I was more self-aware than usual as I sat down, sure that everyone’s eyes were on me. It felt like by taking Rey’s seat, I was somehow declaring myself his boyfriend or something, and that had my heart skipping a few beats. I wasn’t sure why it bothered me so much. I’d never cared what anyone thought of me or who I was with in the past, so why did I care now? Was it because of what Rey had said, about staying? Or because I was starting to realize that he wanted more?
Because he’s different.
The thought jarred me because it was true. Reywasdifferent. In the time that I’d known him, Rey had quickly become someone important to me. Very important. And I didn’t want to end up hurting him in the long run, which is exactly what would happen if we continued down this path. He’d said I was worth the stress and pressure of my job, and I trusted that he believed it, but I wasn’t sure I trustedus. We’d only been spending time together on a regular basis for about a month. Things were… new, and there was still so much I didn’t know about him.
But the fact that I was evenconsideringa real “us” was proof of just how deep Rey had gotten under my skin.
“Great job, Tim! Excellent pass!” Reyes’s voice pulled me back to reality, and I quickly shoved all thoughts of us aside for now. Rey had asked me here because my opinion mattered to him, so the least I could do was pay attention.
There were about a dozen kids standing in a formation around him, taking turns running in pairs down a line. I had no clue how old they were, but they were playing better than I could. Their movements were fluid and sure, as if they knew where each kick was going to go, before they did it.
About twenty minutes in, Reyes pointed at Harrison and gestured for him to come up front. The other kids huddled around. I heard the wordpeas,and a moment later, Harrison chose two boys to be his teammates for the drill. They all hustled to a new position, everyone knowing exactly where to stand.
As soon as Reyes blew the whistle, the two boys surrounded Harrison, and the three of them began running toward the tiny mob of kids who were all focused on trying to get the ball. I expected Harrison to stay in the lead since Reyes had called him the leader, but he didn’t. In fact, Harrison purposefully kept himself within the protection of his two teammates.
The three boys weaved and dodged their teammates, slowly working their way across the field, but when they broke apart, Reyes blew his whistle. “Too soon! Let’s try again!”
All the kids reassembled themselves in a similar position as before. This time, the two other boys ran even closer to Harris, sticking to him and watching everyone closely. When a girl with brown hair tried to make a move for the ball, they all moved together, changing direction, as if tied together by a string. It was amazing to watch, and I was proud of their efforts, even though I barely knew them.
As they neared the goal, the other kids tried even harder to steal the ball from Harris, but in a move too quick for me to make out, they turned so Harrison was nearest the goal. He yelled, “SPLIT!” and the two boys broke apart, peeling away like the shells of a pod. I had to chuckle. If the creative name wasn’t proof Rey was cut out to be a coach, I didn’t know what was.
Harrison kicked and easily slipped the ball past the goalie, cheering and throwing his arms up in the air just as another boy hugged him in congratulations.
I let my attention drift to Reyes, and once again, he took my breath away. There was so much excitement and joy in his eyes as he ran to the kids, revealing that slightly crooked smile I’d come to love. His eyes were fixed on Harrison with an expression I’d seen a hundred times before on Beckett’s face when Harper had done something that made him proud. He bent to hug Harrison after giving him a hearty high ten, but repeated the gesture with several of the other kids as well. It was clear to me that it wasn’t only Harrison’s successful play that put that smile on Rey’s face. It was the whole team. His team. There really was no question Rey enjoyed being their coach.
For the rest of practice, I became completely engrossed in watching not only Reyes as he worked with the kids, but the kids as well. They all seemed like great kids, but I still tensed a little every time they came too close to the sidelines. And I was amused with their antics, the way they teased and encouraged each other. I could tell Harrison had a deeper friendship with the boy, who guided me through the crowds. They spent more time together than with the rest of the team, barely leaving each other’s side except for when the plays required them to.
As practice came to a close, I was glad I had come to watch if only to reaffirm what Rey already knew in his heart to be true. He was meant for this, to be these kids’ leader. The joy on his face was the kind that couldn’t be faked. He truly loved working with them.
Saying that out loud was going to be bittersweet though. For the first time since I’d met Reyes, I felt like I discovered something other than my job that could eventually tear us apart, and it came in the form of dozens of tiny humans running around.
I stood awkwardly out of the way as the kids picked up their things, trying not to flinch every time one of them got too close. Reyes stood next to me as the kids dispersed, gulping down the drink I’d gotten him. Harris was only a few feet away, talking excitedly with his friend about how practice had gone for the day, and I could see Rey smiling as he listened. I’d sensed Rey had a deeper connection with Harris than the other kids, and I guessed it was because of Harrison’s past.
“Go get a snack from the box,” Rey encouraged the last few kids, gesturing to a blue cooler at the end.
As soon as they were gone, he turned his attention on me, pulling a hairband off his wrist to tie his hair back. “Did you have fun watching?” he asked.
I smiled. “Yes, actually. They’re great kids.”
He nodded. “They really are.”
Someone called for Rey, and I waited until I had his attention again before saying, “You should talk to Rome, Reyes.”
When he didn’t seem to believe me, I reached for his hand and squeezed. “I mean it. You’re different here than what I’ve seen in those videos. More…you,somehow. Like the focus and pressure of competing aren’t overwhelming you or something. I can tell it makes you happy.”
Reyes stepped in close, and I took a big whiff of his sweaty, sexy body, not bothering to hide my attraction. He knew me too well to try that now. There was a hidden message in the way his hand lingered on my side, like a promise of things thatcould beif he stayed. But he didn’t say it. Maybe because he knew I didn’t want him to.
He gently squeezed my side before kissing me softly. “Gracias, mi estrella.”
