“How do you know you’re in love with her?” he presses.
“Coach, are you ... looking for relationship advice?”
He laughs and scrubs a hand down his face. “Fuck no, and if I was, I wouldn’t be asking you, Beaumont. Just answer the question.”
I can’t hesitate, and sure as hell can’t mention anything sexual, but the only thing running through my mind is Isaac spitting out inappropriate answers to the question.
“She’s my favorite person,” I say, forcing Isaac’s face from my mind. “She’s funny and sharp and she calls me out on my shit. I’d rather sit on the couch and watch a movie with her than go out with the guys. I’m not sleeping because I’m so wrecked over her job interview in Salt Lake City.”
“What if you get tired of her after a month?”
“Coach, I don’t get tired of Talia. We’ve spent a lot of time being together around the clock, and it just makes not being with her that much worse. She loves hockey and is so damn good at what she does that she’s increased my range of motion.”
“So you like that she’s part of your world?”
I hesitate. “Sorry, that’s making me think of The Little Mermaid.”
He drops his brows, aggravated. “Stay on track, Beaumont. Did she say how the interview went?”
“Great, of course. Who wouldn’t want to hire her? Some Mormon will probably be trying to make my girl his fourth wife by this time next week.”
Coach ignores my comment. “I may have a way to keep her in Cleveland.”
I lean forward slightly, waiting for him to say more.
“That would be great. What is it?”
He puts his hand up—his way of saying, not so fast, I’m not done explaining. I’ve seen this move many times.
“What matters most is what she wants. I’m not going to try to pressure her into anything. If this Salt Lake City job ends up being what she wants, that’s where she’ll be going.”
I shift in my seat, irritated. “What makes you think I want anyone to force her into anything? She’s her own person, it’s her decision.”
“If she stays and then things go bad between you guys, that’s gonna fall back on you. That’s why I’m trying to find out how serious you are about her.”
“I’m very serious. I’d never take advantage of your daughter. I was afraid to even touch her for a while, because?—”
He gives me his palm again. “Don’t ever mention you touching my daughter again, Beaumont. I would’ve put my entire foot up your ass already, but I like the way you took care of her in Hawaii. You must care about her to give up your break to be there with her. And then you stayed at Isaac’s for a few days to keep her out of the spotlight.”
“Did she tell you what a slob he is?”
Coach shakes his head. “No one needs to tell me. I imagine his house has the piano from the movie Big, a TV, a bunch of gumball machines, and nothing else.”
“You’re not far off.”
He gives me a pointed look, putting his lower arms on the desk. “This stays between you and me only. Are we clear?”
“Yes, Coach. It won’t leave this room.”
“Isaac and Melina went to McClain and made the case for us to create a team position for Talia. She wouldn’t be Melina’s assistant, but they’d work together. Melina would pass some of her duties on to Talia, and they’d work together to create some new work for her.”
I didn’t even think this was an option. Not only could Talia stay in Cleveland, but she could stay with the team. It’s a great idea, because she’s good at what she does and would be an asset to the team, and she and I could still be together.
“I take back what I said about Isaac being a slob. I can’t believe he and Melina did that.”
“Melina asked me if it was okay first. I told her I can’t be a part of asking our team owner to create a job for my daughter, but I wasn’t going to stop her from doing it. She and Isaac got it done.”
“That’s great news. When can we tell Talia?”
