“You think so?” Ace asks, rewinding the film we’re watching. “Their QB looks like he’s got some weak spots.”
“But check out their wide receiver.” I point him out. “The way he can get himself open even when he’s going down? Kid is going to go far.”
“We’ll have our job cut out for us this season.”
“You up for it?” I elbow him.
“Just because I’m getting old doesn’t mean I’m not up for it.”
“Old?” I roll my eyes at him. “Please. You’re not old.”
“Between football and hockey, I’m feeling it.”
“You could always cut back on hockey.” I grab the binder from my desk to start reviewing the next set of plays.
“Don’t want me cutting back on football?”
“Can’t lose my best coach.”
“Yeah, yeah.” Ace cracks open a water bottle and kicks his feet up on the desk. His office is cramped, bookshelves filled with old film and playbooks. “How are things going with Missy?”
“Is it bad I wish she’d flake out again?”
“Really?” This pulls a concerned look from Ace. “I would have thought you wanted things to go well.”
“I mean, they are.” I scrub a hand over my face. “I guess I’m not ready to face the reality that if they keep going well, Missy will get partial custody.”
“Do you think that’s going to happen?”
“Don’t know.”
“Really? You haven’t heard anything from your lawyer?”
“No. And until we go to court, I’m trying to be the good guy.”
Which, since Missy has been showing up these last few weeks, isn’t as much of a strain as I thought. Troy seems to like spending time with her, so really, that’s all I can hope for.
“You’re a better guy than me,” Ace says.
I laugh. “I like that you think that, but I don’t know.”
“Cut yourself some slack. Raising a kid on your own isn’t easy.”
“You’re telling me.”
Troy is about the best kid there is, but it doesn’t mean it’s not hard. I want to give him everything, and a lot of days, I don’t feel like I’m doing that.
Having Sutton around though? Lydia? It feels like the four of us could be a family together. I know Lydia already has a dad, but I wouldn’t mind the title of stepdad.
Things are going well right now. I don’t want to rock the boat if Sutton isn’t on the same page.
“If Missy gets custody, do you think she’ll let Troy keep playing hockey?”
Again, one of the reasons that I’m being selfish in wishing Missy wasn’t around? Not having to worry about someone else’s opinion on how I raise my kid. I’ve gotten used to doing things on my own.
“Honestly? I don’t know. How much say will she get? Heloves it and I don’t want to be the one to take it away from him.”
Knowing Troy, he’d eventually get over it. But I don’t want to be the one to have to tell him he can’t play hockey. He only just started and I can see how much he loves it.
