Page 30 of The Ex Next Door (Charming, Texas #8)

“I was surprised to get your call. But can I just say I’m ecstatic?”

“Let’s not get ahead of ourselves,” Declan said, leaning back in his chair. “I said I’d consider this.”

After months, he was in the office of the principal of Charming High School, Tyrone “Ty” Jefferson, who also happened to be a former classmate.

He was four years ahead of Declan in school, but they’d played varsity baseball together.

Unlike Declan, Ty also played football and was in fact an all-star.

After a short career in college football with the Crimson Tide, Ty had quickly advanced through school administration and eventually returned to Charming.

Ever since he realized Declan had quit teaching in Houston, he’d been trying to recruit him back into the fold.

“You’ll find it’s different here.” Ty ran a hand through his dark close-cropped hair. “Not that I haven’t lost a few teachers over the years due to both retirement and burnout. But we’re a smaller high school, lots of parental support and an exceptional safety record.”

“We had great security at my school in Houston, too,” Declan reminded him.

It was the only reason his student’s father hadn’t been able to get far.

He’d been tackled by the peace officer on- site who’d risked his life to save the kids.

From time to time, Declan still pictured the day’s events and how easily it could have all gone sideways.

The man was looking for Declan, and if he’d known that, he would have presented himself front and center.

But how many innocents might have been caught in the crossfire?

They’d never know, and he thanked God for that every day.

“It’s a different world now, isn’t it?” Ty said, tugging on his tie. “We should probably all get hazard pay.”

“Yep.” Declan nodded. “But I’d like to hear more about the position.”

For a week after the school-related incident, Declan had trouble leaving the house.

Then, when he did, he kept a loaded handgun in his glove compartment.

It wasn’t unheard of in Texas to carry, but he wasn’t into hunting or shooting the way some of his old friends were.

The handgun was protection for himself and others.

He considered it a major achievement the day he’d locked it up for good and put it high on a shelf of his closet.

He’d never gone back to teaching at the high school, however, feeling maybe everyone would be safer without him around.

In the aftermath, the student and his family had moved out of the area for a fresh start.

Let’s just say some staff remained unhappy with Declan and the loss of their star player.

Which meant he’d been working at the Salty Dog Bar & Grill now for close to three years.

Huh. He’d never planned for it to be that long.

It was to be a temporary stop while he considered his options.

Either he went back to teaching somewhere else, went back to school for a graduate degree or went out for a minor league team and hit the road.

That last one didn’t have much appeal for a man who wanted a family sooner rather than later.

And all this time, his father had hammered away in his ear like a woodpecker, trying to drill into him that he still had work to do.

Important work. Yeah, Declan got it. Or maybe he’d finally simply accepted the fact that he wanted more out of life.

That he was done with one bad experience coloring his entire view.

He loved kids, and given his experience with David and Naomi in particular, they didn’t have to be his own flesh and blood.

He loved teaching and coaching, given his propensity to do both even off the field.

Maybe Amy was right. You’re a born coach, Declan.

Just like his father.

But hey, if he could program a running recording of affirmations into a young person, whether it be his own child or another’s, maybe he could do some greater good in the world.

Maybe that kid with the positive encouragement running in his head 24/7 wouldn’t choose violence when he ran into a problem.

Ty continued to discuss in depth the position as an AP calculus teacher he was recruiting and took Declan through a tour of the building.

The gym was new, and the fields freshly chalked.

Outside, those fields smelled like fresh-cut grass, spring and the middle of the season.

He met teachers, some who’d taught him in their first years, now suddenly not all that much older than Declan.

His coach, of course, had retired years ago and the school hadn’t found a good replacement.

“That’s where you come in,” Ty said. “I’ll be honest. With your name and experience behind us, I feel like the Charming Mustangs could go all the way next season.”

“What do you think the team morale is like right now?”

“Honestly, I’d have to say it’s at an all-time low.”

“Sounds like I’d have my work cut out for me.”

“We do have a few good players. I mean really good. One of them reminds me of you, but let’s just say, he’s not Irish,” Ty joked. “More like me.”

Declan chuckled. The year he belonged to the team, he was practically the only white player, surrounded by Latinos and African Americans who’d been playing the sport as long as he’d been.

“For his sake, I hope his head is not nearly as big and swollen as mine was in high school. I think the only thing that kept me levelheaded was my girlfriend.”

“Ah, yes. Amy. Who could forget the two of you, walking through the halls like you had matching halos.” Ty elbowed him.

“Yeah, Amy was the only one of us that deserved that halo.”

“If I recall, you two were voted Most Likely to Be Married.” Ty quirked a brow. “You missed that boat, didn’t you?”

Declan smiled and shook his head but didn’t say a word.

Not yet, Ty. Not yet.

“I guess I don’t have to tell you about my experience with grade expectations.

The truth is, I won’t give in to pressure.

If a kid doesn’t deserve a passing grade, he’s not getting one from me.

If that means he’s benched, so be it. If I accept the position, I’m going to demand your full support and that of the administrative staff. ”

Ty nodded and fist-bumped with Declan. “Not a problem. We do it differently here in Charming. And though I wouldn’t say this in front of my boosters, high school football isn’t everything.”

Declan chuckled. “Just don’t say that too loudly.”

They left the meeting with Ty expressing his intent to send an offer of employment and Declan promising to give it full consideration.

Maybe he was finally on the way to bridging that gap that for so long had held him from moving forward.

As his father continually instructed him and Finn early on: the only person who can truly hold you back is the same one you’ll see in the mirror.

Tonight was the rec team practice for David, so he drove straight there after his meeting.

Amy would be there early with the kids so that he could go over a few drills with David and maybe throw the ball a bit beforehand.

Naomi would no doubt bring her book and Declan smiled at the thought of the girl who reminded him so much of Amy.

He hadn’t told Amy about the interview with Tyrone or the fact he was actually considering going back to teaching and coaching.

They had so much going on right now with the kids getting used to their father being in a relationship with someone new.

He wouldn’t blame Amy for wanting to hold off on telling them about what they’d started up again.

The most important thing to Declan was that she knew he was all in.

But the last thing Declan wanted was to hurt these kids any more than they’d already been by the loss of the home they’d had for the first formative years of their lives.

They were still adjusting and coping with their new reality.

Last night, Amy had texted him about David. He wasn’t much happier with his father than he’d been the day at the park. If anything, she’d said, his attitude had worsened.

He saw Amy turn when she heard his truck drive in the lot and park, and the smile she gave him lit up a flame in his heart.

She had so quickly become…everything. He knew he’d walk through fire for her without a second thought and for her children because they were a part of her.

He tugged off the tie he’d worn to his interview and rolled up his sleeves.

It was David who reached him first, running up to him. “Dec! We’re doing a scrimmage today with another team.”

“Oh yeah? That ought to be fun.” He tousled David’s hair.

Amy and Naomi brought up the rear.

“Hi, Declan!” Naomi said, waving.

“Hey there.”

Declan followed Amy’s lead when it came to PDA. If it were up to him, he’d put his arm around her, but he had no idea what she’d told the kids and after the display at the park he’d wait for a sign. He didn’t have to be a Neanderthal who would claim his woman.

“Do you think they’re ready for that? A scrimmage?” Amy said, holding Naomi’s hand.

“Usually that term is used with football because of the scrimmage line. But yeah, a scrimmage is just a pretend game, like a practice for the real thing. It’s good experience, right?”

“Yeah.” David bobbed his head. “I tried to tell her.”

Declan reached in the cab of his truck and pulled out his old glove. “This is the one I was telling you about.”

“Whoa,” David said, almost reverently. “Is that the one you used when you pitched in college?”

“That’s right.” He slipped it on and strolled toward the field. “Walk with me.”

He practiced catch with David for at least thirty minutes under the clear blue sky and then the rest of the team began to arrive. Matthew, David’s pal, rushed right up to them and joined in. A self-assured man followed him wearing a business suit complete with red power tie.

He stood behind Declan and offered his hand. “I’m Mark Burrows, Matthew’s father.”