The Apple Tree (Sunday Morning, #2) (35)

CHAPTER THIRTEEN





DEF LEPPARD, “HYSTERIA”





Kyle

I met Melinda at the beginning of my senior year of high school. She had moved to Colorado from Connecticut. Her inquisitive amber eyes, glowing brown skin, and crooked smile melted my insides like a handful of chocolate in late July. After one date, I knew I loved her. Adam called me a pathetic lovesick puppy when I had to go two days without seeing her because her family spent most weekends camping or skiing once the resorts opened. He, on the other hand, rejoiced when Lizzy had plans because he said seeing her every day was a little too much.

Melinda and I’s relationship persevered long distances between us, college, two breakups, and her mother's death, only to fall apart when it seemed that we found our happily ever after. How did easy become so hard? It’s like we weathered the storm only to choke to death on a piece of chewing gum while staring at a rainbow.

I lost her, but she lost everything.

At that moment, everything had my whistle, and he ran around the field, blowing it at my players as I scanned the area for my favorite neighbor before the Friday night game.

“Eve!” Josh pointed behind me and dropped the whistle on the ground.

I turned, breathing a sigh of relief. Her long brown hair flowed behind her, part of it tied with gold and red ribbons—the high school’s colors. She wore a Devil’s Head hoodie, stone-washed jeans, and white high-tops.

It took me back to my senior year when the prettiest girl in school eyed me on the football field. And I knew I’d break a new record, get the win, refuel with pizza or burgers, and strip her from the waist down in the back of my car.

Josh hugged Eve, and she ran her fingers through his hair. I was so envious. She smiled at me with her teeth trapping her bottom lip. It was as sexy as it was innocent.

“What are you doing after the game?”

I looked behind me when Drew asked Eve about her post-game plans. He wore a cocky grin as he gawked at her. I turned just as she casually shrugged.

“I have someone else who can start tonight if your head isn’t in the game,” I warned him.

His smirk fell off his face. “Sorry, Coach,” he said, jogging in the opposite direction.

“Are you friends with my quarterback?” I asked Eve.

She watched him over my shoulder. “It’s a small school. I’m friends with everyone.”

“Just friends?” I asked and regretted the question before it made it all the way out of my mouth.

Josh took her hand and tried to pull her away from the field.

Her white teeth peeked out from her glossed lips. “Coach, are you jealous of your quarterback?”

It wasn’t the time or the place to discuss my fucked-up feelings, so I nodded toward the bench. “Have Josh grab his backpack. Do you have the money I gave you for the concession stand?”

“It’s in my back pocket. Do you want to check?” she baited me.

I’d met my match. But I never imagined she’d be eighteen.

“You have plans after the game,” I said and immediately turned to approach the players as they finished warming up.





We won.

I didn’t like how Drew looked at Eve, but the kid could light it up on the field. He threw two touchdowns, passed for one, and ran it in for another from the five-yard line.

After a post-game celebration in the locker room, I left the players to take their showers and stepped into the hallway, where their girlfriends were waiting for them.

Eve was on the floor with her back against the wall, legs outstretched, while Josh slept hugged to her with his cheek on her shoulder.

I gave her an apologetic smile and took him from her. “Sorry. That can’t be comfortable.”

She stood. “It’s fine. I’m not an old man like you.”

“Twenty-eight is old, huh?” I pushed through the door to the parking lot and held it open with my backside while she stepped out in front of me.

“Erin and my other friends left because I said I had plans. I wish I knew what they were,” she said, following me.

I unlocked my truck and lifted him into the back seat. He stirred while I fastened his seat belt, and then he collapsed onto his side, returning to sleep.

I pulled a twenty from my wallet and handed it to her. “Pick up something greasy.”

She chuckled, taking the money. “Such as?”

“Surprise me.”

“Anything for Josh?”

“He’s down for the night. I’ll be lucky to get him to go to the bathroom and wrangle him out of clothes and into pajamas.”

“Okay. I’ll see you in a bit. Crack open a cold one for me.”

I grinned, climbing into the truck. “Root beer?”

“Minus the root,” she called, walking to her car.

When I got home, Josh was as helpful as a rag doll, but he peed, mainly in the toilet and a little on the floor for me to clean up. Pajamas weren’t worth the effort, so I tucked him in with just his Micky Mouse underwear.

By the time I drank half a beer and turned on the news, Eve came through the front door with a Taco John’s bag.

“I was totally expecting pizza,” I said, taking the bag from her.

She dug the change out of her pocket and deposited it on the kitchen table before joining me on the sofa. I pulled the tacos and Potato Olés out of the bag and set them on the coffee table.