Rocky, the menace. Weeks of obedience training, and he’s still the same rambunctious tornado. No wonder the Navy couldn’t keep him.
“Let me see if Grant can get him,” I mutter, scanning the room. But Grant is nowhere in sight.
“Coach Jones!” I call instead, spotting him across the way. Maybe he can distract Rocky before the dog wipes out the buffet.
Max mutters under her breath, “One day that man is going to get tired of being Grant’s replacement.”
I snap my eyes to her. “Would you stop it! That is not what he is or was—it was just bad timing.”
“I’ll say.” She smirks.
Coach Jones approaches, smiling, utterly clueless as I try to hold Rocky back from lunging toward the food.
Max leans in with another whisper. “Maybe just let him down sooner rather than later? He doesn’t seem to know your heart is already entangled with someone else.”
I ignore her jab, paste on a polite smile. “Coach Jones, this is Max. Max, this is Coach Jones.”
He nods, easy, greeting Max with a friendly handshake. “Good seeing you today, Coach Saunders.”
“And you, Coach Jones.”
Max mutters under her breath again, “How does this man not know you’re not into him? You sound like you’re buttering toast.”
He looks at me. “Got any plans for tomorrow? I hear Black Friday’s something I shouldn’t miss around here.”
I shake my head. “Actually, I plan to spend the day in bed watching reruns of old Christmas movies. Personal holiday tradition.”
He grins. “Care for some company?”
I sigh. “Um… let me think about it?”
Max fake-coughs. “Chicken!”
Before I can roll my eyes, some kids toss a ball across the banquet hall, and Rocky takes off like a rocket, dragging his leash.
“Rocky!” I yell, but it’s useless. He’s already bowling kids over in his quest to play.
Coach Jones laughs. “Well, let me know what you think. I’ve got some movie favorites I’d love to share.” He jogs after Rocky.
I nod. “Sure thing.”
When he’s gone, I turn to Max. “It’s complicated, okay?”
She smirks, wicked. “And complicated is headed your way right now.”
I follow her gaze and see Grant. My chest warms before he even opens his mouth.
“Happy Thanksgiving, Es. You sure are pretty.”
The grin I give him is so wide, even Justice and Autika notice. “Happy Thanksgiving yourself, Mister.”
“Can I talk to you for a moment?” He asks.
Relief floods me—anything to get away from this tangle of conversations.
I glance at Max. “Why don’t you go climb that lumberjack over there?”
She winks. “Oh, don’t worry, I will.”
