30. Nessa
30
NESSA
“ M ornin’, Miss Hart,” Coach Turner says far too brightly for a Monday morning. Strangely, I don’t hate it.
Sheriff Jensen Kade is, undoubtedly, the reason for it—that, his magical penis, and the countless number of orgasms he bestowed on me since our late-night encounter in the bathroom.
I’d thought the first couple were simply him putting on a good show for me, giving me his best performance.
A one and done.
But the bastard had somehow made it better every time he’d managed to get me naked.
Or partially naked.
And it had been glorious.
“Morning, Coach, have a nice weekend?” I manage without completely stumbling over the greeting.
“Sure did, and yourself?” he asks as Lana sets a cup of coffee in front of him and gives me a smile. He thanks her and pulls a packet of sugar from his drawer, the paper crinkling as he tears it.
“It was great. I got to see the lights over at Darling Farms and met a few of Jensen’s friends.”
Coach’s lips twitch as he stirs his coffee.
“Hell of an athlete, that one.”
“You were here when he went to school?”
“Sure,” he muses, leaning back in his chair. “I’d still been pretty new back then but bein’ in a town like this—everyone watched these kids grow up. You see the same crowd at the high school games that you do at the college ones.”
“You’ve got something special here, Coach,” I say honestly and he nods.
“Proud to be a part of it.” Eyes twinkling, he adds, “Speaking of bein’ part of it, I know it’s late notice but would you be interested in coaching the club team this Friday?”
“They’re not all home for the holiday already?” A spark of excitement bubbles inside me at the idea.
“A lot of the students are local, so they scheduled this makeup game to fit with the end of the semester.”
“Where’s their coach?”
“Had to fly out for a wedding this morning. Funny how things keep working out, isn’t it?”
“Maybe you should buy a lottery ticket with all that luck you’ve got.”
“Not a bad idea.” He chuckles as he sits forward. “So can I tell them you’re in?”
“I’m in. But no cameras and we keep my identity a secret as long as possible. I don’t want to take away from the school or the team.
Studying me for a moment, he nods. “I’ll make sure it happens.”
“Thanks, it just makes it easier for everyone. Am I allowed to run practices before then?”
“I’m sure they’ll love that.”
“And I’m sure you’re lying.” He grins and brings the computer to life as I mentally go through Jensen’s schedule. “How’s four o’clock?”
“Sounds great.” Tapping away with more force than the poor keys deserve, he finishes whatever he’s telling them and clicks send.
I know it’s only a few days before the game, but if I’m going to do this, I need to know what we’re working with.
Pulling open another desk drawer, he hands me a lanyard with a keycard and a small gold key.
“This’ll get you into the complex after hours, and this key gets you in the equipment room. I’ll have some of the kids set everything out. Just lock it up when you’re done.”
“Will do, Coach.”
Standing, I pocket the lanyard and move toward the door. I’ve almost pulled it open when he speaks again, “Nessa?”
“Hmm?” Turning, I find only sincerity as he stares at me.
“Would you do me a favor? Off the record?”
“That depends.”
“Would you see if you can get Lana out for a ladies’ night? Or lunch? Hell, even coffee would be a start.”
“Coach?” I ask, unable to hide my smirk. He rolls his eyes and it’s adorable.
“She’s been workin’ here a while but she keeps to herself—doesn’t go out when some of the other staff does.” He shrugs like this isn’t the sweetest thing I’ve ever heard.
Because I can read between the lines.
He wants Lana to have a friend.
“Aren’t you a big ol’ softie?” I joke but he just waves me off.
“Don’t you have a practice to run?”
Laughing, I make my exit and stop in front of Lana’s desk with my most winning smile. I’d never do something like this in Nashville. Kinsley and I choose to stay to ourselves as much as possible outside team events.
“Are you ready for the holidays?”
“Not really,” Lana says, her brow furrowing. “I moved here a little over six months ago with my kids after my divorce was finalized. It’s our first holiday in the new house.” Her smile is tight like she didn’t mean to share that much with me.
“How old are your kids?”
“My son is twelve and my daughter is eight.” I open my mouth and then close it again and she chuckles. “I’m thirty-four.”
“I wasn’t… I mean, you look great and…”
She smiles, and this time, there’s nothing fake about it.
“It’s all right. My ex and I got pregnant in college and here we are.”
Not so suddenly, I’m hit with the same sense of protectiveness that Coach Turner must be feeling when he sees Lana going through the motions day in and day out.
Thinking fast, I say, “I’m temporarily in Blackstone Falls, but a couple of the people I’ve met… we have a book club. It meets the first week in January. You should come.”
It’s the first thing that comes to mind.
Not coffee.
Not dinner.
Book club.
Like I’ve ever attended one in my life.
“I don’t want to impose,” she says, not picking up on my internal panic because my smile is still perfectly in place.
“You’ll love them—it will be great.”
“Okay, sure. Yeah, that sounds fun.”
“We’re reading that new book by Sloane Daniels.”
Lana chuckles. “I can’t remember the last time I actually sat down and read a book.”
“Well, now’s your chance to start!” I say with a wink and she smiles.
“Thanks, Nessa.”
“Don’t thank me until you meet the rest of them.”
“Looking forward to it.”
We exchange phone numbers and I say goodbye after suggesting a coffee date before then. It’s only as I’m walking to my car that panic starts to rise in my chest. Because as excited as I am, there’s a problem.
There’s no book club.
And I’ve roped Bea, Ellison, and Cal into it too.
Welp, it’s time to activate the phone tree.
NESSA: Hey so good news you have a book club now!
ELLISON: Are there snacks?
NESSA: Do you want there to be snacks?
ELLISON: Obviously
BEA: I’ll bring the wine
CAL: I’ve been obsessed with these little cannoli so I’ll bring those
BEA: What book are we reading?
NESSA: That new one from Sloane Daniels
CAL: My sister has signed copies of that one at Wandering Pages
BEA: What?! THEY’RE SIGNED?
CAL: She won’t tell me how she gets them
ELLISON: It’s in audio right?
BEA: They’re signed…
ELLISON: You know damn well I can’t sit long enough to read a chapter let alone a whole book
NESSA: So no one is going to even question that we now have a book club?
CAL: Do you want us to?
ELLISON: Oh no! Not a book club!
BEA: Anything but that!
ELLISON: I hate drinking wine and eating snacks and talking about orgasms and book boyfriends.
NESSA: Well done ma’am
NESSA: (gif of person giving a standing ovation)
BEA: (gif of woman blowing a kiss)
CAL: I think the real question is how come on a random weekday you want to start a book club when you plan on going back to Nashville
ELLISON: (gif of guy eating popcorn)
NESSA: Maybe I just really wanted to start one
BEA: That sounds nothing like you
CAL: Highly unlikely
NESSA: Fine
NESSA: I accidentally made a friend
ELLISON: I hate when that happens
CAL: Excuse the fuck out of you
ELLISON: You don’t count
BEA: Wait is that me then?
ELLISON: No you don’t count either
CAL: You just ran out of friends
NESSA: That leaves...
ELLISON: Oh it’s not you either
ELLISON: I’m just sayin’ if I did accidentally make a friend it would be terrible
CAL: I love when you’re dramatic
ELLISON: Bless your heart
CAL: I haven’t been here long enough to be offended by that
ELLISON: Such a shame, it’s such a good one
BEA: I have to go finish packaging soaps but let me know the date!
The other two chime in with similar sentiments, and once again, I’m hit with the notion that I’ve stumbled into something wonderful in this town.
And every day, it’s getting harder to think about leaving.