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I can’t help it. She brings out the playful side in me and it’s a first for me.
Her smile slides off and her voice is soft and hesitant as she speaks, “I’m not used to people helping me out but if you did do this, Duke, for my son, thank you.” She’s lowering her walls in front of me, as her voice is thick with tears she refuses to shed.
I take her hand, without thinking, and press my lips to the back of it, my eyes holding her proud ones that have a look of defeat in them and my voice is raw. “I’ve known you for two weeks, Tracy, but you make me want to put the whole world on a platter and offer it to you. I don’t know why.”
I let her see the vulnerability in my eyes.
She sucks in a sharp breath and her cheeks flush a soft pink as she pulls her hand away.
I let her, wondering what the hell I’m doing. Tracy isn’t just a woman I can mess around with.
But I don’t just want to mess around with her.
The thought startles me and I chew on it as we sit down.
The game starts and I can see Tracy trying her best to follow it and I point out goals and explain some of the rules to her as my eyes track Max as he runs around with his friends. He’s an energetic little thing. I wonder if, when I have a son…will he be like this?
However, I soon get absorbed in the game and jump to my feet cheering every time Max makes a goal. The kid is good.
“Go right!” I shout out. “Pass him the ball, Max!” I’m so intensely following the game, shouting instructions at Max who beams at me, his little face red with exertion.
Tracy is oddly silent but she picks up on my cues and she cheers when I do.
Max’s team loses the match and the boy trudges up to us, or more specifically, me, looking disappointed. His voice is small as he looks up at me, and says, “We lost.”
Tracy moves as if to hug him and I beat her to it, lifting him up and placing him on my shoulders, grinning. “Are you kidding me? Did you see yourself out there? You were kicking all their asses!”
“Language!” Tracy scolds.
Max is starting to look pleased. “I played well?”
“Well?” I scoff. “You were the best out there. Four goals, kid! We need to celebrate! Let’s get pizza and ice cream!”
Max is grinning from ear to ear. “Really?”
“The cheesiest pizza,” I declare. “With a large sundae!”
Max howls in glee. “Mom, can we?”
Tracy looks torn as she looks between me and her son.
I pout at her. “Oh, come on! He made four goals!”
She finally throws up her hands. “I don’t know which one of you is more excited by that. But fine.”
I lift up my arm to fist bump Max who looks more confident.
It’s as we’re about to leave when the coach walks over. “Hey, you were the parent calling out the instructions, right?”
I go still but before Tracy can say something, I ask, “Can l help you?”
The coach scratches his head. “Well, we’re looking for some parents to do some volunteer coaching over the summer break. If you’re interested, I can sign you up.”
I hesitate and Max tugs at my hair, excited. “Yeah! You can coach us, Duke!”
The idea isn’t unappealing bu
t I ask, “Is this parents only?”
