I bit the inside of my cheek to keep from smiling or laughing, needing to maintain a straight face. This boy knew exactly what time he needed to be at the gym tonight for the game. And when the door to the girls’ locker room opened and Eleni stuck her head out, I knew I was right in my assumption.
“Ms. Chen,” I said, giving her a nod. She blushed, ducked back inside, and closed the door.
I glanced at Cutter, who suddenly had a fascination with the floor. I didn’t know much about the Vaughn household, but I suspected Cutter’s father wasn’t in the picture. Being a meddler had never been my forte because I respected people’s privacy. I feared, though, thatCutter needed a male role model, someone to guide him through these building hormones.
“If you ever need to talk, my office door is always open,” I told him. “You can also text me.”
He nodded. “Thanks, Coach.”
The bell rang, saving us both from any awkwardness. I watched as the kids filed out of the locker rooms, but I mostly kept my attention on Cutter and Eleni. High school was already hard enough, but adding in teenage hormones made life seem like hell. I remembered, all too well, my first girlfriend, who eventually became my wife. I shuddered to think what our children would’ve been like if we’d had any. We would’ve ended up being the kind of parents who said, “Do as we say, not as we do.”
I continued to stand in the hall, monitoring the students as they made their way to their next classes. Locker doors slapped, voices carried, and current and former kids said hi as they walked by. I had to issue a few warnings about roughhousing in the hall, but overall, the transition from one class to another was easy.
Generally, I gave the kids three minutes to get changed and be on the court for class. This was the time I stopped in my office, checked my phone for any important texts, and used the teachers-only bathroom. If all went as planned, my next class would be in the gym when I came out.
Class after class went off without any issues. Everyone enjoyed a relaxing day of dodgeball. Did the game have any purpose? Not really, but the students enjoyed it, and it was one of those games that allowed you to let out a ton of energy. It was better than running, in my opinion. And it was nice to break away from the curriculum every now and again.
I finished up my attendance reports for the day, late as usual, and shut my light off. I would be back in a couple of hours for tonight’s basketball game.
This was my third year coaching varsity basketball, and the only reason I had the job was that the former coach had walked off the court,mid-game, three years ago. I was the assistant at the time, filling space during the winter months while I waited for baseball season to start.
My first year as head coach was rocky, and we lost all but three or four games. The next year had been marginally better, but this year had been vastly different.
The Grove Hill Timberwolves were undefeated.
At the core, this team had heart and determination. They played well together, worked as a team, and were never hard on one another. If one boy struggled, the others stepped up.
Tonight, they faced a crosstown rival. Between the two teams, most of the boys knew each other because they all played travel ball together. They were friends until they stepped onto the court.
In hours, the stands would be filled with parents, friends, and family, and the student section would come to life. Cheerleaders would guide their classmates in cheers while the Timberwolves played to packed stands.
It was games like tonight that electrified me as a coach and them as players. The gym would be loud, with students standing up the entire game. Nothing excited me more than looking into the stands to see the signs people had made or those fat heads that parents had printed off. Although some of them were rather scary looking.
As I headed out of my office and toward the parking lot, I saw my favorite student with his arm leaning against a pole with his girlfriend next to him. Cutter was smooth, I’d give him that, but I feared he’d find himself in a situation he wasn’t ready to be in.
“See you tonight, Mr. Vaughn. Five thirty,” I reminded him as I walked by. He had a ton of potential to take his game to the next level, and I wasn’t about to see him throw it away.
I was in a damned-if-you-do, damned-if-you-don’t situation. As much as I wanted Cutter, along with my other students, to succeed, it wasn’t my business. The last thing I wanted was to be told I was overstepping. All I could do was offer an ear and some sage advice if he asked.
I hoped like hell he’d ask.
Chapter 3
Antonia
My stomach clenched as I pulled into the hospital parking lot. I told myself there was nothing seriously wrong with Miri because this wasn’t some state-of-the-art hospital. Honestly, it was nothing compared to the medical facilities we had in Boston. If Miri was truly sick, I would have packed her things and moved her and the kids to my place.
I walked through the lobby with my phone pressed to my ear, acting like I owned the place. My ankle-length peacoat flowed behind me as I undid my scarf. “Hey, what floor and what room?” I asked as soon as Miri answered.
“Five,” she said, her voice hoarse. I prayed it was just from lack of sleep and nothing more.
It couldn’t possibly be anything else.
I jabbed my finger repeatedly against the elevator button, knowing full well it wouldn’t make the car arrive any faster. Still, it felt satisfying to do it.
“Okay, I’m on my way,” I said before hanging up just as the elevator door opened. I stepped inside, pushed the button for the fifth floor, and then pressed the door-hold button for someone shouting, “Hold the door!”
A doctor stepped in, slightly out of breath. He smiled kindly at me but didn’t press a button for a floor. “Thank you,” he said with a nod. “Sometimes these elevators are so slow.”
