He wanted to be the one to show them.
The conversation turned into a raucous display as the boys threw out ideas for something they knew absolutely nothing about. Cole glanced at Charlotte, who seemed to be enjoying the enthusiasm.
Then, out of nowhere, Teddy Phillips lifted a hand to quiet them all down. “Hold up, hold up,” he said. “What about you, Coach?”
Cole felt his eyebrows shoot upward. “What about me?”
“You’re dancing with us, right?” Teddy asked.
Cole didn’t blush, but he did feel his face heat up. “No.”
“No, he should dance with Miss Page!” Asher’s eyes lit up like he’d just had the best idea in the world.
Now, Charlotte blushed.
“Come on, Coach,” Dunbar said. “You know people would flock out to see the coach of the high school state championship football team dancing a waltz.”
The boys grew rowdy again.
“Not happening,” Cole said.
“This could be great publicity for the team,” Bilby said. “Really bring the guys together.”
“The team doesn’t need publicity, Bilby,” Cole argued. “We won state last year.”
Matt lowered his voice. “But do you really see that happening this year? This team needs some unity.”
Cole shot him a look.
“I’m just saying, this is the best morale we’ve seen from these kids yet.”
Cole shook his head.
“Come on, Coach, if we have to make fools of ourselves, then so do you,” Hotchke said.
Cole bristled at the attention. “Practice is over,” he called out. “Hit the showers. And don’t stay up all night. I’ve got big plans for tomorrow.”
The guys all groaned, and just like that, Cole threw a wet blanket on the entire mood. So much for that recommitment to being a better coach.
“And there goes the morale,” Bilby said under his breath as he followed the guys inside.
Asher picked up the donut box and handed it back to Charlotte. “Mrs. Ford helped out at Haven House. Let me know if there’s anything I can do to help you with this.”
Charlotte’s face brightened. “Thanks, Asher.”
Asher gave her a nod, then turned to Cole. He hesitated a moment, then finally said, “Sorry about yesterday. If the offer’s still there, I’ll take the job.”
Cole nodded. “It’s there. You start tomorrow.”
“I’m gonna do my best for you, Coach.”
“That’s all I can ask.” It occurred to him he should be making Asher the same promise. Why was this so difficult?
“Think about the dance.” Asher backed away (probably survival instinct). “You know the guys would go bananas.”
Cole waved him off, but not before he caught a toothy grin and a wink in Charlotte’s direction.
Once Asher was out of earshot, he turned to his pretty guest. “Don’t tell me you put him up to this.”
Her eyes widened. “Me? I had nothing to do with any of that. That was all them. I have fully accepted that you are unwilling to participate.”
He met her eyes, and got lost for a moment. He was pretty sure she could convince him to do anything.
But not this. He wasn’t going to make a fool of himself in front of the whole town—even for Jules. He knew enough about himself to know the “stand and sway” was about his limit when it came to dancing.
“Unless you’re reconsidering?” Her tone teased.
“I don’t dance,” he said.
“It’s not that hard,” she said lightly.
He found her eyes. “I don’t dance.” His tone was clipped. Terse. Short.
Her jaw snapped shut, and she looked away. He could see the hurt on her face.
Jerk.
Why was it so hard for him to be kind?
Gemma.
Mom.
He shook the thoughts aside. “Sorry.”
The apology sounded about as earnest as everything else he said, which was to say—not earnest at all.
22
The following morning, Cole was relieved they made it through practice without another surprise visit from Charlotte.
It might’ve been their best practice so far this summer. The guys were focused, and they had a clear leader in Asher. Still, when they finished and hit the locker rooms, Cole overheard something that surprised him—a conversation about their tribute dance. The guys actually seemed excited to go work with Charlotte later on that day.
How could he get them that excited about football again? He knew they all loved the game, but that’s not how it seemed when they played. Sure, they were starting to do the work, but something was missing, and he had a feeling if he figured out what it was, it would transform his team.
That afternoon, he showed up at Haven House to finally help Steve with the fence, but when he arrived, Hildy met him outside, that worried look on her face.
He met her near the bottom of the porch stairs. “What’s wrong?”
“It’s Amelia,” Hildy said.
Cole’s stomach turned over. He’d barely seen Amelia when they were here Sunday. He’d planned to go in and check on her, but then the fight with Asher turned his mood sour. “What’s wrong with her?”
“Is she always this quiet?” Hildy wrung her hands.
Cole shrugged. “How quiet?”
“Silent.”
He sighed. “No. She’s definitely not always that quiet.”
“She’s in the treehouse,” Hildy said. “She’s been up there for over an hour. She ran up there when I told her we were going to go to the dance studio for class later.”
Cole frowned. “I’m not sure she’ll listen to me.”
“Well, it’s worth a shot,” Hildy said.
Cole ran a hand over his chin. He needed a shave. “I’ll do my best.” He made quick work of the yard and stopped at the big oak tree with the house built up into it. The house had been there as long as Cole could remember, and even though he’d been a teenager during his tenure at Haven House, he still found solace in that little space.
Somehow, he thought that was why Steve built it in the first place. Kids with trauma needed a safe place that felt like an escape, one where they wouldn’t be surrounded by other people.
He climbed the ladder and poked his head up through the hole in the floor of the treehouse. There, sitting in the corner, arms wrapped around her knees, was Julianna’s mini-me. Amelia’s eyes widened when she recognized him.
“Hey, kiddo,” he said.
No response.
He pulled himself up into the treehouse. It had been an easier move back in the day. He looked around. “This place hasn’t changed much.”
Amelia’s brow furrowed.
“Did you know your mom and I lived here for a few months a long time ago? Hildy and Steve took really good care of us.”
She propped her chin up with her arms and studied him.
He situated himself next to her and let the silence turn comfortable between them. “Hildy said you don’t want to dance.”
Amelia shrugged. At least it was some indication she was listening. He’d take it.
Another few minutes of silence. He didn’t want to push her. If she didn’t feel like dancing or talking, maybe that was okay. However, it wasn’t like the bubbly little girl he knew.