I’m glad she’s feeling the way I have for the last couple of weeks, watching her interact with my players. Watching them look at her heart-shaped ass as she walks away.
At least I’m not the only one of us fighting a losing battle.
I nod to Devereaux as I pass by, crossing my arms over my chest and watching the team interacting with the kids. I don’teven know what the hell I’m supposed to be doing here, but I showed up because it was required.
That’s what I’m telling myself, at least.
It definitely wasn’t because I knew if I didn’t, Maisie would be disappointed, or for some stupid fucking reason, I might give a shit ifI’mthe one disappointing her.
What I didn’t realize was that this entire time I thought the reason she was doing this, the program shit, working with the kids, spending her free time putting together all of this… I thought it was because it was required ofher.
For class, whatever credit she needs, or some resume boosting. That is, until she just stood toe to toe with me and told me I was an asshole without actually calling me an asshole.
She’s genuinely pissed that I didn’t show up when I was supposed to, and it’s because she cares about these kids.
It’s not just about what’s expected of her.
Or what’s in it for her.
I see now that she’s here, doing all of this, because she cares. She wouldn’t have just lost her shit on me if she didn’t.
It’s a realization I wasn’t prepared for.
Because that means that I’m fairly certain now I was wrong about her. If I had any doubt before, this seems to make it louder than I can ignore.
That all of those things I’ve assumed about her aren’t who she is at all. That she’s not the carefree party girl who goes to bars and hooks up with random strangers in bathrooms. She’s the girl who hand paints a fucking banner for some kids and shows up an hour before classes just to make sure all the details are right, who puts up with my dick behavior because it’s the only way to make sure this happens for them. Who helps elderly people who drop things and shops for them when they need help taking care of themselves.
That’s not a ditzy, self-absorbed girl who only cares about trivial shit like when the next party is or what gossip is being passed around.
“Glad you could make it, Coach.” Legros slides up beside me, lips curved into a grin. “Mais was worried, but I told her you were probably in traffic or something.”
Or something.
I nod, my fists clenched tight against my chest. “Yep. Made it.”
The kid must be the most oblivious fucker on the planet to not realize that I do not fucking like him, because he just keeps talking in between shoving a chocolate chip cookie into his mouth like he’s a human vacuum.
“Great turnout, don’t you think? I’m glad as hell, though, because I know how hard she worked on it. That’s Maisie for you though. She’s like a saint or something, man.”
I turn toward him, unable to stop myself as I respond, “She too good for you, Legros? That why she keeps turning you down?”
He chuckles. “Yeah, for sure. Gonna keep trying though. I’m persistent. I’ll wear her down eventually.”
Yeah, not fucking happening.
I keep that part to myself.
“Anyway, I’m going to get another cookie before that fucker Tyler takes them all. Later, Coach.”
“Dumbass,” I mutter beneath my breath once he’s out of earshot.
“Why’s he a dumbass?”
My gaze swings lower to where the voice comes from, and I find a little girl with blonde pigtails and wearing a toothless grin blinking up at me.
Shit.
“Don’t say that,” I say quickly.Quietlyas I look around the room for whoever this kid belongs to.
