“It would be a great PR piece for the team if a community leader like you agreed to go on a thank-you date with me for saving my life.”
Her golden-brown eyes swing toward me, but she doesn’t say a word.
Not out loud.
Her eyes are saying plenty.
Most of it boils down toyou truly are a jackass, aren’t you?
“Coach Goldie?” a guy calls behind us. “This guy bothering you?”
We both turn and look at the tall, dark-haired, lanky white guy who also looks weirdly familiar. He has a dark-haired little rugrat hanging onto his long leg, and there’s a curvy woman with a double stroller not far behind him.
“Yes, but I’m fine,” Goldie says. “Thanks, Coach Beck.”
“You sure?”
“He’s one of my brother’s teammates.”
The guy’s eyebrows silently ask Goldie if that’s actually an answer.
“I’m harmless.” I hold up Sweet Pea. “See? Cute dog. I’m a good guy.”
I am not a good guy.
But I’m notthatkind of a bad guy.
“He’s asking my opinion on what he should do with his mustache,” Goldie says. “And he didn’t like it when I said he can’t grow another dog on his upper lip.”
Coach Beck snickers.
So do two women approaching with their kids.
“Can you say that again on camera?” I ask her. “That’ll be gold on my socials.”
“Absolutely not. That was incredibly unkind of me, and I shouldn’t have said it.”
“It was bloody funny.”
Her face scrunches up like she’s wondering what the hell’s wrong with me.
And then she shakes her head. “Have a good practice, Coach Beck,” she calls.
He nods to her, apparently deciding she has me well in hand. “You here through the end of the season?”
“Yep.”
“Sarah and I have to have you over for dinner before you leave. The girls are gonna miss you.”
“I’d love that. Thank you.” She waves, bends over to wiggle her fingers specifically at the tiny human clinging to the man’s leg, then heads back toward the parking lot.
I tag along. “Old boyfriend?”
“Former underwear model, actually. I taught him to coach three-year-olds last spring. Lovely wife. Cute kids.”
I can’t tell if she’s serious. “Where are you going at the end of the season?”
“New job.”
