your location or I’ll be a nervous wreck.”

I laugh. “Not a problem.”

Penelope waves at Kai, who waves back, and then dashes out, almost as though she wouldn’t really go if she didn’t run.

I skate out to the kids with my ill-fitting goalie gear and sigh. “All right, you little ankle biters, it’s time for the make-a-goal game.” They all yell with an extreme amount of enthusiasm. “Settle down. Today instead of five chances, you each get an extra three. Now, the rules today are like normal, except you can’t hit someone else’s puck if you think they have a better shot at hitting me, okay? We’ll line up and have two rows.”

The boys probably didn’t listen to a word I said past the extra shots, but last practice, one of the kids gave his turn to Ethan because he’s got deadly aim. It’s why I have a cup on this time.

I get in my spot and they let me have it. I block quite a few, which makes me feel pretty proud, but both kids go at the same time, so there’s really no chance to focus. It’s all instinct and reflexes.

After, all the kids yell and skate around. It’s fun, and this is what I wish I remembered about playing hockey .

The friendship and the way the sport just made me laugh. By the end of my time, it was all about numbers and injuries and the never-ending bullshit about what I was actually worth. I just realized that winning was all the coaches put worth in—not me.

But these kids, they don’t know a damn thing about that, and I hope they always love days like this.

“All right, I’ll see you in a few days. Go home, shower, drink some water, and be ready for our next skill lesson,” I say as I herd them off the ice. “Kai, I’m going to take you to Prose & Perk. Your mom didn’t want to be late.”

“Cool! Thanks, Coach!”

I nod once and then start to remove all the pads.

“What I wouldn’t give to be able to shoot some pucks at your head,” Eloise chimes in as I’m pulling my skates off.

I stand and scoff. “Please, you have zero athletic ability.”

“I have enough rage, though.”

That part is true. “I still feel pretty safe.”

She shrugs and then yells for her son. “Ethan! Get your shoes on, we aren’t hanging around. I need to get home before Cora wakes up!”

“You left the baby with Doug?” I ask, questioning my sister’s decision-making skills.

“Gran is there, and even if she wasn’t, Doug is just fine watching the baby. He’s a great dad, just not a great hockey player.”

I toss my shit in my bag and throw it over my shoulder. My sister falls in step beside me as we head to where all the kids are.

“No, he’s really not, but I give him an A for effort.”

“How magnanimous of you. God knows you were always stingy with the As.”

I grin. I really was. I loved that about myself. “Anyway, why did you want to pick up Ethan and not have me drive him as part of my penance?”

“I needed to leave the freaking house.”

“So it wasn’t because I’m finally forgiven for breaking your husband’s leg and you just wanted to see me?” I ask.

“Not a chance in hell.”

I laugh and pull her against me, kissing the top of her head. “No matter how old we get, Weezy, you’ll always be my favorite person to annoy.”

She pushes away from me and shudders. “You’re gross.”

“You love me.”

“Because I have no choice. We shared a womb.”

“You’re welcome for not ingesting you and allowing you to be the mole on my ass.”

Eloise makes a gagging noise. “I swear, you need a priest or a therapist. Maybe both.”

Ethan and Kai come running over. “Can I go with Uncle Miles?” Ethan asks my sister.

“Not this time.”

We say goodbye and I get Kai in the car. “Ready?”

“Ready.”

We head from the Ember Falls Recreation Area up and over to Main Street, where Prose & Perk is located. It’s no more than a ten-minute drive.

“So how are you liking Ember Falls?”

“I love it here! I hope we get to stay. Ethan is my new friend and I like Joe too. Kyle is kind of weird, but today he was nice.”

I let out a short laugh. “He’s got six older brothers who like to give him crap. He’s usually the lowest man on the list and is trying to see if he can outrank someone. Don’t take it to heart.”

“I won’t.”

“Good. Did you play hockey where you lived before?”

Kai shakes his head. “Nope. I skated with Uncle Quinn once, but I didn’t play. I like to watch it, though. Mom will make popcorn and let me stay up when her favorite team is on.”

“Yeah? Who is her favorite team?”

“The Red Wings.”

I can get with that. “I like them too.”

“Who is your favorite?”

“I loved the Devils. My gran is from New Jersey, and she made sure we loved all her teams. Do you like football?”

He shakes his head. “We only like hockey.”

“I see, well, it is the best sport. Other than Ultimate Frisbee. That’s one that everyone would love if they ever got to see it. ”

Kai looks slightly confused but doesn’t say anything. Which I’m grateful for, since my sister and Doug have no shortage of commentary regarding my new sport.

We pull up in front of Prose & Perk, and Kai and I head in. He’s telling me about his new room and how he really wants to put a gaming system in there, but his mom said no.

“You’re here.” Penelope lets out a long sigh of relief as she comes around the counter. “I wasn’t worried or anything.”

“Of course you weren’t,” I say with a grin.

She smiles back at me and then pulls Kai to her chest. “Why don’t you go in the back room, put the TV on, and I’ll get some food for you.”

He looks crestfallen and I feel bad. It can’t be a fun way to spend your summer, cooped up in the back room of a coffee shop. “Do I have to?” he asks.

“You know the rules. I’m only here for a few more hours, and then tomorrow I’m off.”

Kai looks up at me. “Thanks for today, Coach.”

“Sure thing.”

Without any complaints, he heads into the back, leaving me with Penny.

“Thank you for bringing him. Hazel had to run an errand and I said I’d cover, but practice and ... well, you know.”

“I’m sorry it ran over.”

She shakes her head. “No, no, it’s not a big deal. I just appreciate you helping.”

“That’s what we do here. It’s all part of the small-town charm.”

Penny smiles and tucks her hair behind her ear. “Well, thank you again.”

I lean in against the counter, doing my best to look suave. “Can you make me one of those foam cold brews I love so much?” I ask.

“Of course and it’s on me,” Penelope says quickly.

Not a chance in hell I’m going to let her pay, but she turns around quickly, grabbing the supplies to make the coffee I’ll toss as soon as I get home.

I drink about three sips to make it look like I love it, but . . . ugh. It’s still nasty .

As she has her back turned, I go in for the real question that keeps me up at night. “So have you thought about it?”

“About what?”

“Going on a date with me?” I flash her a smile.

Penny laughs. “I have, but I don’t think you’ll like the answer.”

“Then don’t give it to me.”

“Why is that?” She hands me the coffee.

“It just means you haven’t thought hard enough if the answer is no. See, I have a lot of really great reasons why the answer should be yes.” I force a sip down, letting the time pass so I can be around her longer.

“And what are those?” she asks, and suddenly my playful idea seems dumb. I have no idea if my reasons are great, but I know I like this girl and I want to at least see if there’s something between us.

I tick them off on my fingers. “I have a great job, financially secure, which is a very good indicator of responsibility.”

She snorts a laugh through her nose. “That is one good thing, sure.”

“I’m good with kids, again, a sign of a good man.”

“You work with kids, doesn’t mean you’re good with them,” Penny tosses back.

“I’d like to disagree based on the fact that your son thinks I’m a great coach. If I wasn’t good with the kids, they wouldn’t want to be around me.”

Penelope lifts one shoulder. “Okay, I’ll give you that one. Kai and Ethan both seem to adore you, but you know, six-year-olds are pretty easy to win over.”

“Well, you see a lot of my high schoolers, poll them on whether they think I’m a cool principal or not.”

If those kids ruin my game, they’ll be in detention. Not really, but I’ll threaten it, at least. Or just remove their ice-cream machine and watch anarchy descend in the lunchroom. Although that might bite me in the ass more than them. I’ll find something to punish them. I’m pretty confident that won’t be the case, though, because my students actually do like me, for the most part.

“I’ll do that. ”

“So, like I said, think some more until you come up with the right decision.”

Penelope leans in, and her smile brightens her beautiful eyes. “And what if the answer is still not what you’re hoping for?”

I grin. “Then I’ll have to come up with more of my glowing attributes to sway you. Besides, we’re practically dating as it is.”

She leans back. “We are?”

“Yup. We’ve had coffee almost daily, we spend three days a week together with Kai, went for ice cream, and I walked you home that one time. So I’m counting at least six dates.”

“Umm, this is my place of employment. That doesn’t mean we’re dating because you come in here to get coffee.” Her smile is just starting to form at the end.

“Semantics.”

She shakes her head. “Okay, as for your other times, you’re the coach of Kai’s team, so yes, I see you those days, and ice cream was with the kids ... those weren’t dates.”

I stand straight and smile. “If you say so. I see them as dates, and so far, you’ve been pretty happy each time that we’ve spent time together.”

Penny laughs and crosses her arms over her chest. “You’re ridiculous.”

I tilt my head. “The word you were looking for was relentless , and I’ll see you in a few days with Kai.”

“For practice.”

“It’s a date.” I wink and then walk out, hopefully leaving her at least smiling.