Chapter 26 #2
“I just wanted to check in about how things are going with Ally. I know you didn’t know her all that well before this, and I guess I just wasn’t sure how exactly you two were getting along, or how it was going between her and Lucas,” he says, and I feel myself both get more stressed yet somehow more relieved all at once.
A conversation like this I can handle—even if I do have to hide just how well Ally and I are getting along. He doesn’t need, or want, to know any of that information.
“Actually, sir, everything has been going extremely well. She’s a sweet girl, and we’ve gotten along great,” I tell him, trying to give her the compliment she deserves while not letting it sound like I know the way her pussy tastes.
“She and Lucas have been having a lot of fun. She always has activities planned for him and keeps him busy. He really likes her, and I think she likes him too.”
I smile when I think about her and Lucas, the way the two of them just bonded so instantly even when she was absolutely determined that she didn’t like kids.
I knew if any kid could win her over, it’d be him, but I didn’t expect it to happen within the first day. But now, it’s like he’s her little bestie, always doing things together, and it makes me so happy to know Lucas has someone like Ally to care about him.
He’ll always have me, and obviously anyone in our family, which of course includes more than just blood.
He has a whole slew of my friends and teammates who we both consider to be our family.
But that doesn’t mean that I don’t always wish he had more.
Having Ally in our lives has just seemed to fit so perfectly.
I’m not sure I’m quite ready to face the magnitude of what that means, but I do know I’m willing to lower my guard just a bit for her, something I haven’t been able to do even before Lucas came into my life.
I’m willing to try to slowly solve the puzzle piece by piece.
I’ve guarded my heart for years, always putting my son above everything, and right now I’m realizing that by doing that, I was losing out on the opportunity to find not just my person, but our person…
and Lucas deserves that. He deserves to have another parental figure in his life.
The more time I spend with Ally, the more it makes me wonder if maybe I deserve it, too.
“You don’t have to sugar coat anything with me, son, you know this,” he says, leaning back in his chair as he folds his hands, watching me, almost as if he’s assessing me, listening to my answers but also reading me intently.
It’s fucking unnerving, and normally this man doesn’t get to me.
He intimidates the fuck out of most of the guys, but not me.
Right now, though? With this conversation about his niece?
Yeah, this is fucking intimidating. Especially when I’m about to argue with him just a little bit because I really don’t like his tone.
“With all due respect, sir, what do you mean by me sugar coating something?” I ask. Now it’s my turn to look confused, sitting back in my chair as I watch him stare at me, not angry in any way—more curious.
“I mean that Ally is a tough cookie to get to know, and you don’t have to pretend everything is all sunshine and roses. Ally has her moments where she’s less sunshine and a little more thunderstorm.”
“But that’s the thing about it, clear day or cloudy, she can still be the sun,” I tell him, and his eyes widen just enough that I’m a little nervous I went too far, said too much. Fuck. This isn’t my thing to tell him. This is hers, and I’ll feel terrible if I let it slip.
“You are very right on that one, smart man,” he says with a nod, a tiny smile playing on his lips, and I don’t know why, but I feel like that answer means I just passed some type of test he was throwing at me.
“I was going to talk to Ally if we made it to the playoffs. I know I mentioned it to her already, but I was going to make sure she knew she’d be watching Lucas a little bit longer—as long as you’re okay with it—so I wanted to check with you first. I also wasn’t sure what was going on with Kenna and what your plan was. ”
“Well, I appreciate it, Coach, but it really is going well. She’s been wonderful with Lucas, and she and I have gotten to know each other better.
I know she’s not the ice queen she tries to portray to the world.
As for Kenna, I think her plan was to stay for the job back home so she could help her family, so I’d love it if Ally stuck around,” I tell him truthfully, starting to realize that even if Kenna did come back next season, I’m not sure she’d be my first choice for Lucas.
Not saying I haven’t appreciated every little thing she’s done. I’m just enjoying life right now and I think who spends time with Lucas—and me, for that matter—has a lot to do with my happiness.
“I like hearing that. Have you thought about what you’re going to do after the season? Kenna won’t be around for a while, right?”
“No, last I heard she was gone for awhile. But truthfully, I’m not really sure exactly what’s going on with her family, so her timeline could change.
That being said, I don’t know if I’d want Kenna to come back to be with Lucas everyday.
I really like the way Ally is with him, and if this is something she’d be interested in continuing, I would absolutely love it if she stayed on after the season ends. ”
“Well, I love that. Glad to see she’s letting you in and showing you more than just the mask she puts on for the rest of the world.
She’s such a unique girl—it’s just chasing her down and getting the mask off that’s such a challenge,” he says before looking down at his watch.
“That’s really all I wanted to chat with you about.
I’ll let you get out of here because if Quinn knows I’m the reason Ally’s late to happy hour, she’d ream me out. ”
“We can’t have that, now can we,” I tell him with a laugh, standing up. “Thanks for checking in though, Coach. I appreciate you always looking out for me and Lucas.”
“Anytime, Cooper. You’re one of the good ones,” he says with a half-smile, and I just nod before heading out.
Maybe I do deserve someone like Ally.
First we have to win this game tomorrow.
Then I’m going to win the girl.