“Speaking of him, he looks like he’s about to burst when he watches you play. I can tell he can’t wait until everyone knows you’re his kid.”
“I wish people already knew,” I admit. “It’ll be so awkward. Oh, hi, everyone. By the way, Coach was my mom’s boyfriend, and turns out he’s my dad. Any questions? Uh, yeah, like a million.”
Milo laughs, pulling me in for a side hug as we approach the parking lot. “At least your friends, the guys at the cafe, and my family know. It’ll help soften the blow and diffuse the situation. Showing everyone it’s not a big deal.”
“Once everyone knows, it’ll blow over. I just don’t want to rip off the band-aid and have everyone know my secret.”
“It was okay when we stopped being a secret, right?”
My heart flutters. “More than okay. It’s like a dream.”
Milo’s eyes sparkle behind his glasses. “So, this will all work out, too.”
I nod, awestruck by this beautiful boy.
“Do you think you’d change your last name?” Milo asks. “You know, once everyone knows Coach Anders is your dad?”
I chew on my fingernail and smirk. “No way. Then I’d lose my moment of everyone cheering from the sidelines, ‘West is the best,’ when I’m a professional soccer player.”
“Is that your big career goal?”
I cup a hand around my hip, smiling with stars in my eyes. “Yes. It’s the only thing that gives me a thrill. The cafe will be my retirement plan after I win the world cup.”
“Ah, makes total sense,” Milo replies with a hint of laughter.
“Besides, my mom and aunt have their mom’s last name.”
“Lovebirds!” Kai calls from the car. “You coming or what?”
“Coming!” I call, tugging on Milo’s hand.
I run up to the car and Kai chucks me his keys. “You want to drive?” he asks.
“Absolutely!” I cheer. After successfully driving home and coming clean to Aunt Maddy about it, I realized something. I could try for my license again. If I can comprehend King Lear, algebra, and memorize the ten amendments, anything is a piece of cake.
I drive us to the boys’ house. It’s easier for me to shower and change here than my house because I need to get to the cafe ASAP. Tabitha and I share the guest bedroom, and I’m dressed and brush my hair, while she’s still in a towel, blow drying her hair.
I’ll never understand why other girls need to do all that primping. I’ve learned the easy way that boys don’t really care about all that stuff.
Milo also changed into all black clothing, ready to help out at the cafe. Mr. Nelson drives us over, and I feel the chaotic energy as soon as I enter. Kylie and Laura are in charge of tables, while Aunt Maddy and Jake get the trays of food prepared. We are to load them into the van and take them over to the garden party.
Before entering the kitchen, I see Parker and Lewis at a table and give them a happy wave. When I get to the kitchen, I almost collapse. Mr. Stuffy is wearing an apron and haphazardly dusted with flour.
“Oh my gosh, David,” I say with a giggle. “You’re helping?”
“I’m trying,” he jokes.
Aunt Maddy hugs him from behind. “Honey, you’re doing a fantastic job. I’d be lost without you.”
With a goofy grin, David picks up a tray and moves to the rear kitchen doors.
“Aunt Maddy, you look in better shape than this morning,” I say, linking an arm with me.
She blushes. “David talked me down. He reminded me I run a business every day, and that this should be no different just because the clientele has a larger net worth.”
“He looks so different out of a suit,” I say, smiling as David walks back into the kitchen.
“He’s really lightened up,” Maddy agrees.
