Total pages in book: 112
Estimated words: 107667 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 538(@200wpm)___ 431(@250wpm)___ 359(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 107667 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 538(@200wpm)___ 431(@250wpm)___ 359(@300wpm)
As I start to pack up my equipment, they thank me over and over, and I smile proudly at them. “Just let me know if I can help with anything. I’ve emailed everything to both of you, and if you have questions, call me.”
“I will. Thank you, Tennessee,” Leann says, and the gratitude in her eyes is overwhelming. I give her a wide grin as I slide my computer into its sleeve and then start wrapping up cords.
They’ve left, and I’m almost done when my phone rings. I pull it from my pocket to see that it’s my dad.
My grin widens as I answer. “Hey, Daddy.”
“Hey, darling. Was missing ya. Thought I’d check in.”
My heart sings for him. While my mom is still upset I left, Daddy has been nothing but supportive. He helped me move in to my apartment, filled my fridge, and even left money on the counter. Just in case, he said. He has driven up to see me twice since I left, and I can’t appreciate him enough. “I miss you too, Daddy. How’s everything?”
“Good, busy. We got the softball fields ready for fall ball. Mom is coaching the bigger girls, and I’m handling the smaller ones.”
“Right where you belong, setting the foundation,” I say, and he chuckles on the other end.
“And dealing with crazy-ass mommas. Man, these women are a lot.”
I laugh at that. “I bet. Everyone wants their kid to succeed.”
He scoffs. “Darling, I had this lady offer me sex, and I bet you can figure out how that went down.”
I almost drop my computer from laughing. “Oh my. I bet Momma lost her damn mind.”
“Like a fool. Kicked her out, kicked the kid out, and made sure everyone knew that I was off-limits—since apparently that wasn’t a well-known thing. Through no fault of my own.”
“Of course not.”
He laughs. “Now all the women give me a wide berth.”
I snort. My mom is the personification of a country song about not touching her man. “Not surprised at all.”
“Right? Lord Almighty, that woman. Anyway, how’s work?”
A delighted smile fills my face as I tell him about Leann and her goals. I go on about the baseball players I’ve been working with and how, with football season coming up, I’m about to get even busier.
“Did that contract go through with the college hockey team?”
I shake my head. “No. It wasn’t in the budget, but we got hired by some travel teams. And I have been helping some high schoolers, potential D1 kids, and it’s been awesome.”
“That’s pretty damn cool.”
“Yeah. I think I’m a hockey fan.”
He scoffs. “Hockey is fun, but you best remember, you are a Tennessee sports team fan. Don’t be wearing any navy and orange. You know your colors.”
I snort. “I mean, my name speaks for itself. Which, by the way, people make fun of me here.”
“They’re jealous that Tennessee has the best sports in the USA.” God, he bleeds orange. “Which reminds me, Coach Vitello called from the Vols. He was wondering how to contract with you.”
“Daddy, are you trying to pull me back there?”
He doesn’t even hesitate. “Yes. I miss you.”
My face warms as I sit in the lobby to wait for my coworker. “I don’t know if we’re contracting that way. I heard we’re moving into the Carolinas next.”
Which has my stomach clenching since a certain someone lives there.
Someone who accused me of ghosting him, which I guess I did—not that I allow myself to dwell on that.
Much.
“Will you go down that way?”
“I don’t know. Everyone likes me here, and I have a great success rate so far. But I am training coworkers with my formulas so we can help more people.”
“Giving away your secrets? They paying you for that?”
“Yeah, Daddy. I’m doing mighty well.”
“Good. Listen, I need a weeklong vacation, so get on that,” he teases, and I laugh.
“Sure will,” I tell him, leaning back and crossing my legs. “How’s Momma?”
“She’s all right. Missing you. It doesn’t help that Lindy and Josie are always calling and asking her about you.”
“Really? That’s surprising,” I say. I haven’t spoken to them since I left. I thought I would miss them, but I don’t. I feel good, I love my job, and I love my apartment. I enjoy my coworkers, and I’m good with how everything is going.
Somewhat.
“Yeah. Maybe give them a call?”
“I’m just fine not doing that,” I tell him, and his laughter is booming.
“Whatever you wanna do, darling, I’m good with.”
“I love you, Daddy.”
“Oh, darling. I love you, miss you.”
My heart aches from missing him. I look up just as Troy, my coworker, comes out of the side court where he was working with more clients. His athletic pants are loose along his legs, but I know he is strong beneath them. His shoulders are wide and his arms thick. He’s an ex-baseball player and has the body to show for it. His red hair is combed to the side, and he’s clean-shaven with nice lines to his jaw. His lips are thin, and his eyes are the color of moss. He strolls toward me with that look in his eyes he always has when he sees me. It isn’t a secret that he’s into me, but I just can’t seem to pull the trigger and let myself enjoy him. We’ve been hanging out a lot, but nothing has happened.