Page 119 of Second Chance

48

Play Fair

[Mati]

I lose Denton in the sea of people. Call me selfish, but I let go of his reaction. This is my moment, and I absorb it all. The parents. The girls. The people. I love this town, and I’ve loved this job. Guilt coils around me, but I’ll leave BPHS with the right people to take my place. Alyce Wright, for one. We had a long talk about this opportunity for me, and as much as I’d love to take her with me to join my coaching staff—how fun is that to say—Alyce doesn’t want anything other than teaching English and living here in Blue Ridge.

“I’m where I’m finally meant to be. I’m good here,” she told me. It’s been a good place for me, too, but I’ve always lived on the cusp of wanting a little bit more. More adventure. More something. This is my road trip, and I’m not turning it down.

When I arrive at the pub, the place is packed. Everyone’s excited about the girls’ win, and I smile with girl-power pride. Women’s sports deserve some limelight and considering we have a better winning record than the football team, I’m thrilled. Making my way through the crowd, I find Denton sulking next to Charlie. Charlie’s shaking hands with people, playing his mayor part and absorbing some congratulations as my brother.

“She did all the work,” he credits. “But I’m very proud of her.” Ah, Charlie. Always trying to play fair.

“Hey,” I say as I step up to the two men. Behind them, the television screens show highlights of the game. Eek. Seeing myself on the big screen—my face scrunched, my mouth wide open as I scream—I don’t have a great winning game face, and I’ll need to work on the look.

“Hey,” Denton says. Hurt is written all over his face, and my shoulders fall. Finding out at the game wasn’t how I wanted to tell him my news. I realize I kept this from him, but I also kept it from everyone. I didn’t want to share until I had something worth sharing.

“We need to talk.” My head lowers. I really don’t want to do this here. I don’t even want to do it tonight. I want to revel in my last minutes of pride for Blue Ridge High School. To my surprise, Denton’s hand comes to my lower back.

“It can wait,” he says without conviction, and he tugs me to him by my side. He kisses my temple. “Congratulations.”

Charlie’s watching us, although he shouldn’t be surprised. Denton came to our family dinner a week ago. Every touch was confirmation Denton and I are together, but suddenly, I’m not so sure.

“Why the long face?” Billy asks as he walks toward us. His head volleys between Denton and me for a moment before he tilts his head to the kitchen door.

“I’ll give you ten minutes in my office. Don’t do anything on the desk. I don’t need images I should never see in my head looking at the hard surface each day.”

“That won’t be necessary,” Denton replies, but I interject. “William Forrest Harrington, would it kill you to remember for five minutes I’m your sister and a woman and speaking to me in such a way isn’t appropriate?”

Billy chuckles. “I wasn’t speaking to you. I was talking to him.” He winks at Denton, who slowly smiles back at Billy. Is this some kind of guy code? As if I’d have sex on my brother’s desk. Then again, the idea doesn’t sound too awful. I shake my head. Denton and I need to talk.

Billy looks from Denton to me again. “Well, get it over with so you can enjoy the party.” I hate how my brother can read me.

Instead of the office, I lead Denton up the stairs to the private party room on the second floor. The space is closed off this evening because the only party is in full swing downstairs. As we enter the vacant area, illuminated only by the dim streetlights outside the bare windows, Denton spins on me.

“Two weeks,” he reels. “Two weeks and you didn’t say anything. Explain. And then tell me why you didn’t mention it before.” He settles back on the edge of a table, his arms crossing over his chest.

“Would it have changed things? Would you have decided not to return?” My heart drops to my belly. It’s one of the reasons I didn’t mention it. Caught up in the newness of our relationship and the tenderness of his return, I didn’t want to say anything which might jeopardize him leaving me.

Denton swipes both hands down his face. “I just want to understand what’s happening.”

I explain how weeks before his return I applied for college coaching positions. “I just felt ready to do something different, maybe something away from here. But I still have my family.” I continue with the interview process and the schedule of when they each took place: his mother’s wake, two days after he left, and finally the call that came a few days before the game tonight.

“We’ll be offering the position to you. I thought you’d like to know in advance, so it isn’t overwhelming when you win the state championship.” I appreciated the head’s up and the vote of confidence from Keli Stratham, the only female representative on the interview committee. She’d been a college coach for years until settling on Northeastern Georgia to be near family.

“My whole life, I’ve given up things. My volleyball scholarship,” I say, to which Denton’s face falls, but I lift a hand to stop him from interrupting me. “My college education when I got pregnant. Then my body to my boys. Motherhood. Working for the pub. I’m not begrudging any of those decisions or circumstances. I wouldn’t trade most of them, but it’s also my time. Does that make sense? Coaching at the college level has been my dream.”

Denton closes his eyes. He nods slowly although I’m not certain he does understand. He ran off from this town, sacrificing our friendship, but nothing else. He followed his heart from the start, but my journey has been twists and turns on a different path leading to this point. The road well-traveled. Whether he understands my reasoning or not, I can’t give in to the sorrow on his cheeks. I’m still too high from the win and the offer. It’s a good night for me.

“Don’t be like this,” I speak softly, stepping toward him and tiptoeing my fingers up his chest. He looks away from me toward the neon lights reflecting through the windows. My hands come to his waistband and gently tug. His mood isn’t budging, so I take it to the extreme. Pop goes the button on his jeans.

“Come on, Mati. Cut it out.” His head shoots back to face me, but I’m already lowering to my knees. He needs to know I didn’t keep anything intentionally from him. I want him even if I don’t know how he’ll fit in this new plan.

“Get up,” he demands without conviction because I have his zipper undone and his dick released. My mouth surrounds him with velvety heat, drawing him deep until he gives into a quick, sharp release. He’s unknowingly given me comfort from the tension leading up to the final game and the wait for the interview results. Hopefully, his release will give him the assurance he needs. I want him.

“Sweet fuck, Mati. I wasn’t expecting that.” He sighs, as he offers me a hand to lift myself off the hardwood flooring. I chuckle as I stand, wiping at my lips. He scrubs a hand down his face before tucking himself back inside his jeans.

“I’m never gonna win any fights with you, am I? Especially if you play dirty.” He smirks at me, a hint of teasing restored to his hard-edged expression.