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His brows furrow at my sudden question, and his answer comes out as nervous. “Uh… yeah, sure. What’s up?”
“How did you get the coaching job? Coach Cook was one of the top collegiate coaches. Not that you don’t deserve it, but you’re young and probably don’t have many years of coaching under your belt,” I ask, turning my head to watch his entire face as he replies. His brows are knitted together, making me wonder if my question offended or confused him.
“I think we all assumed someone in their fifties would come in with twenty plus years of experience. You’re just so…” I pause, trying to think of the right words without telling him I think he’s hot as fuck.
“So incredibly young and handsome?” he asks with a sudden wide smile plastered across his face.
“Don’t flatter yourself,” I respond, rolling my eyes. “But seriously, how did you land the job?”
“Well, believe it or not, even at thirty-one years young, I’ve been coaching for about ten years. So, I’m not completely clueless, thank you very much,” he snarks back at me, playfully bumping his shoulder into mine. The brief contact makes my skin heat beneath the cotton of my sweatshirt. “To answer your question, I’ve known Dan, or um…Coach Cook, my entire life. He’s like a second father.”
“Oh… Was your dad not present?” I question. I cringe inwardly, immediately regretting asking him something so personal.Get it together, Phoebe.
“No, he just had to work a lot when my sister and I were growing up, and Dan was always there when my dad couldn't be.” Knox’s gaze turns towards the ocean and his lips turn up in a soft smile, as if he’s replaying memories in his mind. “Dan’s my godfather. He’s always been there, teaching me how to play baseball, showing up to my games, helping to guide me through my coaching career. He’s just an all-around good man. He deserves all the praise he gets,” he adds, emotion evident in his voice.
“Wow, Dan Cook is your godfather. How cool is that?” I reply, nodding my head in amazement. Who would have thought? “So, he recommended you for the position?”
Knox nods and shrugs at the same time. “Yup. Don’t ask me why, because I can’t tell you. It baffles me that he trusted me to lead this team. I’m honored to be here, but sometimes, I feel like I haven't earned it,” he replies, picking at a few seashells buried in the sand.
“Why did he decide to retire?” I ask, choosing to leave my heavier questions unasked. “Everyone was shocked when the news broke. It was just so sudden.”
“I don’t know,” he responds, exhaling a deep breath as he shakes his head. “I shouldn't even be telling you this, but I’m worried that something is seriously wrong, that he might be sick or something. His job was everything to him. It just doesn't make sense.”
“I’m sure everything’s okay. He’s probably so proud of you,” I whisper, placing a hand on his shoulder in comfort.His skin is so warm.His eyes seem to flare with desire from just my skin touching his.
“Thanks,” he rasps. He seems almost taken aback by my touch, but he doesn’t pull away. “I don’t know what I would do without Dan.”
“Why let yourself think the worst? Maybe he really was burnt out and ready to retire. You’ll worry yourself sick if you let your thoughts spiral,” I whisper, although I know he heard me. I lightly brush the pad of my thumb across his skin, telling myself I’m only touching him to be helpful.Sure, Phoebe, sure.
My eyes trail from his shoulder to his neck, watching his hammering pulse thumping in his neck uncontrollably. His gaze flickers from my hand to my eyes, before returning to the shoreline.
“Yeah, well… I tend to do that a lot. Overthinking is kind of my thing,” he scoffs. “That’s why I like to start my day with a run. It helps clear my head.”
“Anxiety’s a bitch, huh?” I quip, trying to lighten the mood.
“We may not agree on much, but I can sure ashellagree with you on that,” he laughs.
His laugh.It’s deep and all encompassing, and I swear to God, my stomach clenches at the sound. A pearly white smile stretches across his face and small lines form in the corner of his eyes. Everything about this man is so frustratingly perfect. My heart stops when he catches me staring and holds my gaze, not looking away.
A few beats of silence pass as we study each other, unabashedly staring. It’s like we've connected on a different level. In this moment, he’s not my coach and I’m not his athlete. We’re just two imperfect people confiding in one another. For the first time, I think we both feel a connection beyond physical attraction.
“Well, I better get going.” Knox stands and breaks our intense stare, brushing grains of sand from his shorts. “I’ll see you at practice. If you need to sit out today, I understand. Just take care of yourself, Phoebe.”
“You’re the one I should be worried about,” I smirk. “You’re too old to be out here running miles in the sand. You could break a hip,” I joke. He clicks his tongue and nods his head, the corner of his mouth turning up in a smile.
“Actually, never mind. Youwillbe at practice today, and I’m making you pay for that comment,” he retorts, playfully kicking sand my way.
“Hey! You’re getting sand all over me,” I laugh, dusting away the dirt from my leggings.
“Serves you right,” he says with a wink.My God, that wink.“See ya, Phoebe.”
All I can manage is a wave as he runs off, giving me a mouthwatering view of his sculpted backside, leaving me completely breathless.
I’m so, totally, irrevocably screwed.
EIGHT
PHOEBE
