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Wait. She was supposed to forget about that. Let it go.
Twenty minutes later, Tess pulled into the sports complex in Metairie. The afternoon had softened into evening and the emerging green field in front of her was a sea of activity.
“I wonder what field you’re supposed to meet on,” Tess remarked as Emily opened the car door. Emily’s cleats were untied, so Tess sat the girl back on the backseat and bent to double-tie them.
“Daddy!” Emily screamed in her ear. Tess jerked up and conked her head on the top of the door frame.
“Ow,” she said rubbing her head and turning toward Graham, who wore a pair of khaki pants and a mint-green broadcloth button-down. Tess tried to look like she hadn’t just broken into a sweat merely looking at him.
“Hey, where’s your mother?” Graham asked, scooping up the child who’d launched herself at him.
“She hadda go to a meeting. Like always,” Emily said, grinning at her father. “Look at my socks. Mom got them for me.”
Graham peered down at the child’s legs. “Looks like a ladybug to me.” He lifted his eyes to Tess and her heart sped.
Stupid heart.
“I’m just the chauffeur. Since you’re here now, I’ll go,” Tess said pushing the car door closed.
“No,” Emily yelled, wiggling out of Graham’s arms. He dropped her to the ground and she bolted toward Tess, grabbing her hand. “You gotta watch me, Tess. You said you like soccer.”
“But your dad is here,” Tess said.
“Pleeeease.” Emily made puppy dog eyes at Tess.
Damn it. Tess had never been able to resist puppy dog eyes. She sighed. “I’ll watch for a little while.”
“Yippee!” Emily whirled around like only a seven-year-old could do.
Graham eyed Tess. “How did you get suckered into this?”
Emily overheard and said, “Mom said I couldn’t come, but then Tess said she’d take me. Tess plays soccer, too.”
“I only play a few Saturdays a year. I sub,” Tess muttered, hoping he didn’t think she had volunteered merely so she could see him. She’d done this for Emily. Because it was crappy that her mother had chosen business over her daughter. Upstart seemed to be Monique’s primary focus in life, and though Tess could attest to her father seeing business as important, he’d never put it over her or her brothers. He’d made almost all of her soccer games even during Mardi Gras season.
Graham gave her a smile that made her stomach flop over.
Stupid stomach.
She shrugged off her reaction to his charm. “So where are we heading? Uh, for soccer practice,” Tess clarified.
Graham turned to study the fields. “The guy said it was the field in the back left.”
Minutes later they stood in a gaggle of kids, a couple of moms and one older man struggling to balance on crutches. The man sat his clipboard on the collapsible bleachers and turned toward where they all stood. Emily stood close to Graham, looking uncertain.
“Hey, everyone. I’m Jim Thisbe and I’m the coach of the Lake End Ladybugs. As you can see, it’s going to be a bit difficult for me to coach this season, but I’m hoping to have a few of you assist me. Anyone have any experience coaching soccer?” Jim eyed Graham, his eyebrows raised in a hopeful manner.
Graham gave a quick shake of his head. “Sorry, dude.”
Emily pointed a finger at Tess. “She plays soccer.”
Jim smiled at Tess. “Very good. Love having a female coach. Always a great role model for these young girls.” Little heads with swinging ponytails turned her way.
Tess felt like the kid in school who got called on and didn’t know the answer. “Uh, I’m not a parent. I’m a friend.”
“That’s okay,” Jim said, with a panicked smile. He looked like he might latch on to her leg if she took off running. Of course, she’d have the advantage since he was gimped up. “Friends are just as good as parents.”
Not really, but she was sure Jim was convinced of its truth. “You don’t understand. I’m not really available.” Tess gave him an apologetic smile.
