Page 37 of Scoring Chances
I lean forward and hug my knees to my chest watching the kids closely. Liam and Maddie are fortifying their castle like their lives depend on it. Parker is collecting shells. And Cole, he’s alone. Off to the side. Still wearing sneakers. He’s holding his knees the same way I am, staring off into the ocean.
Poor kid. I wish I could do something to make him feel better. Maybe Joshua was right about keeping the truth from Maddie and Parker. Even if just a little longer.
The truth seems make everything… heavier. My eyes travel to the kids laughing together. Ignorance is definitely bliss.
The girls around me are chatting about the baby shower and plans once the season starts. I tune it out. Considering I won’t even be here when that happens.
My line of sight goes to the teammates playing football on the shore. Fergie catches the ball and gets tackled by Joshua and Zane into the water.
On the way here, we stopped the biggest gas station in Texas. The boys all have matching swimming trunks with beavers on them.
Even on vacation they have to be in uniform.
I sigh.
Kesley leans over and lifts the hat covering my eyes. “You okay in there, Cassidy?”
I didn’t even realize they noticed I was still there.
“Oh…” I sit up, surprised. “Yeah, I’m fine.”
“Mmm,” Rina says.
“What?” I say, looking at her.
“I’m fine is girl code for “I’m totally not fine. Something is seriously wrong but I’m afraid if I talk about it you’ll judge me so I’d rather just pretend,” Izzy explains.
“We won’t judge,” Kesley adds.
“We can’t judge,” Libby says. “Guarantee you that one of us has been through it. Whatever it is your sighing about over there.”
I look out at Joshua, now tossing the ball to another one of the guys. He’s every bit the walking temptation I know he is. And I hate that I feel that way about him.
“What do you do if you like someone… but they’re incapable of returning the sentiment?”
Rina says, “Are we talking about Keelan here or…”
I look at her, the heat of my embarrassment rising into my cheeks. “Not Keelan.”
Rina smirks and sits back in her chair whispering, “I fucking knew it.”
“Keelan’s just a friend. So is Joshua, except that I work for him. And that’s what this is. It’s an arrangement. I work for him. He hired me for a job,” I say out loud.
“But the lines are blurring?” Izzy asks.
I nod, sheepishly.
“The way I see it, Cassidy. You’re the one in control here,” Libby says, confidently.
My eyes flick to meet her gaze. “I am?”
She sits up straighter, turning her long legs toward me. “Yes. Hicks is a lady’s man. It’s easy for him to get what he wants. He’s never had to work for it. Everything’s always been handed to him on a silver platter. This situation–with these kids–it’s making him grow up and realize that life isn’t all just fun and games. There’s work to put in. And you, my dear, will make sure you don’t make things easy on him.”
“I do make things easy on him. It’s my job.”
“Then don’t,” Rina says. “These men need to realize that we’re not just around to clean up their messes. Though technically… that is my job. But it’s not yours." She points a finger at me.
“Yeah, and we’re not just here to make them look good either,” Izzy says, pausing to add, “Though technically that is my job as the team photographer. But it’s not yours.”