Chapter 12
Chapter Twelve
DEREK
T he locker room atmosphere is flowing with excitement. The guys are all still coming down from the comeback win. It’s like a living, breathing thing.
I love getting to watch the guys celebrate the wins. We always want to appreciate these moments, because we know they won’t last forever.
After I remind them all to stay safe and to show up on time for practice on Monday, they start to head out. I wait until every last one has cleared the locker room before gathering up my own things and waving goodbye to my assistant coach and heading out.
The win tonight felt great. Not only to keep our winning streak alive, but because I wanted to impress Sutton.
Not that me losing would have made any difference on her being impressed, but it felt important to win for her tonight. That I’m capable of leading a group of young guys on and off the field.
Slinging my bag over my shoulder, I walk out the door and am immediately greeted with familiar voices.
Sutton is standing with my parents and Jameson, while Troy and Lydia are running around in a game only the two of them understand.
The second he sees me, Troy comes running to me. “Daddy! You won!”
“Because you were there cheering for me.” I spin his hat around his head so I can see him better. The small crowd that has gathered makes their way to us.
“I must say, that was a very good game,” Jameson tells me. “I didn’t think I’d like football, but I do.”
The man next to him smirks. “You only understood about half of it.”
“But they won,” he tells him. “Derek, this is Gunnar.”
“His boyfriend.” Gunnar’s handshake is firm as he tells me who he is.
“It’s nice to meet you.”
Seeing Gunnar, who is in dark jeans and a white polo shirt next to Jameson, who is wearing a tie-dyed T-shirt with leather pants, the two are about as opposite as you can get. Yet, somehow they work together.
“Your team looks good,” Gunnar tells me.
“I appreciate that.”
“Next time don’t make it so tight, okay?” Mom interrupts, dropping a kiss onto my cheek.
I laugh. “I’ll be sure to let them know what you think at practice on Monday.”
“It was a good comeback win,” Dad agrees. “Great job, son.”
“Thanks.”
Pride bursts from my chest at their words. They never cease to heap praise on me after a win. It was never like this when I was playing, so to hear it now is a great feeling.
Sutton is standing behind them with Lydia in front of her. Lydia is bouncing on the balls of her feet.
“That was fun football, Mr. Derek,” Lydia tells me. “Do you think we can come to another game? ”
“If your mom says it’s okay.” My eyes dart up to the woman in question who is grinning back at me.
“Mommy, please can we come back and watch another game? That was so much fun!”
“I thought you were worried about not liking it?”
Lydia shakes her head, pigtails batting her in the face. “That was super fun.”
“Then we can definitely come back, sweetheart.”
Sutton looks back up at me, a warm smile on her face.
All I want to do is pull her in for a kiss, because, God, does she ever look beautiful right now.
“Are you guys ready to head out?” I ask them.
“We’re heading home,” Mom says. “We’ll see you for dinner on Monday.”
“Always.” I wave as they both leave.
“We’ve got our own plans too,” Gunnar says.
“I appreciate you guys coming.”
“We’ll be back next time with bells on,” Jameson says.
“I appreciate it.”
“What’s bells on, Daddy?” Troy asks.
“It means he’s excited and wants to have fun at the game.”
Troy’s face lights up as he spins to look at Jameson. “Does that mean you’ll bring some balloon animals next time?”
Jameson smiles down at my kid. “Of course, buddy. I’ll be sure to bring some for you and Lydia both.”
Now, it’s only the four of us. There are still a few groups of students lingering out in the parking lot. I’d always hang out with the guys after games when I was their age. It’s a rite of passage, hanging out with all the cheerleaders after a big win.
The only people I want to hang out with right now are in front of me.
“Did you have fun tonight?” I ask Sutton as we start to walk out toward our cars.
“I did. You did a great job out there. ”
Troy and Lydia walk ahead of us with their heads close together. The two of them barely know each other and they’re already thick as thieves. The lights are still bright in the parking lot, keeping them in our view. Not that I’d worry about anything happening to them at my school.
“I’ve got a good team this year.”
Sutton smiles, linking her arm through mine. I feel her warmth against me immediately.
“At the risk of sounding cheesy, it was really fun watching you tonight.”
I squeeze her closer, breathing her in. Her smell floods my lungs, and damn, does it do all sorts of things to my head.
“I’m glad you came tonight and that we pulled out the win for you. I think you might be my good luck charm.”
“You’re 6-0 now. I don’t know if you need a good luck charm.”
That has me looking down at her. “You know our record?”
We stop short near her car, Troy and Lydia chasing each other around.
I feel like a kid in high school, trying to impress the head cheerleader.
Sutton shrugs a shoulder. “I may or may not have looked up the team stats.”
“Why does that make me happier than it should?” I confess.
Sutton looks up at me with wide, bright eyes.
“Maybe because it means I like you,” she confesses.
“I kind of like you too,” I whisper against her lips.
We’re past the point of playing games. We’re both adults here. Seeing as how we each have a kid, there’s not a lot of reason to be coy.
Especially after the other night.
All I want to do right now is kiss her, but I don’t want to do it in front of the kids. Even if they aren’t paying any attention to us right now, they don’t need to see that .
Spinning out of her arms to keep myself from doing what I want, I call attention to the two tiny balls of energy still running around.
“Are you guys ready for dinner?”
Lydia stops before running up to me.
“Mommy said we could get pizza.”
“Were you really good during the game?” I drop down onto one knee to get on her level.
Lydia crosses her arms and pins me with a stare that only a six-year-old can wield.
“I was very good and cheered really loud and cheered loudest for the big dog.”
“You like our mascot?”
The bulldog is a crowd favorite, always getting the crowd into games no matter how we’re doing.
“I like dogs. Mommy said maybe we can get our own puppy someday.”
“I didn’t say that.” Sutton rests a hand on my shoulder as she kneels down next to me.
“Yes, you did. Because I like the ones on TV so much.”
“Those are my favorites too,” Troy agrees. “Maybe Daddy can get us a puppy and we can share.”
“I didn’t agree to that,” I tell Troy.
“But I want one.”
The sound logic of a child. Because they want one, they think they should automatically get it.
“We’ve talked about this. Daddy is busy with football, so maybe later.”
“Promise?”
“Only if you’re really good.”
“Yes!” Troy pumps his arm as I stand up, my knees cracking. I feel every bit my age on nights like this when I’m working with the team.
“You have quite the negotiator on your hands.” Sutton laughs .
“Don’t I know it.” I go to her door and open it for her. “C’mon. Time for some pizza.”
Antonio’s is hopping. In our sleepy suburb of San Diego, it’s one of the few places that stays open late after the games.
Garlic and the sweet scent of marinara cling to the air. White paper tablecloths, made for coloring, cover the tables. A salad bar is set up against one wall, while a window opens to the kitchen to see the chefs tossing the pizzas. Neon signs for different kinds of drinks decorate the walls as overhead lights hang above each booth.
We’re tucked away in the corner of the restaurant, empty breadstick baskets sitting in front of us as Troy and Lydia create masterpieces with the crayons on the table.
While they’re busy, Sutton and I have been playing a mean game of Tic Tac Toe—with bets on the line of all the things we want to do to each other. Of course we didn’t say that around the kids, them having run off immediately for a few minutes once we got here to watch the chef make the pizza.
“Miss Sutton,” Troy pipes up. “Do you like my daddy?”
That has her eyes going wide. “Do I like your daddy?”
He nods his head like it’s the easiest question in the world to answer. “Yeah. Do you like him?”
Lydia chimes in from her spot across the table next to Sutton. “Do you like my mommy?”
Sutton and I exchange a look, neither one of us quite knowing how to answer this.
“Do you want to answer?” Sutton asks.
I shake my head. “I think you were asked the question first. ”
Sutton leans forward, clasping her hands under her chin. “I think it’s only proper for the gentleman to go first.”
That has laughter roaring out of me. Can’t argue with that logic.
“Lydia, I like your mommy very much. She makes me laugh.”
A wide, toothy smile splits Lydia’s face. She’s the spitting image of her mother. “She makes me laugh too.”
“Does that mean you like my daddy?” Troy asks again.
The nerve of this kid. But I guess that’s what being a kid is. You can ask whatever questions you want and get away with it because you’re cute.
“I do like him,” Sutton tells Troy.
It has a smile erupting on my own face. Who knew this would be my life? Two kids asking the adults if they like each other over pizza on a Friday night.
“Good. Does that mean we can play together more?”
“I want to play with Troy too,” Lydia says. “He has good toys.”
Sutton shakes her head. “You have plenty of toys at home, Lydia.”
“I know, but Troy’s toys are cool.”
The two of them go into a discussion of what their favorite toys are, leaving us to ourselves.
“Well, you can always come over and play with the cooler toys,” I tell Sutton.
That has her laughing, and it’s something I want to keep hearing from her. “Well, I guess if you have the cooler toys we have to keep hanging out. For the sake of the kids, right?”
I lean across the table, wanting to be that much closer to her. “Absolutely. For their sake.”
She leans closer to me, dragging her red cup closer to her and taking a sip out of the straw.
The overhead lights are harsh, but they do nothing to disturb the glow that I feel radiating from Sutton. I don’t know if I’ve ever met anyone like her. She has the biggest and kindest heart of anyone I know.
“If we keep hanging out, does that mean we should make another playdate for the kids?”
I hold my hand out to her and watch as she drops hers into my palm. The slightest bit of contact sends me reeling.
“Maybe my parents can take the kids for the night and let them swim in the pool, and we can go out.”
“I want to go to a pool,” Lydia interjects.
“Me too! My grandma’s pool is the best. It has a slide and mine doesn’t.”
“Now we have to take them to the pool.” Sutton points a finger at me before grabbing another slice of pepperoni pizza and taking a bite.
“I shouldn’t have opened my mouth,” I groan. “You think you have the time off soon?”
Sutton nods. “I’m free next Saturday.”
A drop of pizza sauce clings to the corner of her mouth. If the kids weren’t here, I’d lean over and lick it off, tasting the sweetness of her lips.
Not the thoughts I need to be having right now.
“Okay, so pool date for the kids and you and me?”
“Pool! Pool! Pool!” the two of them start chanting.
“It’s a plan,” Sutton confirms.
“Great.”
I watch as the smile on her face grows even wider.
Gorgeous. The woman is fucking gorgeous, and I’m the reason she looks that happy. The thought keeps hitting me every time I’m around her.
I want to spend every minute I can with her. I don’t care that our schedules are chaotic at best with two kids.
And I’ll take any scrap of time she can spare me.
Because I want Sutton more than anything.