We left the teachers’ lounge and walked through the commons and up the wide staircase leading to the second floor. The feel of his hand on mine still lingered for some reason, and I found myself wanting to tuck it against my chest, as if I could preserve the sensation.
On the way up, we passed Sharon going down. She was probably heading to retrieve her phone.
Theo turned and waggled his eyebrows. Suppressing a giggle, I followed him to his classroom, but we didn’t go in. Crossing his arms, he leaned against the doorway. I tapped my chin, as if lost in thought about something very important.
A moment later, Sharon let out a startled scream.
Theo’s mouth turned up in a triumphant grin. Without a word, we fist-bumped. He gave me a quick wink, then unlocked his classroom and disappeared inside.
I scurried down the hallway, feeling decidedly less brave about our little prank without Theo there. Sharon had a good sense of humor, so I knew she wouldn’t be mad or anything. Butstill. Theo was the one who gave me the courage to do silly things like play harmless pranks on our coworkers.
The flutters were still fluttering and tingles still tingling as I went into my classroom. I picked up a book from my desk and fanned myself. I needed to get myself together before my students started showing up.
But all I could think about as I started prepping for my day were Theo Haven’s dimples.
CHAPTER 6
Theo
Runninga hand through my damp hair, I got out of my truck. A storm had blown in right when we’d hit the field for practice, drenching everybody. There hadn’t been time for me to go home and change, but fortunately, I’d found a Timberwolves hoodie in my truck. A hoodie and shorts were a far cry from interview attire, but Kevin Wilkins, the athletic director for Carolina, knew I was coming straight from practice. He’d been there to watch me coach for about the first hour from the safety of the covered bleachers.
I’d asked to meet him at a sports bar near Tilikum College. It had been a strategic decision on my part. The area around the college was somewhat separate from the rest of town, which substantially decreased my chances of being seen by nosy neighbors who’d be apt to start rumors.
The gossip line in Tilikum was no joke.
I went in and spotted Kevin at a bar-height table, perusing a menu. He looked up as I approached.
“Theo,” he said, reaching out a hand. “Thanks for meeting with me.”
I took his hand and shook. “Absolutely. Sorry if I kept you waiting. Practice went a little long.”
“You’re good. I just got here.” He gestured to the high-backed stool across from him and I sat. “Can I order you a beer? Something else?”
“A beer would be great. Thanks.”
The server came over, and after a brief discussion of what they had on tap, he ordered two Blue Moons.
I’d had a couple of phone conversations with Kevin, but he’d been out due to a family emergency when I’d gone to interview back in July, so I hadn’t met him in person. He was probably in his fifties, with light brown hair going gray at the temples and a trimmed beard, and was dressed casually in a half-zip fleece with the Carolina logo on one side of the chest.
“Thanks for flying all the way out here,” I said. “It must be a quick turnaround.”
“Yeah, in and out. But I really wanted to meet you in person. I like to get a feel for my people, and you just can’t do that the same way on a video call.”
When the server set our beers on the table, Kevin lifted his drink. “To new opportunities.”
I clinked my glass against his and took a sip.
He set his down. “So, tell me about your career. I’m familiar with your résumé, but talk to me about your progression. What’s led you here?”
“Sure. After leaving the pros, I moved back here to my hometown. I decided to go back to school, get my masters. While I was doing that, I took the assistant coach position for the high school. A couple of years later, I was hired as a full-time teacher and head coach. So, here I am.”
“What about your time in the pros?”
I tapped my thumb on the table a few times. “Shorter than I would have liked.”
“You got injured in your first season? Second?”
“Second season. Game three. I got taken out by the human equivalent of a freight train, although the severity of the injury was mostly bad luck. If I’d landed a little differently in one direction, I probably would have walked off the field.”
