Stranger in Town (Dundee, Idaho #5)(28)
Author: Brenda Novak

“Not a fair trade,” he said. “You don’t have a love life.”

“And you do?”

He grinned.

“All right, wise guy. Hurry and get ready or you’ll be late for practice.”

He caught her at the door. “Mom?”

When she turned back, she saw that his grin was gone. “What?”

“What if I said I wasn’t going to practice?”

Was he testing her? Seeing if she meant what she always said about football? “I’d tell you it’s early enough in the season that you can quit if you want to. Do you want to?”

“Dad would hate it if I did.”

“It’s not his choice.”

“He’d still hate it.”

Because he was living vicariously through Kenny instead of doing something with his own life. “He’d have to accept it. But I’m surprised you’re even talking like this. You used to love football.”

“I still do,” he said.

“Then, what’s wrong?”

For a moment, it looked as if he might have something to tell her. But then his expression changed, and he kicked off his blankets. “Nothing,” he said gloomily. “I’ll be ready in fifteen minutes.”

AT PRACTICE, Kenny was careful to avoid Sly and the twins. He didn’t want to be connected to them, didn’t want to see them wearing secretive smiles that said, “You’re one of us.” Minding his own business seemed to work pretty well—until it was time to go and he made the mistake of hurrying out of the locker room. He was hoping to catch a glimpse of Tiffany before she left cheer practice but ran into Coach Blaine instead.

“You played better today, Price,” he said.

Kenny glanced behind him. Coach Holbrook wasn’t driving him home today but he could still come rolling toward them at any moment. Fortunately the sidewalk was empty, except for a couple of guys over by the drinking fountain. “I did okay.”

“Better than okay.”

Only because he’d managed to block out everything else and simply play the game. But one good practice didn’t mean his problem was gone. It had only gotten worse, because he’d just moved closer to a starting position, where he could actually make an impact on the outcome of a game. “Thanks.”

Blaine stepped toward him and lowered his voice. “Sly said you were acting a little funny at practice yesterday. Everything okay?”

“Sure, Coach. Everything’s fine,” he mumbled, but he continued to stare at the ground, wishing Matt would hurry so they could leave.

“I hear Tiffany Wheeler’s got her eye on you.”

Kenny looked up in surprise. “How—”

“Word gets around, and I generally hear it. I’ve worked at this high school a lot of years, Kenny. And I’m going to work here a lot more.”

Kenny had no idea how to respond, so he said nothing.

His coach stuck his hands in his pockets and jingled his change. “If she likes you already, she’ll really be impressed next year, when you’re the star of the team, huh?”

Something about Blaine’s smile told Kenny they were talking about more than Tiffany. Blaine was painting a picture of how it could be in the future…if Kenny didn’t disappoint him.

“She won’t be too impressed when we lose against Oakridge,” he said. “Everyone’s going to hate that.”

Blaine opened his mouth to reply, but Boo Taylor came out of the locker room. The moment Blaine saw they had company, he started moving away as if they hadn’t exchanged anything except a “See ya later.”

When Boo got in his car and shut the door, Blaine turned back. “Have you ever played chess, Kenny?” he asked.

Kenny played chess with Tuck now and then. He generally lost, but he didn’t really expect to win. The teachers at school couldn’t win against Tuck. “A few times.”

“Then you understand that occasionally you have to sacrifice a few pawns.”

Blaine was trying to be clever using a line he’d probably picked up from some movie. Kenny wasn’t impressed. But one word stood out: sacrifice. Blaine wanted him to sacrifice his integrity. Tuck wanted him to sacrifice his career.

Kenny didn’t want to sacrifice anything. But, thanks to Coach Hill’s heart attack, that was no longer an option.

“I understand,” he mumbled and breathed a sigh of relief when Blaine finally walked away.

CHAPTER EIGHT

AS THEY TURNED in to the drive that wound through the trees to Gabe’s cabin, Hannah took one last look at Ashleigh and wondered if this idea was a mistake. She’d been hoping to set Gabe up with an attractive woman who could befriend him and draw him out. That was it. But Ashleigh looked as though she had bigger plans, and it was difficult not to feel a little jealous. Wearing a tight black miniskirt with a low-cut blouse that made the most of her impressive bustline, she was definitely registering a “ten” on the “hot pursuit” side of the scale.

Gabe wouldn’t know what hit him, Hannah thought. But maybe that was okay. This wasn’t about what Hannah wanted. It was about what would be best for him. At the very least, Ashleigh would remind him of the women he’d hung on his arm in the past. Maybe he’d even realize he could have those women flocking around him again, if he’d just let his life resume a more natural course.

“I think I’ll ask him to dinner on Saturday,” Ashleigh announced, checking her lipstick in the mirror above the sun visor.

Hannah tried to imagine how Gabe might respond to such an invitation. Personally, she thought it premature. “I don’t know, Ashleigh….”

“You said you wanted me to get him out of the cabin, right?”

“Right,” she said. “But…”

“What?”

“You might first try getting him to join you and a group of people. You know, so it’s not like a date. It’ll seem more casual that way.” And somehow it would be easier on me….

“What do you suggest?”

“I don’t know. Tell him you and a few friends are going to dinner in Boise on Saturday night or something.”

“But we’re not,” Ashleigh replied. “Mostly, my friends and I hang out at the Honky Tonk on weekends.”

Hannah had bad memories of the Honky Tonk. Russ had spent far too much time there when they were married. She didn’t want to see Gabe frequenting a bar. She’d driven him into seclusion; she didn’t want to drive him to drink.