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“Because the girls’ team is poised to win the state championship for the second year in a row. It’s a big feather in his cap. As principal.” A small part of me wanted to believe Chris’ implication, but I’d listened to my heart and trusted Ben’s actions over his words and look where that had gotten me.
Still single and grappling with heartache.
“Is that what you want to be true?”
On the ref’s whistle I turned to Chris. “It doesn’t matter what I want to be true, only the truth itself.”
“And that truth is?”
“There is no me and Ben, not anymore. I’m not sure there ever really was anything more than a brief, secret fling.” There. That was the truth that I had learned to accept over this past week, because lying to myself wouldn’t help me avoid this mistake in the future. “But thank you for letting me know about Ben, I’ll be sure to thank him after the game.”
Before Chris could say another word, the Pirates scored another goal. “Looks like that win is all but secure, unless the other team had a miracle on the way.”
Chris was right but even with a score of 3-1, I didn’t dare get my hopes up because that’s what made sports exciting, how easily a team’s fortune could change. Luckily for me and my girls, our teamwork and good luck held, and when the game was over, the Pilgrim Pirates were declared the winners.
“Great job, girls! Two more games to go!” After about ten minutes of cheering, high fives and back slapping, the sweat had cooled and the girls were ready to celebrate. “We’ll do post-game talk on Monday. Enjoy your weekend.”
“Seriously?” Tanisha’s surprise was mirrored on the faces of other players and I nodded.
“Unless you want to spend your Friday night celebrating with pizza and your coach, yeah, seriously.”
“Enjoy your weekend, Coach.”
I couldn’t help but smile at how quickly they jogged to the locker room when faced with an evening void of cute boys and underage drinking. “You too, girls.”
“Good game.” Ben’s deep voice sounded behind me and I steeled myself before I turned.
“Thanks, the girls played well. And thank you for getting a crowd to cheer them on tonight. It helped.”
He laughed and the sound was deep and smooth, and hit me in all the right places. Though, given the current state of affairs, all the wrong places. “I think the four goals we scored might have had something to do with it.
“Maybe,” I smiled. “But the top notch cheering squad definitely helped.” It was strange, to stand here on the sidelines and chat like two people who barely knew each other, who hadn’t seen each other naked and devoured every inch of one another’s body. It was also sad. Heartbreaking, even. “Anyway thanks.”
“I did it for you, Joss. You have to know that.” His green gaze was serious. And sad. I didn’t want Ben to be sad, I’d given him the freedom he wanted to find a woman who didn’t work at Pilgrim High School.
“Ben, I-,”
“Yo, Joss!”
I turned with a smile as Mikki and the Callahan brothers made their way towards me and Ben. “Mikki, you’re looking incredible. Hi Jase. Nate.”
“Hi?” Jase ducked his head and did what was meant to be mimicking me. “Bring it in.” He motioned and I walked into his arms, taking his welcoming hug. “Great game, Coach.”
“Thanks. The girls played well.” I turned to introduce Ben and my shoulders fell that he wasn’t there. Don’t, I warned myself. There was no reason to feel anything at his abrupt departure. We weren’t anything except work colleagues. “Hey Mikki, should we get you off your feet?”
“I wouldn’t say no to a place with a comfortable place to sit and some hot food.” She rubbed her growing belly to make a point, flashing a smile up at Nate, who seemed to melt before my very eyes.
Nate turned to me, his green eyes blank which was a step up from blatant disgust that I relaxed just a little. “Any place like that nearby?”
“Mayflower if you want pub food or Carriage House if you want real food and good booze.”
“Carriage House,” Nate and Jase said at the same time.
“That gets annoying,” Mikki said and wrapped her arm around mine. “You’ll get used to it or you’ll clunk their heads together to stop it.”
Mikki’s words made me laugh, even as I glanced over my shoulder one final time, hoping for another glimpse of Ben. He still wasn’t there. “Which do you do?”
“Mostly I find it adorable, grown men still so in tune like little boys. With this pregnancy though, sometimes I smack’em both. It really depends on the day.”
“Lies,” Jase accused. “You love us and you know it.”
“Doesn’t mean I don’t sometimes want to do bodily harm to you. Both of you.” Mikki laughed and shook her head. “So who was the hottie?”
