He must. He’s dressed head-to-toe in designer labels.
“I’m just glad she’s not dating an athlete,” Coach says, leaning back in his chair. “I know firsthand how too much time on the road can take its toll. I don’t ever want that for my baby girl.”
Ava’s eyes meet mine across the table, and I stiffen. Coach has been single as long as I’ve known him, so his position shouldn’t come as a shock, but that doesn’t make it hurt any less.
“Have you ever been married?” Coach asks, oblivious to the impact of his words.
“I was close once,” Arlo admits, “but it didn’t work out. Probably for the best, because when I marry, it will be for life.” He gives a self-deprecating laugh. It’s fake as hell and I see right through it, but does Coach? “I’m a bit old-fashioned.” He turns to Ava, staring at her lovingly. “I believe in honoring my commitments.”
For Christ’s sake. This guy couldn’t lay it on any thicker if he tried.
Taylor rolls his eyes, and it’s a relief to know I’m not the only one who’s unimpressed. Frankly, if these are Coach’s minimum qualifications to date his daughter, we need to have a serious talk.
Ava deserves so much more than a slick charmer who says all the right things.
She deserves someone real. Someone honest. Someone who doesn’t put on airs to impress others and who will love and cherish her until their last breath.
That’s thebareminimum. The thought of her settling for anything less has acid churning in my gut.
“What’s your position on kids?” Coach asks, his gruff voice slicing through my thoughts.
Ava’s eyes go round and she jumps to her feet. “I need to use the restroom.”
The instant she’s gone, the inquisition resumes.
I give her a sixty-second head start and follow. Coach is in too deep with Arlo to even notice I’m gone.
I wait for her at the end of the long hall that leads to the powder room.
When she emerges, surprise flickers across her face, quickly followed by suspicion. “What are you doing?”
“Waiting for you.” No point in being anything but honest. “What’s the deal with the tool?”
She crosses her arms. “Arlo is not a tool.”
“Are you serious about this guy?” I don’t know what I’ll do if she says yes, but I’ll cross that bridge if and when I come to it.
Her arms drop to her sides, and she exhales slowly. “How I feel about Arlo is irrelevant. It doesn’t change anything between us.”
My pulse quickens, and I grin. “So you admit there’s an us. I can work with that.”
The corner of her gorgeous mouth twitches. “Knox, we can’t.”
I lean in, bracing my palms on the wall and caging her between my forearms. “We can.”
Her gaze bores into mine, dark eyes blazing with desire. She blinks, and the fire is banked. “I’m on a date.”
The reminder cuts deep.
“I didn’t think you’d move on so quickly. Not after what we shared.” My words are laced with anguish, but I’m not ashamed of my feelings. I want her to know I’m gutted at the prospect of losing her.
“Knox…” The way she says my name, like she’s hurting as much as I am, only makes it worse.
“I really thought we had something special. Hell, I still believe it, but if you don’t…”
Ava’s lower lip trembles, and I drop my head, pressing my chin to my chest. If she doesn’t believe in us—if she isn’t willing to fight for us—then maybe I was wrong.
“I’m not dating Arlo,” she says, the words gushing from her mouth. “He’s an escort. I only hired him because I thought you were bringing a date, and I didn’t want to feel like a pathetic loser. It was stupid, and maybe a little part of me even wanted to make you jealous, but I know this is all my fault and I should’ve taken my licks with dignity, but I…I just couldn’t. The thought of seeing you with another woman was tearing me up.”