Page 96 of Hometown Hottie

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NOVA

After a sleepless night of tossing and turning, I got up early and made sure everything was squared away at the bakery before I headed out to soccer practice. Cassidy had assured me she’d be okay alone as long as everything was baked and ready when she got there, and I had happily agreed to let her manage the store for the time being.

Soccer had been good for me yesterday and I was looking forward to another day on the field. Especially after that damn fight.

It didn’t hurt that I would finally get to see Carson once I got to the school. I didn’t know if Cassidy had spoken to Ryan yet, but I hadn’t heard a word from him—or from my supposed boyfriend. Unease churned through me as I drove to the high school, hoping against all hope that he’d be there for football camp by the time I arrived.

If I could just know that he was okay, maybe I’d feel better too, but to my great disappointment, there was no sign of him when I showed up. Vance was on the field, running drills with the boys all by himself.

I tried to shove down the bitter disappointment as I climbed out of my truck and made my way to the girls. They grinned as I approached them, and after saying good morning, I blew my brand-new whistle and pointed to the equipment shed.

“We’re going to need cones. Three rows. Line ‘em up and divide yourselves into groups. After you warm up, we’re going to do weave drills.”

“What’s that?” one of the girls asked.

Another groaned. “We have to dribble the ball with the inside and outside of our feet, circling right and left around each cone. Am I right?”

“Yep.” I smiled at them. “Get used to these, ladies. I happen to think it’s one of the best basic drills there is.”

I blew the whistle again and the girls took off toward the shed. Leaving them to it, I crossed the field toward Vance. He was watching the football team warm up with a happy grin on his face, but it dimmed a little when he noticed me approaching.

“Good morning, Nova.”

“Good morning,” I said hesitantly. Vance and I had never been super close. In fact, we’d never talked much at all, but he was Carson’s best friend and the only person around who might be able to tell me where the man of the hour was this morning. “Please just tell me he’s not too hurt to be here.”

Vance frowned, then seemed to realize what I was talking about, and he chuckled as he shook his head. “It’d take a lot worse than that to keep him away. He just had a few errands to run, but he’ll be here tomorrow.”

“Oh, okay.”

He must’ve seen the desperation for information in my eyes because he took pity on me and clasped a hand on my shoulder. “He’s fine, Nova. I swear. I saw him yesterday after the fight and he’s all good. He went to the bank up in Crystal Springs today to talk about some money stuff with the manager over there.”

“Oh.”

He sighed and looked into my eyes. “You know, he was raving about your business ideas yesterday. It sounds like that’s what he’s gone to talk to the bank about, and honestly, I would’ve jumped on it too if you’d come to me. You’ve got a good head on your shoulders, Murphy. Never let anyone make you doubt that.”

My eyebrows inched up as I stared at him. “Carson still wants to go through with that? I thought for sure that he wouldn’t want to after everything that happened between him and Ryan.”

“That’s personal, and this is business.” He scowled suddenly and blew his whistle, then barked instructions at a few of the boys before he turned back to me. “It’s good business. He’s going through with it.”

I drew in a deep breath, relieved, but also still worried. Peering up at Vance, I decided to push him for more information. He had seemed relatively open to talking to me about it so far. “Is he okay? You said you saw him, and that he’s fine, but is that really true? He…” I trailed off, clearing my throat before I finally found the words. “He didn’t want me to help him yesterday and I haven’t heard from him at all. I thought I might, but I haven’t and I’m just worried.”

“Don’t be,” Vance said, his attention split between me and the team. I knew I should be getting back to practice myself, but there was no way I would be able to focus the way I should without knowing.

When I didn’t walk away, Vance glanced back down at me. “Is there anything else?”

“I, uh, yes.” I held his gaze, uncomfortable but also not about to let that stop me. “If you saw him, that means you spoke to him, which also means you’re a step ahead of me. He didn’t want to talk to me at all after it happened, and at this point, I have no idea what’s going on with him.”

He shifted on his feet, gaze still flicking between me and the boys. “We’ve got a whole field full of teenagers we’re supposed to be coaching here, Nova.”

“I know, but the girls are setting up cones and the football players seem to be doing okay getting their asses kicked without you even being there, so the sooner you tell me, the sooner I’ll let you get back to torturing them.”

“I’m not torturing them,” he protested. “I’m getting them in shape for the season.”

“Either way, I need to know how Carson’s doing. Not just his nose but him. How is he holding up?”

Vance was clearly reluctant to talk to me about this but also realized that I fully intended on standing my ground until he told me. Eventually, he heaved out a deep breath and looked at me again. “Ryan, Carson, and I have been friends for a long time.”