“Well, even if it isn’t true, you should act like it is. Put together the best edition you can and show him that you deserve the job, even if he can’t give it to you right now.”
I let my attention wander to the kids practicing. We were all outside tonight, and it was good practice since the tournament was being held here. “I don’t know, Holls. If it’s not true, and I don’t get promoted…”
“You’ll quit?”
“Maybe. I don’t know. I’ve really enjoyed doing this all by myself. Having a bit more creative freedom has felt really good.”
“You could freelance?” she suggested, tapping her chin.
“Sounds great, doesn’t it? Until you consider that I have to pay bills. There’s not enough certainty in that.”
“You’re not allowed to move. I’m just putting that out there now.”
“I have no intention of moving.” I laughed and shook my head. “No, I’m happy here. So is Leo. It’s nice to be with family again, even if Mom avoids you all like the plague.”
Holley snorted. “She avoids Grandma like the plague. We all would if we could, but we can’t.”
Amen to that.
Although if she didn’t live at the crazy place that was the senior center, she’d probably be a lot more tolerable to visit. It was the other residents that were slightly on the whacky side.
I was being nice when I said slightly, okay?
“All done!” Ollie blew his whistle to end the session and called all the kids in. knew he was about to select his team for the weekend, and not all the kids could make it. It really sucked, and my mom heart squeezed for all the parents who would have to comfort their kids tonight.
My mom heart was also happy because I’d have a happy kid.
Such was life.
“Hey, are you done?” Seb joined us. “Ooh, is he announcing his team?”
“Yep,” I replied. “It’s gonna be rough for some of those kids.”
“He’s splitting the practice after this tournament,” he muttered in my ear after kissing Holley. “The kids who don’t make his team are going to have different sessions to the ones who do. He wants to train the team as a team, not as a full collective.”
“Wait, don’t we already have a local team?”
Seb licked his lips. “Not in White Peak, no.”
“You’re making a local team?” I whispered.
Holley nodded. “Starting with soccer. It’s the easiest one, then probably baseball. I ran the numbers and it’s absolutely possible.”
“Of course you did.”
“If they get top three in the tournament, Mr. Chester has agreed to have the newspaper sponsor their kits,” Seb explained, ever so slightly louder now that all the parents had dissipated from us. “I think Ollie’s really excited about it, even if it means we need another coach to train the other kids. We’re doing it for all the age groups from six up.”
“That’s so cool,” I replied. “And great for the kids to have something to aim for, too.”
“Agreed. I’m also hoping it might convince him to stay here. He mentioned to you in his interview, right?”
“Oh. That he might go back to England? I think so.” I tucked my hair behind my ear.
“It’s why she won’t go out with him,” Holley said brightly.
“Momma!” Leo burst out of the group of people with his arms held out. “I’m in goal, I’m in goal!”
Like that wasn’t obvious from the one-on-one lessons.
God bless kids.
“Good job, monster!” I bent down and scooped him up into a giant hug. “Wow! You’ve worked so hard!”
“Auntie Holley! Uncle Seb! I’m in goooooal!”
That was my ear.
I put him down so he could accept his hugs and congrats from them. I was going to pretend my cousin hadn’t mentioned me and Ollie, mostly because there was technically nothing going on there and I knew Sebastian was a master meddler when it came to romance.
“Right, we need to go,” I said to Leo, ruffling his hair. “Dad’s calling you soon and we don’t want to be late. Say goodbye to Auntie Holley and Uncle Seb.”
Leo did just that and took my hand as we headed for the parking lot. “Dad’s coming tomorrow, right?”
“Friday, after practice. He has a late meeting this week,” I answered, leading him out. “Do you need to use the bathroom before we go?”
“No.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes.”
“Okay.” I took him to the car, and he got in the back. I tossed his things in with him and got in myself, starting the engine. “What do you want for dinner tonight?”
“Umm, I don’t know. Pizza?”
“Pizza tomorrow. Ollie is coming over again to do more soccer practice with you.”
He gasped. “He is?”
“Sure is.” I pulled out of the parking lot. “And you said you wanted to make pizza then because you’re with Dad on Friday. Remember?”
“Oh, I remember.” He went silent for a moment. “Momma?”
“Yes, Leo?”
“Are you dating Ollie?”
I almost choked on my saliva. “No, I’m not dating him. Why do you ask that?”