TWENTY
Ryan
It felt like my heart had been turned into a lump of coal. It didn’t seem to beat any more.
But I was still alive, so I tried not to worry about it and stay focused on the trip.
The kids helped. They were rambunctious on the bus ride, singing and joking the whole way. Thank goodness for their infectious attitude because it actually got my mind off of everything else for a while.
Until we lost the game and it all came rushing back.
It turned out that it was hard to cheer up a pack of high schoolers when you yourself felt like a wet, used towel. Thankfully the other parents took the lead on that part.
By the time everyone had to turn in for the night, I felt like I'd run a marathon. All I wanted was an entire bottle of Jack and a warm bed to curl up in.
The best I could do though was the hotel bar and a rum and coke.
After sitting there for a few minutes, Carl sank into the seat next to me.
“Taking it pretty hard, huh?” he asked.
I grunted in response. I really didn't want to explain that the real reason I was upset was because my boyfriend was married to someone else and that was finally starting to make me question a few things.
“It's not your fault buddy,” he said, waving the bartender over to order a drink. “These things happen. They had a great team this year.”
“We do too,” I argued. “The boys worked hard all season.”
I shrugged.
“But, at least we made it to the semi-finals. We blew through most of the district with ease to be honest.”
“Hell yeah, they did great,” he agreed, grinning. “All thanks to you, Coach.”
He raised his glass, and I smiled despite myself, clinking ours together.
“Thank you.”
“Thankyou,” Carl said. “I haven't seen Michael so confident. He has friends now and a purpose... you really brought him out of his shell in a way I couldn't as the single dad, y'know?”
Warmed, I shook my head.
“You seem like a pretty great dad to me,” I argued.
He smiled warmly.
“Well thank you,” he said. “I do try.”
“I guess it’s easy to forget other people have shit going on too,” I said, shaking my head.
He looked me over with sharp eyes.
“Wanna talk about it?” he asked.
I shook my head. I didn’t know how a big, tough, straight man like Carl would handle me talking about boy problems. I took a sip of my drink.
“Any chance this is about that man you were kissing in the parking lot that day?”
I accidentally sprayed rum and coke before clamping a hand over my mouth.
