“Is he good?” Lydia asks.
Troy nods his head. “The bestest.”
I smile at how cute the two of them are.
“Oh honey, you are in so much trouble,” Jameson whispers to me.
“Stop it,” I hiss.
“You must be Sutton.” The older woman behind Troy extends her hand in greeting.
“Hi. Are you Derek’s mom?” I shake her hand.
“I’m Patricia. And this is my husband, Tony.”
Derek is the spitting image of his dad. While his mom has a stark bob of all-white hair, Tony’s is cut short with gray starting to spread through the temples.
Except Derek has his mother’s eyes. They’re warm and kind, just like hers.
“It’s so nice to meet you both.”
“Is this your first time at a high school football game?” Patricia asks, sitting on the other side of Troy. Lydia is next to me, Jameson having moved closer to Gunnar so Lydia and Troy could sit together.
“It is—other than when I was in high school myself.”
Nerves start to take hold in my gut. I want to make a good impression in front of these people. The only other parents I ever met were my in-laws, and they weren’t the greatest of people. Danny could do no wrong in their eyes, so if things weren’t going right, it was my fault.
“Well, if you need help following the game, just ask us. Or Troy. He knows more about the game than anyone,” Patricia tells me. “He’s his dad’s biggest fan.”
Troy is pointing something out to Lydia, and it warms me from the inside out.
“I will. It’s been awhile since I’ve been to a game.”
“Well, you’re in for a treat. The team is great this year.”
Her husband hands her a juice box to pass over to Troy. “Can Lydia have one?” he asks.
“Sure.”
“Thank you,” she tells him as he hands another one over.
The crowd starts to cheer and chant as the team runs off the field. My eyes immediately scan the crowd for Derek and lock on to him.
It’s as if my gaze brings his focus to mine. A small smile tugs at the corner of his mouth before he gives me a small, subtle wave.
It has butterflies exploding in my chest.
One look and I’m completely gone. I could sit out here in the pouring rain and watch this man coach. Watch this man do anything really.
“Oh yes, you’ll enjoy the game.” Patricia laughs next to me.
I don’t think I’ll have any problem enjoying the game at all.
Chapter Twelve
DEREK
The locker room atmosphere is flowing with excitement. The guys are all still coming down from the comeback win. It’s like a living, breathing thing.
