Hustle and Heart (A Coach's Love Book 2) Read online

  “I will. I appreciate that. His father and Melinda have already moved despite the fact he told me he wouldn’t until everything was settled, so I won’t be able to count on him for any help.”

  Misty shakes her head. “I’m sorry, Karen. That really sucks.”

  “It does. But like I told Stella, I’m not going to worry about him. He can do what he wants. I’m done crying over him.”

  There’s a guy in a polo, shorts, and cap talking to the boys. They appear to be extremely excited to be talking to him. He must be one of the coaches because DJ tells him how old they are and that they’re playing Junior PeeWee. This is the town’s Pop Warner league which is great because they’re playing with kids from all over the area. He turns to introduce himself to us, and once our eyes connect. I instantly know who he is. I’m not sure he remembers me until a smile spreads across his lips. “Well, well, look who we have here. Which of these amazing boys is yours, Karen?”

  I can’t help but smile. He remembers me. “Jason is mine.” I put my arm around my son.

  “Mom, you know him?”

  I chuckle. “I do. We go way back. Don’t we, Jesse?”

  “That we do.” He stares into my eyes.

  “How’s Brian?”

  His name causes my stomach to turn. I look away to refrain from saying that my ex-husband is a cheating bastard. I refuse to talk like that in front of Jason. “I wouldn’t know. He left.”

  Jesse’s eyes practically pop out of his head. “I’m so sorry.” Based on our history, I’m not sure he’s being sincere.

  “Are you really?” I challenge him.

  He chuckles, but before he can say anything more he’s pulled away when someone calls his name. “Excuse me.” He starts to walk away but looks back over his shoulder. “Let’s catch up.” I nod.

  “What was that all about?” Misty asks with shock on her face and her hands on her hips.

  I laugh. “That was Jesse.”

  “We got that much.” Stella laughs.

  “He and Brian were good friends growing up. They played Pop Warner football together right here in Dartmouth and continued to play together all the way through high school. I used to come to all the games, and afterward we would all hang out. Jesse liked me and I was attracted to him, but I was dating Brian. He eventually moved on and started dating Della. He told me Brian was cheating on me, but I didn’t believe it. I always thought he was just saying that so he could have a chance with me, but now I wonder.”

  “Well, there was some serious sparks flying just now.” Misty nudges me.

  “I don’t know.” I puff my cheeks letting out a deep breath. “I’m not even divorced yet.”

  “Um...that’s not stopping Brian from moving on. It’s been awhile now since he left, and you deserve to be happy too,” she demands.

  “We’ll see.” We all move forward in the line. This place may be crazy, but the line is moving rather fast.

  We finally get to the front, and Jesse is standing there at a table that’s full of people. I hand my slip of paper over to the woman he’s standing next to. He says, “This is Karen and her son, Jason. Jason is going to be on my team.”

  The woman smiles. “Are you excited?”

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  She scribbles something on the piece of paper and we start to step away. “Karen, wait.”

  I turn back to Jesse. “What’s up?”

  “I need a team mom.” He looks down into my eyes, a hopefully glint sparkling, but I’m not sure I should take on any more right now.

  “I’m not sure I can do that.”

  “Come on. It’ll be fun. You love the sport, and you’ll get to be on the sidelines with Jason.” He grins.

  “What?”

  “I gave them your name.” He bites his lips to stifle his laugh.

  I give him a dirty grin. “You’re still a pain in the butt, you know that?”

  He shrugs. “Dad, do you have any more Gatorade?” A little boy who looks like him comes over.

  “Gabe, this is my friend, Karen. I’m trying to convince her to be team mom.”

  “Nice to meet you, ma’am.” He holds out a hand and shakes with me.

  I put my arm around my son and introduce him. “This is my son, Jason. You two will be on the same team?” I say more as a question than a statement.

  “Yes. They’ll be teammates.”

  “Cool.” Jason holds a fist out, and Gabe bumps with him. “My two friends are on our team too.” Jason waves Mason and DJ over. “These are my boys, Mason and DJ. Guys, this is Gabe. He’s on our team.” The boys instantly get along.

  “Does that mean you’ll be team mom?” Jesse looks so optimistic.

  “Of course she will,” Stella speaks up from behind me.

  I turn to her with my eyes wide. “You need this as much as I needed to be involved in baseball.”

  I sigh. “Fine, I’ll be team mom.”

  “Nice.” He steps out from behind the table. “I’ll let you ladies square away the paperwork, and I’ll take the boys to get their equipment.” I chuckle. I can’t believe I’ve just added something else to my plate. “Come on, boys.” The four boys follow Jesse with excitement over getting their gear.

  “I’ll need you to fill this out.” A lady sitting behind the table pulls me from my thoughts.

  I look down at the form that reads ‘Team Mom Sign Up’ and begin filling it out. When I’m done, she hands me a binder full of information. “There’s a meeting next weekend for all team parents and coaches. Please be there, it will be full of information for you.”

  I nod and turn to Stella who volunteered me for this fun-filled journey. “I take it you can watch Jason for me?” I smile sweetly.

  “You better believe it,” she returns with a sassy smile.

  Misty bursts into laughter. “Did you really think she was going to tell you no?”

  I discreetly flip Misty off while the girl behind the table laughs at our banter. “You’ll fit in just fine around here,” she says. “Your boys are all in that room to the right.” She points and tells us to have a good night.

  When we get over there, we find the boys sitting in a corner with their helmets on. Stella pulls her phone from her back pocket and snaps a picture. Jesse looks over, catching my attention. He takes three long strides across the room before he’s directly in front of me. “I’m glad you’re doing this.” He nods to the binder, smiling wide.

  “Let’s just hope time permits and I can dedicate the time you need.” I switch the heavy binder to the other arm and wave toward Jason, gaining his attention. “Jason, we gotta get going.”

  “Yeah, boys, let’s go,” Misty says from behind me, but I’m distracted. Jesse hasn’t stopped looking me in the eye, although I’m trying to look everywhere but at him. He’s as mesmerizing now as he was all those years ago. I’m not going to lie, there were times when I wondered what could’ve been between us, but Brian asked me out first and unlike him, I was loyal.

  He licks his lips and whispers, “I’ll see you Saturday.”

  “Mom, you coming?” I look over to Jason who’s standing by the door with his friends.

  “See you Saturday.”

  I walk away letting out a slow and steady breath. Those eyes certainly haven’t changed much over the years. They still suck me in. Today they were a wonderful shade of blue, but depending on what he wears they change and become a steel gray. “Let’s go home.” I put my arm around Jason and lead him to the car.

  When we get home, I send Jason straight to the shower and I curl up on the couch with my new binder. Opening the cover I start to read the table of contents, but instantly my mind shifts.

  “Karen!” I turn to see Jesse running up behind me.

  “Hey, Jesse. I don’t have a lot of time. I need to get to my English class to make up a test from last week.”

  “I just need a minute,” he says, walking me to class.

  “What’s up?” I shift my books to my other hand and
look up at him. Jesse is about three inches taller than me and has a smile that would light up the darkest room.

  “I don’t know how to say this, but you need to know.” He stops. “Brian’s my boy, but he’s being an ass and I don’t want you to get hurt.” He’s stumbling over his words.

  “What are you talking about?” I wish he would just say whatever it is he’s trying to get out.

  “I saw Brian with Shelby yesterday. He had his arm around her. When he saw me watching them, he came over and acted like there was nothing going on, but I know what I saw. He was way too close to her.”

  I put my hands up to stop him. “Jesse, stop. Are you trying to tell me that Brian is cheating on me?” I ask, shocked. “Listen, you’ve made it clear from the get go that you like me and I think you’re incredibly handsome, but this isn’t the way to get my attention.” I turn and walk away.

  He calls out to me, and I turn back. The hurt is written all over his handsome face. “You’re right. I like you, but that’s not what this is about. I didn’t want you to get hurt, but apparently that’s what it’s going to take.”

  “Mom,” Jason calls, pulling me from my thoughts. I quickly swipe the tear that escaped down my cheek.

  “Yeah, honey, what’s up?”

  “Can I have a snack before bed?”

  I nod. “Sure, there’s tons of stuff in the pantry. Help yourself and let me know if you need help.”

  “Thanks.” He goes to the kitchen lowering his voice. “Hey, Dad, it’s me. I just wanted to tell you about today. I got my helmet and pads. Our coach seems cool, and some of my friends are on my team. Anyway, I just wanted to let you know.” He sounds so sad that he had to leave a message since his father rarely ever answers his calls. I wish there was something I could do, but there isn’t. I’m not his father, and he won’t listen to me either. With a sigh, I begin going through this binder again. It breaks down the responsibilities of the team mom. I have to attend most, if not all, practices to ensure that the kids are released to their parents. If a child gets injured, I’m responsible for helping the coach with first-aid and so on. From what I’m reading, I’ll have meetings to attend as well as some classes. This is going to make for a busy few months, but at least I’ll get to see Jesse.

  Gabe and I walk through the door and the second we’re inside, Grace comes running to me. “Daddy, Daddy, I’m all signed up for cheerleading!”

  I scoop my little girl into my arms and spin her around. “That’s awesome, baby girl.”

  “I get to cheer for the Mighty Mights.” She claps her hands. Mighty Mights is the division below mine. Pop Warner has five divisions. It starts with the Tiny Mights at five-years-old and goes all the way to Junior Varsity. JV are our middle schoolers. After that you play for the high school.

  I wanted her to wait another year to get involved, but my mother encouraged me to let her start now since Gabe and I will be spending so much time at the field. She's agreed to stay with Grace at cheer practice while I’m on the field with Gabe and the rest of the team. That was my biggest concern with letting her cheer. I have to be at the field later than Grace does, and she’ll need to come home for bed once school starts. “I’m glad you’re excited, but I think it’s past your bedtime.”

  “It is, but Grammy said I could stay up to tell you the good news.”

  I laugh. “She did, did she?” Grace nods. “Well that was nice of her, but it’s time for bed so go brush your teeth.” I put my daughter down, and she runs off.

  “Gabe, when your sister is done in the bathroom, take a shower and get to bed.” I drop my binder onto my favorite chair and head to the kitchen.

  “That’s quite the smile on your face,” my mother says from behind me.

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  She plants her hands on her hips. “Are you trying to pull one over on your mom? I know you, Jesse, what’s up?” she insists.

  I’m about to ask if she remembers Karen when Grace calls from upstairs, [1][2]“Daddy, I’m ready for bed.” I hurry to her room to find her in bed waiting for me to kiss her goodnight. “Good night, baby girl. Daddy loves you.” I kiss her on the head and switch off her light.

  When I get downstairs, I[3][4] grab a bottle of water and plop myself down in my favorite recliner opening my coach’s binder. I try to focus on some of the new rules I need to learn for the season, but I can’t get Karen out of my head. It blew me away when I saw her standing there in the line of parents waiting. I’m thrilled her son is on my team, and despite the fact I feel bad that Brian fucked her over, I plan to take this opportunity to see where things could go between us.

  “Are you reading that or just staring at it?” my mom asks, joining me in the living room.

  “Staring at it.” I look at my mom with a smile on my face. “I can’t believe I saw her tonight.”

  “Who?” she asks with intrigue tipping her lip.

  “Do you remember Karen?”

  She chuckles. “Do I! You were head over heels for that girl until…” her words trail off, not wanting to mention Della’s name.

  “I saw her tonight. Her son is going to be playing on my team.”

  “Really? What a coincidence,” she says with a little grin.

  “Brian left her. I don’t know the story, but I just have this feeling in my gut, Mom.”

  She shrugs. “You know what I say.”

  “If it were meant to be it will happen,” I quote her favorite line.

  “Still holds true today. Just because you two weren’t right for each other all those years ago, doesn’t mean it still holds true today.” She winks at me and gets up from her seat. “I’m going to get ready for bed.”

  I look at my watch. “It’s not that late.”

  “I know, but your mama is getting old and I’m tired.”

  “Okay, good night, Mama.”

  “Mom, I have to get going or I’m going to be late for my meeting.” I lean on the frame of the door watching my mom in the kitchen with my kids on this fine Saturday morning. I’m one lucky SOB. I really don’t know what I would do if I didn’t have her living with me to help with the kids. Who knew being a single dad could be so challenging. Between work, homework, and sports there’s no time for anything else.

  “We’re fine, go.” Grace waves goodbye and Mom shoos me off, but then follows me to the living room. “This is a chance for you to get out and enjoy yourself a little. Take advantage of that.”

  A small grin plays at my lips. “What are you suggesting, Mom?”

  She gives me her sassy little smile. “Karen’s going to be there, right?”

  I chuckle. “Yes.”

  “Well, maybe you should ask her to coffee or something after the meeting.”

  “Or something.” I’m messing with my mom for amusement.

  “Boy, it has been a little over a year. You need to move on.” The sass in her voice tells me she’s getting annoyed.

  “That may be so, but I also have kids to care for and they are my top priority.”

  She gives me her signature mom look. “No one says they aren’t. You deserve to be happy. You put up with far too much with Della. You need to move on. Learn to trust again.”

  “I gotta go, Mom. I’ll see you later.” I kiss her on the cheek and walk out the door. She’s right, though. Part of me wants to move on, but it’s not that easy. However, if there’s anyone who understands what I’m going through, it’s Karen. Shit, I still can’t believe Brian left her. She was always so good to him, and I can’t picture that ever changing.

  I pull up to the old, beat-up building that this town has been using for football meetings since I was a kid. I met Brian outside this very building the exact same way Gabe met Jason. He was a kid coming from Stonehill to play some ball because his town was too small to have their own team. We continued to play together and then ended up in the same high school.

  “Looks like we’re both running late.” A beautiful voice pulls me from my t
houghts. I close my eyes and smile.

  “Hi. It’s kind of funny that you’re running late too,” I reply, still staring at the building.

  “Why’s that?”

  “I was just thinking about how I met Brian the exact same way our boys just met.” I glance down to see her smile vanish. “We clicked and I swore we would be friends for life, but I was wrong and now…” My words fade. “Have coffee with me after the meeting?”

  “It depends on what time we get out of here. I need to pick Jason up from Stella’s house.”

  I laugh. “From what I saw the other night, I bet your friend is just fine watching Jason.” She blushes slightly and nods. “Great. Now, let’s go because we’re late and I’m probably going to get my balls busted for it.”

  She laughs. “I think you can handle it.”

  We walk in together just as the meeting is starting. There aren’t many chairs left since they set up just enough for the coaches and team moms. There’s no way I’m not sitting right beside Karen, so I rearrange the chairs accordingly and we both settle in.

  “You good, Jesse?” Mike asks with a grin.

  “I am now, thanks.” He shakes his head and starts the meeting.

  “Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. Welcome to another season of Pop Warner Football. We have a lot of new faces in the room, and I want to start by thanking you for volunteering. This meeting is made up of all the coaches and team moms for each division. Your support is crucial to the success of our program, and without it we would fall apart. Team moms, your role isn’t as major as the coaches, but it’s still important that we have you here today. You’ll be the go-to person for information. It’ll be up to you to let parents know if practice has to be cancelled for any reason, and you’ll be reminding everyone of game times and locations. You should all have a two-inch binder. This will be your best friend because all your team info is in this binder.” He continues going over team mom information, then he instructs the ladies to all move to the left side of the room so Jodi can go over all the rest of the info with them. My eyes follow Karen on instinct as she follows the other moms.