Page 19 of The Penalty

“Looking for something?”

I turn to see Coach leaning against one of the counters. He’s in those damn sweatpants and a plain black T-shirt that’s molded to his torso, and his hair is disheveled, like he just rolled out of bed. It’s unreasonably hot.

I look away quickly and back to the cabinet in front of me. Bowls. Lots of bowls.

“Sorry if I woke you. I was trying to find some ibuprofen,” I explain.

“Got a headache?”

I shake my head. I consider keeping Kylie’s current state to myself, but he’ll probably find out anyway. And it’ll be better for both of them if he has a heads-up. “No. Preemptive measures. I was going to put some by Kylie’s bed. She had a few drinks tonight.”

“Ah.” He pushes off the counter, turns, and walks away.

I stand there wondering if I’m supposed to follow him. Do I keep looking? Does he assume I’ll find it eventually because I’m pretty nosey? I’ll go through every cabinet and drawer in this place if I have to.

A minute later, he’s back in the kitchen holding a bottle. “I keep these in the bathroom down the hall.”

“That’s a strange place to keep medicine,” I say without thinking.

He chuckles and I decide I like that sound. A lot. “It’s strange to keep ibuprofen in the guest bathroom cabinet?”

I shrug. “Yeah. Kinda.”

“Hmm. I guess maybe it is. I didn’t have anyone around to organize the place when I moved in, so I just threw things in places.”

“Maybe it’s time to change that,” I suggest. I don’t know why. I don’t really care where he keeps his medicine. What I do care about is that I’ve got all of his attention right now. He’s relaxed. I haven’t seen him like this much and I like it.

He hands me the bottle. Our fingers brush as I take it. I might be imagining it since I’m exhausted right now, but it seems like his fingers lingered a little longer than they needed to.

I swallow. I’m sure my mind is playing tricks on me. “Great, I’ll run these up and be out of your way.”

He doesn’t respond before I quickly run up the stairs to leave the water and meds by Kylie’s bed. When I get downstairs, I expect Coach to be back in bed, but he’s not. He’s leaning against the wall in the foyer with his arms crossed, and I try my hardest not to notice how his T-shirt hugs his broad shoulders perfectly. I’ve always thought he was attractive. Any woman with eyes would. But tonight, my body seems extra aware of him, and I’m not sure what’s going on.

“How was the party?” he asks, his voice just above a whisper, as if speaking any louder would ruin the moment or wake Kylie, who’s dead to the world right now.

“It was fun. No one got out of hand if that’s what you’re worried about.”

“Good. The last thing I want is a middle-of-the-night call from the police about one of my boys.”

I laugh quietly. “You should be good tonight. Things were already winding down when we left.”

He looks down like he’s trying to see something. “Did Hayes manage to get you to agree to his wife? I don’t see a ring.”

I laugh quietly. “No. Still very single.”

He nods. “Good.”

Good? Is it good?

I need to get out of here before I do something stupid.

“Kylie had a good time?” he asks, changing the subject.

“Oh yeah. She’s drunk, but not that drunk, so don’t be upset with her.”

He chuckles. “Trust me, I did a lot worse when I was her age. A few drinks is the least of my worries. She’s home, and she’s safe. That’s all I need to know.”

I wonder what he was like at our age. I know he was a star player on his college football team. But he also already had a child. Did he go out and party? Have a different girl on his arm every week? I’ve never been curious about him before, but now. . . I kinda want to know.