Noah
Damn, that was a good game. It was close, maybe a little too close. But my blood is pumping, and my adrenaline is flowing. It was fun to watch, and my players for sure came to play tonight.
Wow. Fun.
I think I’d lost that part of football for a while. I’ve always loved it. It really wasn’t something that was forced on me. I loved the game. Playing and then eventually coaching was always a break from everything else.
And tonight, for the first time in a while, I felt that again.
I can’t wipe the stupid grin off my face when Chance walks over to me, that sexy saunter a promise of what’s to come when we meet at my house later. I cannot wait. I swear my dick has been half hard all damn day.
Talk about awkward, considering all the homecoming festivities I had to attend. The parade. The homecoming court. And now the game.
But everything feels so damn right. It’s a little scary. But mostly, it’s exciting.
His eyes sparkle with excitement as he quietly says, “I guess I’ll see you later, Coach.” He leans in even closer. Hopefully it just looks like he’s trying to talk about the game and wants me to hear it over the crowd, but at this point, I say let ’em talk.
I can’t focus too much on the town’s gossip.
“We’ll celebrate.” It’s two words, but two words that send an excited thrill throughout my entire body.
I try to keep my voice level as I look into his eyes. “Yes. We will.”
He’s smirking, but before he can say anything else to each other, an excited voice I recognize hits me just before arms wrap around my waist. “Congrats, Dad! That was one hell of a game.”
I think my face falls briefly as Chance takes a step back.
But then a genuine smile forms as I turn to face my daughter and her husband.
“LeAnn.” I squeeze her in a long hug, because I’m always happy to see her, and then hold out my hand for her husband.
“Daniel. You guys didn’t tell me you were in town. ”
“We thought we’d surprise you,” she says happily, and I kiss the top of her head.
I focus my attention on Chance, quickly realizing our plans tonight are off. I can see he knows too, but he’s polite and smiling as he reaches his hand out for my daughter.
“I’m Chance Leighton.”
LeAnn shakes his hand with a bright grin. “Ah, right. The Big Bend Bear, now-reformed.”
Chance chuckles as he releases her and holds his hand out for Daniel. “That would be me.”
“Nice to meet you,” Daniel says as they shake hands too and then drop them as Daniel wraps his arm around LeAnn. “I’m Daniel, the son-in-law.”
“I figured that,” Chance says with a charming grin, and even though I’m thrilled my daughter is here, my body is weeping that I won’t be spending time with him at my house later.
That my bed will be cool and not warm with him next to me.
“How long are you in town?” It’s said with true curiosity and no other motive, and I realize, even though I can’t really introduce Chance as who he really is to me, I love that he’s taking the time to get to know LeAnn and her husband.
“Only for the weekend. We’ll have to go back Sunday night,” my daughter answers happily. “But I’m excited to get some country time and hopefully some country cooking.”
Chance chuckles. “Yeah, your dad does make some damn good biscuits and gravy.”
I stiffen, and then Chance’s eyes widen. LeAnn examines him closely, but she doesn’t seem too suspicious—more happy. “Oh my God, he’s made a friend,” she says, her eyes lighting up as she looks at her husband and smacks his chest. “I’ll be damned. I guess you were right.”
“Right about what?” I ask cautiously.
LeAnn just laughs easily. “I thought you’d kill him. Daniel said that you’d end up being friends.”
My cheeks pinken at the word friends, but thankfully it’s pretty dark where we’re standing. I don’t miss the grin on Chance’s face as he shoots me a quick wink. “I wore the grump down, that’s for sure,” he says breezily.
I shoot him a disgruntled look, but it doesn’t work at all. He only smiles brighter.
“Well, I’ll let you all get to your country time.” He nods at me, his eyes as well as his mouth smiling as he tries to portray he’s okay. But I’m pretty sure all I’m giving back is how disappointed I am that he’s not coming over tonight.
And not just for the sex—which is great—but just having him there.
“See ya Monday, Coach. Don’t worry about the knuckleheads on the field. I’ll make sure they all get out of here safely,” he says, and it’s almost convincing, like he’s not at all upset. But I know he’s just as disappointed as I am.
I want it all, damn it.
I want Chance, and I want my daughter and her husband to come visit and for us to all go back to my house. I want to have him in my bed and wake up tomorrow to make biscuits and gravy together for LeAnn and Daniel.
But I’m a coward.
And instead of telling LeAnn we aren’t friends, that we’re so much more, I just give him a quick nod and a silent apology. “You sure? They know how to get to the house without me.”
Chance waves me off. “I’ve got it. Go home.”
LeAnn is beaming, probably because I never give up control, but I don’t argue with him. I just thank him again before he says his goodbyes to my daughter and son-in-law, and we head home.
Without Chance.
And let me tell you, home doesn’t seem to be home without him anymore.