Page 55 of More, Daddy

At one point, I was so eager (maybe desperateis a better word?) to see her that I contemplated asking Leah of her whereabouts. After (thankfully) running through howthatwould play out in my mind, I decided against it.

Now I’m raging at a red light, so fucking eager to get home and see if she’s online that I can hardly focus on anything else.

When Tanner Colt came into the training room with his mom after practice today, I just about said a prayer aloud when Dean came in and played middle man.

Because I am not just a coach or teacher, I don’t have to take my laptop home every night like the others do. I have a desktop in my office, in addition to the laptop. The desktop is connected to the intranet, and even though I never saw her during the day, I did see that she was online. She didn’t message me, so I didn’t message her.

But now it’s after school hours. After football hours, after training and cheer hours.

Now, it’s our time.

I throw my truck in park and don’t even bother locking it as I hightail it up my old porch stairs, kicking my front door shut behind me. It’s a blur—getting home is nothing but a series of memorized movements and habits, until the microwave is whirring as it reheats a meal, and my laptop is open and on.

CCaine

OMG

I wanted to see you today so bad

My chest caves as her words sink in, golden and heavy. She felt that same gut-twisting unease today, and a dark, quiet satisfaction hums deep in my bones.

WDupont

I looked for you every time I walked the campus

While also trying to act like I wasn’t looking for anyone

CCaine

Students were in trouble almost every period today

Something must be in the water

I held at least a handful of students over during every passing period as punishment

The worst thing you can do to a teenager is take away their socializing and gossip time. Teachers, while ultimately powerless most of the time, will inflict a passing period infraction on students who are poorly behaved and don’t give a shit about the threat of detention. It means that they’ll be late to their next class, as they have to spend the passing period in their seat with their head down.

They don’t care about other students seeing them punished. All they care about is themselves, and their precious seven minutes of gossip and bullshit as they drag themselves to the next class.

Knowing this, I think about the fatigue she must feel after such a long day.

CCaine

Thankfully my junior coach is a great ally

Couldn’t have got through my day without her

Her junior coach. For a moment, I wrack my brain, seeing faces, a list of names—Briar is her junior coach, I think. Maven maybe? I don’t know if I’ve ever talked to either ofthem, not really. I’m glad Cadence had one of them today, though.

WDupont

Glad you had her as an asset

CCaine

She really is a great girl

My fingers hover over the keyboard. I don’t really know what else to say. I don’t know her junior coach and right now, after having a hard-on for Cadence all goddamn day and not getting to lay eyes on her, I don’t care.