Coach’s Pet

Chapter 9

Chapter Nine

CHARLIE

I t’s impossible to sit still in class. All I can think about is what Shay did to me in the library, and now I yearn for more. If he's trying to keep me away from him, he's failing miserably. Now I want nothing more than to be near him again.

“You okay?” Tins asks.

“Yeah.” I glance over at her. “Why?” Am I acting in a way that suggests I'm not?

“You’re moving around a lot. Fidgeting, as my stepmom would call it. She says I do it all the time, and she’s not wrong. Sometimes when I’m excited but mostly when I’m nervous.”

"I am ready for this day to end." I check my phone to see how much longer we have when our teacher dismisses us. I’m instantly up and out of my seat.

“You want to hang out?” Tins asks as we exit the classroom.

“I can’t. I have dinner with my uncle tonight.”

“Oh, that sounds nice.” I can hear the touch of longing in her tone.

“He tries to squeeze them in here and there with how much he works.”

“My dad is always working too,” Tins mutters softly.

It doesn’t bother me that Uncle Callum works so much. He has his own life, and I have mine. But I can tell Tin doesn’t feel the same way about her father. It kind of breaks my heart for her.

She’s sweet, and not in an annoying way. It's endearing, and I don’t understand why her father wouldn't want to make time for her. My parents never gave me the time of day, but it didn’t make me sweet or want their attention. I gave them the same energy right back.

“We can hang out another night,” I tell her, and she perks up at that.

We walk to the parking lot, and I’m lost in thought when Tins points ahead of us.

“What’s on your car?” There’s a piece of paper stuffed into the windshield wiper of my Bronco. “There’s nothing on mine.” Tins’s Mini Cooper is parked right next to my vehicle.

For a brief moment, I experience a surge of excitement but then quickly dismiss it. There's no way Shay would leave a note on my car. That’s way too ballsy. As much fun as I’m having with him, I don’t actually want to get him into trouble. There’s a thrill that goes along with what we’re doing.

“Probably someone fucking with me,” I say and grab the piece of paper off my windshield.

“Did you ever find out who flooded your locker?”

“Doesn’t matter.” Tins is the type of person to worry over it, but I know who it is; I just can’t prove it. I may not know the exact person who did the deed, but I know who’s behind it. I open the note to see the word whore written in giant letters with eyes drawn on it like they are watching me.

“How original,” I say and crumple the note. Tins rolls her eyes, and I shove the trash into my bag. “I’m going to head out.”

“All right, text you later.” Tins hops into her Mini Cooper as I slide into my own car and take off toward home.

The word whore would be nothing, but the eyes have me worried. Could someone have seen something today? I’m probably overthinking it. It’s Parker fucking with me, and I know he didn’t see shit. He would have said something right then and gotten us both into trouble. Wouldn't he? He’s so fucking dumb, but that means I don’t know for sure what he might do.

When I get home, I go straight to my bedroom and toss my bag onto the chair. I flop down on the bed, and when I take my phone out, I see a text from Shay.

Daddy: You get home?

It makes me smile as I think about what to text him back. Is he going to sneak into my room tonight? Today, when I wouldn't answer his question, he came and found me in the library. An idea sparks, and I pull up the audiobook I've been listening to. I turn it on before I change into my gardening clothes and boots. This will keep me busy so that I don’t text him right away.

I spend a few hours in the garden before bringing in some of the vegetables I picked. After that, I cut some flowers and place them in a vase in my bedroom along with a bouquet for the dining room table.

It’s almost impossible not to look at my phone, but I manage to stay strong as I shower and change. Before I leave my room, I double-check that my window is unlocked before going to the kitchen to make dinner.

“Hey, kiddo,” Callum says as I place the lasagna on the table. He looks exhausted. I'm not sure what he does for work, but I know he's not really allowed to talk about it. Either that or he doesn't want to. I don't pry because he doesn't typically do it to me. He'll ask a few questions to make sure I’m okay and then move on.

“Just in time,” I tell him.

“It smells good. Let me go change.”

“Sounds good.” I finish setting the table, and when Callum gets back, we dig right in.

“How’s school?” he asks after a comfortable silence.

“Same old, same old.”

“And the new friend?”

“Still like her.”

“That’s good.” He chuckles. “Damn, your food always hits the spot.”

“Thanks.” I smile, taking pride in my cooking.

“You want to play chess tonight?” he asks, and my gaze darts to my phone. It’s resting face down on the table next to me. “Are you waiting for a call?”

“No,” I say too quickly.

“Are you sure you aren’t waiting on a call from a boy?” Callum raises an eyebrow.

“Nooo.” I laugh, and it sounds nervous. Shay isn’t technically a boy, and I’m not waiting for a call. I’m wondering how many texts I’ve gotten since I didn’t respond. That shouldn’t count as a lie. Right?

“A girl, then?”

“No, Uncle Callum.” I shake my head. “I’m strictly dickly.”

“Jesus.” He almost chokes on his bite of lasagna.

"I think I'll skip chess tonight,” I say, getting back on track. I can tell he's tired, and I'm dying to go to my room and get into bed.

"All right. I’ll clean the kitchen," he offers.

"Deal," I agree, and we chat a little more as we finish dinner.

Once he’s cleared the dishes, I tell him goodnight and head off to my room. It’s a good thing my bedroom is on the other side of the house from his, and I know he won’t come this way. He’s always been good about giving me privacy, and tonight I’m hoping it’s to my advantage.

I shut my bedroom door and then lock it behind me. The room is almost dark except for my bedside lamp, and I take a deep breath as nervous excitement fills me.

As I strip off my clothes and debate what to wear, I wonder if I should wear anything at all.