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“I don’t think she’ll be as fun with me at the next Christmas party. Or staff meeting. Or lunch line. It took a week for you to ruin my reputation.”
“Don’t be so dramatic. The parents love you. If Melody was going to say something about my coaching style to anyone but you, she would have done it by now.”
As he blabbers, I wonder quietly to myself what Melody might be doing. Is it too much to hope she’s starting to like the back-and-forth we’ve got going on? I make a mess, she shows up to turn it into something. It’s a partnership, is what it is.
Maybe not one I’d ever consider on my own, but now that I am, I can’t stop. All the other parents would kill to be as close to me as she is at practice, an event that’s become chock full of giddy moms and dads waiting for my autograph.
I know it’s one of the reasons Verog hasn’t kicked me to the curb. No one’s complaining but Melody, which I think he finds irritating as much as I find cute. Then again, I should make a better effort to respect his authority in front of the kids and parents. Could he ask the same of Melody?
“And that’s just the half of it,” he finishes.
I heave a heavy sigh and hope Verog doesn’t ask me to recap whatever he just said. “Then tell me about the other half.”
“Well, for one. The kids don’t need —”
“No, I mean Melody,” I clarify. The kids are as happy as can be, more confident on the ice, and better friends than they were before. What would I have to worry about team-wise? “The other half of her.”
“The other half of her is just as annoyed as the first half!” he barks as Ma steps into the kitchen.
“Who does my son annoy?” Ma asks, and I shoot Verog the ugliest glare I can muster.
Ma may be my number one fan, but if she found out that I may or may not be turning another working caregiver’s job into a circus, she’d literally drive me to the woman’s house to apologize. But is it my fault Melody isn’t appreciating what we have? What wecouldhave?
Verog can call me crazy all he wants. But I see the way she looks at me when she’s not glaring my way. She feels something, too, and I just need her to focus on that voice in her head.
The other day, I spent all morning perfecting the obstacle course of orange cones and blow-up chairs I’d got for the kids’ next practice. When I informed them our weaving work would include more than just one-sized obstacle, it was as if I’d said Christmas was coming early. It’s what I’m beginning to love about spending time with the kids. They’re easy to please.
But what did Melody see? Nothing except what she called“something a little kid would make up.”
As if that wasn’t my objective! I’m working with kids, so obviously, I’m going to think like one to get on their level. It’s my style, my way, and something I wish she’d see and admit to seeing, not just steal curious glances when she thinks I’m not looking. Doesn’t she want Ryan and Tina to have other role models? A male role model?
“Nobody, Ma,” I say, as Verog takes another swig of his beer. Good. He can keep quiet like the friend he’s supposed to be. “Just someone I work with.”
“Someone I work with,” Verog corrects.
“She pretty?” Ma asks, excitement in her voice.
Verog frowns. “That’s not the point.”
“Extremely. And responsible!” I say, just as he does.
Ma smiles and pats my cheek before leaving with a glass of water. “Wear blue tomorrow. My Jaromir look best in blue.”
“You’re impossible,” Verog tells me, but I’m only half listening. I’ve made up my mind about this whole Melody situation.
“I’m going to ask her out,” I say and smile when Verog chokes on his drink.
10
MELODY
“Oh, that isit,” I say, crumpling a sappy love note in my fist. I open my car door and slide inside, buckling my seatbelt and turning the engine. “This ends tonight.”
And I mean it. Whoever is creepily leaving me these notes, trinkets, and other evidence of stalking knows where I live, where I work, and even where I go to get groceries. My best guess is the wannabe Casanova is someone affiliated with the school. And if that’s the case, they will almost certainly be there tonight.
It’s parent-teacher conference night. It’s one of those rare instances where I’m present in the halls as a ‘parent’ rather than staff. So, every teacher, principal, coach, and parent will be there.
And I’m going to find out which one of them has been strangely harassing me for far too long now.
