When I don’t reply, Jack tsks in apparent disgust, hands over the collapsed chair, and strides onto the field.
“So, what?” I ask, rushing toward him to close the gap. I glance over at Lenny who doesn’t appear to be close enough to hear. I keep my voice low anyway. “Are you saying Dad flirts back?”
His face changes into an expression I don’t recognize on him. I can see in his eyes that he’s deliberating. Struggling with himself to say what he wants—or perhaps doesn’t want—to say. At last, he nods.
“Sorry to break it to you, but yeah. He does.”
CHAPTER2
Beau
“This is going to be awkward,” I dare myself to say as I unfold a lawn chair beside Jack’s mom. “But apparently, my son and your son think our spouses are hooking up at their soccer games.”
The woman—pale-skinned with strawberry blonde hair—shifts her sunglasses to the bridge of her nose, her large, hazel eyes widening. “Oh my gosh, Iknow,” she says, laughing and sliding the sunglasses back in place. “What the crap?”
It’s a dismissive tone, which is good. I’d never believe it myself—trust me, I’ve seen the guy—so at least we’re on the same page.
“I don’t know about Jack,” I say, “but Parker is paranoid. Is this the sort of thing they teach in school these days? How to make unjust assumptions about your parents’ social life?” I move to stand in front of the chair, looking out over the field until I spot Parker guarding the goal as the practice kicks pummel in. He easily swats one and then another away from the goalbox net before diving across the length to block a low kick aimed for the back corner.
Parker clobbers it beneath his weight.
“Nice!”I say with a clap.
“It’s a good thing they have Parker,” Jack’s mom says, smoothing a hand down the length of her ponytail. “He’s incredible. Didyouplay?”
“Jack’s great too,” I tell her. “We might be biased, but I’m sure you and I could agree that without our boys, this team would be screwed. And yeah. I did play.” I’m sure this woman—like every other soccer mom here—already knew that; I didn’t get the nameWheaton Weaponfor nothing.
Parker misses the next two shots, one of which was from freaking Lenny Walker, who might just be the worst player on the team. Granted, Parker has more than one teammate taking their aim at him at once, butsheesh. I walk around to the back of the lawn chair and pace. I never can sit during a game. Heck, even the practices make me anxious.
Jack’s mom hollers something over her shoulder, but I miss it, so I stride closer and lean over her chair. “Huh?”
She looks up at me over her shoulder and toys with her visor before smoothing her hair yet again. She primps a lot.
“Greg never played,” she says.
I furrow my brow, irritated that I’m missing some of the pre-game action. Parker better not let Lenny get another one on him, even if itisjust practice. “What was that?” I urge.
She waves a dismissive hand. “My husband, Greg. He never played soccer. He’s not a sports fan.”
I nod, not saying that I could have told her that by looking at him. “Yeah, Trish isn’t either.” Now that we’ve got that out of the way… “Hey,” I say, “how about we tell the boys we discussed it, thank them for their concern, and tell them we agree that they’re overreacting and there’s nothing to worry about. You good with that?”
“I’mgreatwith that.”
I nod. “Good. Now, let’s see if these guys can make it to finals.”
CHAPTER3
Kirsten
I’m surprised to see Beau show up to Jack’s next game. Despite what Jack told me, I assumed Trish would be here; it’s technically the other spouse’s turn.
I sigh and glance down at the extra matcha tea I picked up at the Coffee Loft. I figured it’d be a nice gesture. Trish is used to talking to my husband during the games; I figured I’d be the perfect shoo-in. In fact, during the opening practice, I initially planned to thumb through the dozen library books I gathered to select some Halloween reads for story time at work. But again, I assumed I’d be chatting with Trish, so I didn’t bring them.
As Beau approaches in all his man-bun glory, I shove my chilled hands into the pockets of my jacket and glance away from the practice on the field, which, so far, consists only of Jack and Lenny. Parker’s walking alongside his father. The two seem to be arguing by the look of their postures.
Parker reaches out and gives Beau’s shoulder a push. Beau returns the gesture and the two laugh.Okay, so maybe they’re not arguing.
Before I can tear my gaze off the pair, Beau’s eyes find mine across the field. I’m quick to dart my focus back to Lenny and Jack. Jack’s giving Lenny some tips on his drive shot.
