“This is an every Saturday thing.” Turner watches the boys as they make their way around the track. “They need consistency. I hope you’ll both keep coming. Seeing guys like you will give them someone to look up to.”
I snort. “I’m not a great role model.”
Turner shakes his head. “Maybe not, but you’re better than nothing.”
“The others might be able to come from time to time, but it’s a big commitment.” Jack steps back and watches as the kids race by. A couple of them are bound and determined to be first while a few lag back and chat as they run by.
“Pick up the pace, White and Bradbury,” Turner yells. He turns to Jack. “You want to lead them through warmups while Caden and I set up the field for drills?”
Jack nods and we bump fists as he heads to one end of the field. I walk with Turner to the equipment piled on the grass near a bench.
Turner hands me a stack of cones. “We need two runs.”
I take them and head toward the field.
“Caden.”
When I turn back to Coach Turner, he runs a hand over his hair. His dark eyes meet mine. “I’m not trying to insert myself anywhere. I just really needed help with the kids. A program like this could have helped some of the kids I grew up with. It’s important to me. When Jack needed a favor, I saw an opportunity.”
I glance to where the kids have gathered around Jack. He’s explaining some of the warm-ups and telling the kids to spread out.
“He’s like a brother to me.” I return my gaze to Turner’s. “I won’t let anyone take advantage of him and he’d do the same for me. We’ll help you out and you’ll help us.”
“Are you guys going to tell me what’s really going on with Harper?” He raises an eyebrow. “It’s not just pranks getting out of hand.”
“I respect you as my coach, but we don’t trust a lot of adults for good reasons.” I narrow my eyes. “You’re not our friend, but we’ll help you out.”
His lips tighten, but he nods as understanding lights his eyes. “Fair enough.”
Harper
The server, who thankfully isn’t Rebecca, sets a cup of steaming hot coffee in front of me. I wrap my hands around the warm cup and smile at her before she leaves. Luke sits on one side of me while Eli sits on the other. Nico’s mother called before we were leaving and asked him to come home.
He tried to get out of it, but his mom is having a rough time transitioning and he wants to be there for her. I get it. I feel bad about not spending as much time with my mom as I used to. It’s hard to balance this relationship and the ones I had before.
But I texted Mom this morning to let her know where I’d be.
Eli rests his arm behind my shoulders on the booth. We’re all squished on one side, waiting for Penny and Natalie to join us.
I don’t mind being in an Eli and Luke sandwich. My cheeks flush, remembering earlier and how much I really didn’t mind at all.
Taking a sip of my coffee, I get my head in the game. The girls were on a mission yesterday and that didn’t end with their participation in trying to uncover the mole. There was the party we didn’t attend.
Luke rubs my jean-clad thigh under the table.
“We need to figure out how to keep you safe when you aren’t with us.” His voice is low and deep in my ear, sending a shiver through me.
“You guys have practice every day after school and no one tries to get me then.” I sip my coffee, hoping the caffeine kicks in quickly. Last night, I went from one guy to the next, over and over until I ache just thinking about how much I came. How it felt to be a part of them.
“They probably figure your mother is home then.” Eli brushes his fingertips over my bare shoulder, lighting a fire under his touch.
The shirt I grabbed to wear is off the shoulder. The closet at Caden’s is amazing and almost like having my own store. And the underwear is so much nicer than anything I’ve bought for myself.
With my hair up into a high ponytail, I know both of my guys’ fingers must be itching to grab it. In fact, I’m counting on it. A little rush of desire drifts through me. There’s a twinge of soreness too.
Eli is right though. Mom is home after school because she’s working nights right now. She sent me her new schedule with a frowny face emoji. Next week is nights too.
The guys like it because they don’t have to sneak in to see me, but it might be nice to have a night to myself with them just on webcam again. Not that Luke wouldn’t find a way to creep in on me from the guest bedroom. My insides soften.
