8. McKenzie
EIGHT
MCKENZIE
It’s well past two in the morning when I pull into the Danvers’ driveway. I promised Coach I’d keep an eye on Kylie at the party, and that’s exactly what I did. But that doesn’t mean she didn’t have any fun. Nope, the opposite actually. I watched her take shot after shot with different players on the team. I made sure she drank water in between, but she definitely has enough alcohol in her system to have a nice hangover tomorrow.
I, however, didn’t have a drop of alcohol. I wasn’t planning on drinking anyway, but having an excuse to watch Kylie made it easier to avoid all the drinks thrown my way. It also made it easier to avoid all of Hayes’ advances throughout the night. He eventually got the hint, and we talked just as friends. It was actually kind of nice. He’s a pretty cool guy under all that flirting.
I could tell Kylie had reached her limit, though, which is why I’m now bringing her home and making sure she’s tucked away safely in bed.
Her arm drapes over my shoulder as I maneuver her out of the car. She’s giggling as we walk up the driveway and keeps repeating how pretty I am. There’s nothing quite like a drunk compliment to boost your self-esteem.
“My dad’s gonna kill me,” she slurs as I attempt to unlock the door with the keys she handed me.
“No, he’s not. You just had a little fun.”
“Soooo much fun,” she says with a giggle.
She did have a blast tonight, and even though I was keeping an eye on her, I had fun, too. We danced and chatted, getting to know each other even more. And we got to mingle with the football team. Overall, I’d say it was a damn good night. It’s something I wouldn’t have done if I didn’t have Kylie to go with me, so I’m glad she agreed when I called her earlier. She hadn’t even hesitated when I told her about the party.
Now I’ve just got to get her tucked in and find a safe spot to park my car so I can get some sleep before my shift at the restaurant tomorrow. I’m working a double, so I don’t want to be dead on my feet all day.
The lock finally clicks, and I push the door open, trying to keep the keys from jingling too much and waking up Coach. I assume he’s in bed since the house is dark. I try my best to keep Kylie quiet as I get her up the stairs to her bedroom.
I find a large T-shirt in her dresser and help her change into it before she plops down on her pillow. She’s out like a light in a matter of seconds.
Deciding I should probably get her some water and ibuprofen for the morning, I quietly head back downstairs to the kitchen.
I find a glass and fill it with water. Now for the hard part: where is the medicine cabinet? My mom always kept it in a cabinet in the kitchen, so I start opening the cabinets. Plates. Glasses. Coffee mugs. No meds.
A throat clears behind me, and I jump.
“Looking for something?”
I turn to see Coach leaning against one of the counters. He’s in those damn sweatpants and a plain black T-shirt that’s molded to his torso, and his hair is disheveled, like he just rolled out of bed. It’s unreasonably hot.
I look away quickly and back to the cabinet in front of me. Bowls. Lots of bowls.
“Sorry if I woke you. I was trying to find some ibuprofen,” I explain.
“Got a headache?”
I shake my head. I consider keeping Kylie’s current state to myself, but he’ll probably find out anyway. And it’ll be better for both of them if he has a heads-up. “No. Preemptive measures. I was going to put some by Kylie’s bed. She had a few drinks tonight.”
“Ah.” He pushes off the counter, turns, and walks away.
I stand there wondering if I’m supposed to follow him. Do I keep looking? Does he assume I’ll find it eventually because I’m pretty nosey? I’ll go through every cabinet and drawer in this place if I have to.
A minute later, he’s back in the kitchen holding a bottle. “I keep these in the bathroom down the hall.”
“That’s a strange place to keep medicine,” I say without thinking.
He chuckles and I decide I like that sound. A lot. “It’s strange to keep ibuprofen in the guest bathroom cabinet?”
I shrug. “Yeah. Kinda.”
“Hmm. I guess maybe it is. I didn’t have anyone around to organize the place when I moved in, so I just threw things in places.”
“Maybe it’s time to change that,” I suggest. I don’t know why. I don’t really care where he keeps his medicine. What I do care about is that I’ve got all of his attention right now. He’s relaxed. I haven’t seen him like this much and I like it.
He hands me the bottle. Our fingers brush as I take it. I might be imagining it since I’m exhausted right now, but it seems like his fingers lingered a little longer than they needed to.
I swallow. I’m sure my mind is playing tricks on me. “Great, I’ll run these up and be out of your way.”
He doesn’t respond before I quickly run up the stairs to leave the water and meds by Kylie’s bed. When I get downstairs, I expect Coach to be back in bed, but he’s not. He’s leaning against the wall in the foyer with his arms crossed, and I try my hardest not to notice how his T-shirt hugs his broad shoulders perfectly. I’ve always thought he was attractive. Any woman with eyes would. But tonight, my body seems extra aware of him, and I’m not sure what’s going on.
“How was the party?” he asks, his voice just above a whisper, as if speaking any louder would ruin the moment or wake Kylie, who’s dead to the world right now.
“It was fun. No one got out of hand if that’s what you’re worried about.”
“Good. The last thing I want is a middle-of-the-night call from the police about one of my boys.”
I laugh quietly. “You should be good tonight. Things were already winding down when we left.”
He looks down like he’s trying to see something. “Did Hayes manage to get you to agree to his wife? I don’t see a ring.”
I laugh quietly. “No. Still very single.”
He nods. “Good.”
Good? Is it good?
I need to get out of here before I do something stupid.
“Kylie had a good time?” he asks, changing the subject.
“Oh yeah. She’s drunk, but not that drunk, so don’t be upset with her.”
He chuckles. “Trust me, I did a lot worse when I was her age. A few drinks is the least of my worries. She’s home, and she’s safe. That’s all I need to know.”
I wonder what he was like at our age. I know he was a star player on his college football team. But he also already had a child. Did he go out and party? Have a different girl on his arm every week? I’ve never been curious about him before, but now. . . I kinda want to know.
“What about you?” he asks.
My brows furrow. “What about me?”
“I hope you got to have fun. When I said to keep an eye on her, I didn’t mean for it to ruin your night.”
I’m not sure why that makes me smile, but it does. “My night wasn’t ruined at all. I don’t really drink. Kylie and I had fun together and it was nice getting to know the team a little. They’re different when they don’t have their uptight coach breathing down their necks.”
He huffs a laugh. “Yeah, I imagine they are. I don’t think I’ve met many college-aged kids who don’t drink.”
“I mean, I have a drink now and then, but before I left for college, I was always the DD for my brothers. I’d rather be able to get myself and the people I care about home safely than have a drink. It’s just not really worth it to me.”
“Next time, you can call me, and I’ll come get you two. Any time. I don’t mind.” He reaches into his pocket and takes out his phone, handing it to me. “Put your number in, and I’ll message you so you have mine.”
Is he asking for my number?
For safety reasons, obviously, McKenzie. I remind myself not to read more into this as I type in my number, even though my heart is racing.
Coach Danvers is going to have my phone number.
God, I’m pathetic. I’m only a year older than his daughter. He probably sees me as a daughter as well.
I hand him back his phone, and he shoots me a quick message. My stomach flips when I feel my phone vibrate in my pocket. Now I have his number. I’m never going to use it, but I have it.
“Well, I’m glad you still had a good time.” He reaches up to scratch the back of his head like he’s not sure what to say now.
I take it as my cue to leave. “I should go. Thanks for letting Kylie come out tonight.”
Before I can reach the door, he stops me. “It’s really late. Are you sure you don’t want to just crash here?”
I would love nothing more than to crash there. He’s right. It is really late, and having to find a safe place to park my car tonight is going to be a pain since I’m so tired. But I also never want to overstay my welcome, even if it means I’ll get to sleep in an actual bed. “You’d be ok with that?”
“We have so many guest rooms that have never even been slept in. You can take your pick of rooms,” he says. His lips tip up in a smile.
“Oh, ok. Well, thank you. That’d be great. I am really tired.”
He nods. “Pick a room and get some rest. Thanks for getting Kylie home safe tonight.”
“Anytime, Coach.”
He nods and starts to turn away, but then he stops. “When we’re here, at the house, you can call me Tyler.”
He wants me to call him by his actual name. It feels like it’s against some rule, but I can’t help the way my heart flutters at the request.
“Tyler,” I say, testing it out.
He nods like he’s pleased with hearing me say his name.
“Good night, McKenzie,” Tyler says as he turns and makes his way up the stairs to his room.
“Good night, Tyler.” I smile as I say his name again.
I shake my head at my own stupidity. I need to get some sleep now. I can’t be lusting after Kylie’s dad. A coach at my school. How do I get these thoughts out of my head?
When I hear Tyler’s door close, I walk up the stairs to pick a room. I open the door across from Kylie’s room to find a bed, a nightstand, and a dresser. Pretty bare, but I won’t be complaining one bit. I slip off my shorts and my top and slide into the bed. My head barely hits the pillow before I fall asleep.