“Good job out there today, kiddo.”
“I was wondering when you were going to come say hi.”
“Bella,” Natalie scolds.
“Thanks, Coach. We lost, though.”
I nod. “But I bet you learned something either way. That’s winning in my eyes. You lost the game but learned a lesson. Next time, bring the lesson to the game. We’ll do better.”
She takes my words, puckering her lips and nodding with furrowed brows. “So wise. Good thing you’re a coach.”
“Bella,” Natalie whispers again, making me smile.
“It’s fine. She always gives me a hard time; I’m used to it.”
Natalie exhales, carrying her annoyance in the air. “She shouldn’t, though. She knows better.”
“You know what? I’ll let you two lovebirds talk for a second. I’m gonna go say bye to my friends.” Izzy skips away, leaving Natalie, Vero, and me alone.
“Is she always this much of a smartass for you?” Natalie asks in an exasperated sigh.
“What is a smawtass?” Vero asks, raising her hands in question as she shrugs.
“Oh my God. Vero, don’t say that.”
“Where is a smawtass?” she repeats, this time looking around, and now I can’t hold my laughter. “You awe a smawtass?” she asks me, and I shake my head.
“No, I’m Holden. Hi!” I offer her my hand, and she takes it with both of hers, examining then dropping it.
“Holen!” She lets out a dramatic sigh and buries her head in the crook of Natalie’s neck.
“I swear I know how to parent these two. Vero’s echoing is getting worse as she progresses in therapy, and I love it, but I forget I have to watch my mouth around her.”
“I didn’t think you could cuss, Beauty.”
“Oh, I can, but I try really hard not to. You should listen to my thoughts, though. Those are filthy.” Her green eyes snap wide. “You know what? I think I need to go to bed, because clearly, I forgot how to speak.”
I tuck a hair behind her ear, my fingers lingering as they brush her jaw. “Relax. Not a big deal. It was good to see you, though. Thanks for coming to the game.”
“Uh-huh. I wouldn’t have missed it.” Her previously red cheeks are starting to fade as her shoulders drop.
We stay in comfortable silence, her blue-greenish eyes locked on mine as she sways side to side, Vero on her hip.
Ask her out again.
What if our date was a fluke, we go out again, and she decides she doesn’t like me?
Ask her out again.
She’s so beautiful, it hurts, and I love how comfortable her kids are with her. If I stand here any longer, I’m going tocontinue to list in my brain over and over again the things I like about her.
“Any plans this weekend?” There, I asked her.
“Um, I work both days. Ellie’s baby is sick, so she can’t come to work.”
“Do you want company?”
She cocks her head to the side. “Are you offering?”
