Well, that was new. So was the smile on his face. “What?” she asked, her lips curling.
“Coach asked me to sit with the varsity team tonight. I’m not on the roster, but he says he wants me to sit in with the guys. Get to know them so I’m ready for next year.”
“He thinks you’ll get onto varsity next year?” Her eyes softened. “That’s amazing.”
“Yeah. He’s already told me to be ready for a JV game next week. There are a few of us who are gonna sit with the team tonight.”
“Do we need to be there early?”
“Maybe half past six?”
Mia checked her watch. She hadn’t started dinner yet. “Okay. I’ll make us some sandwiches and we can go out to eat after to celebrate. How does that sound?”
Michael’s grin was huge. “Great.”
Her heart clenched – he was finally settling in. With her job starting on Monday, and Josh spending lots of time with his new found friends, they were all making good progress. All those sleepless nights and tears were worth it, if her boys were happy.
Not that her sleepless nights were only related to her kids. Her sleep had been fitful on Sunday night, thanks to her conversation with Cam Hartson. She’d played it over in her mind, again and again, and every time she winced.
Had she really told him no?
Yeah, she had. And she’d been right, because nothing could ever happen between them. Not even if he sent her heart spinning like crazy.
Or maybe because he did just that. She didn’t like feeling out of control. She was a strong, independent woman. She was in control at all times.
And she wouldn’t let any guy threaten that. Not even one with a smile as sexy as Cam Hartson’s.
But sometimes she wished life was a little bit different.
“Mom?” Josh said, his voice cutting through her thoughts.
“Sorry, honey.” Mia blinked the memories away. “What did you ask?”
“Can I sit with Noah at the game? His brother’s on the team.”
“Um yeah, sure.” Mia nodded, standing to go make their sandwiches. “But you don’t leave the bleachers without asking me, okay?”
“It’s not a big stadium, Mom. Not like in Kansas City,” Michael told her. “You’ll be able to see everybody there.”
“And I’m eight now,” Josh piped up. “I’m not a baby any more.”
“I know.” She ruffled his hair fondly. “I just wish you didn’t have to grow up. Either of you.”
At least they still had this. Homework at the table, meals in the kitchen, and Friday night football. Somehow they were making it through as a family. A smaller one than she’d thought they’d be, but a family nonetheless.
And really, what else mattered but that?
The smell hit Cam as soon as he followed Coach Hawkins through the double doors and walked into the changing rooms. It was like walking back through twenty years of his life, to the days when he and Logan were kings of the locker room.
The aroma of teenage sweat mingled with the powdery fog of deodorant. Clothes were strewn across the benches, socks balled up in sneakers that were flung on the floor. The squad were all dressed though, in the familiar blue and white uniform that used to be Cam’s, along with the white helmets with blue stripes, and the eagle emblazoned on the side.
“Okay, Eagles. You ready for tonight?” Coach Hawkins shouted out. Cam had met with him yesterday, following Derek’s request, and the coach had treated him like an old friend. Yes, he was happy for Cam to help out with the teams. More than happy. They’d spent an hour talking NFL and defensive line ups before Coach Hawkins realized he was late for practice.
And now it was Friday night. The atmosphere in the locker room wasn’t a million miles away from the better equipped and cleaner Bobcats changing room, where Cam had spent half his Sundays for the past nine years. There was a buzz of electricity, peppered with conversation and laughter, as well as the friendly gibes that were part of being in the team
“Remember, Jackson, you’re supposed to catch the ball, not let it sail into the bleachers.”
“Hey, Ben. I hear your new girlfriend’s coming to the game. Let’s hope you don’t end up on your ass like last time.”