Read Online Under the Lights by Shannon Stacey - Free Book Online Page B

really change, offering up his story in a nonchalant, no-big-deal kind of way, she didn’t miss the way his fingers tightened on the steering wheel.
    She guessed this all had something to do with the
you have no idea
when she’d said he was a messy person. His entire life was a mess.
    â€œHow about you?” he asked. “I’ve heard there’s an ex in your life, too.”
    â€œEx-husband,” she said, wishing she could pull off his casual tone. “We got married, discovered we had irreconcilable differences and then went our separate ways.”
    â€œThat’s it?”
    No, that was far from it, but she didn’t care to dissect her failed marriage for Chase. “He was too charming for his own good, or for
my
own good. Kind of like you, actually.”
    He nudged her with his elbow so she’d look at him. “You think I’m charming?”
    â€œIt wasn’t really a compliment.”
    â€œI take what I can get.”
    Somehow she doubted Chase was lacking in self-confidence and needed an ego boost from her. “Now that she’s your ex, you could get a dog.”
    â€œI should probably get a place to live first since I’ve got nothing at all to offer a dog at the moment. But I’ve been meaning to ask you, when are the other guys coming in?”
    Not the smoothest subject change she’d ever heard. “Alex Murphy and Sam Leavitt are coming on Friday, the day before the street fair. They’re both flying into Boston, soAlex is going to rent a car and then wait for Sam’s plane and they’ll drive up together. The others can’t come for as long, but they’ll all be here for the alumni game and parade. We’re still working out some of the details.”
    â€œIs Sam staying with his mom?”
    â€œNo.” They wouldn’t even have considered asking Sheila Leavitt about the possibility, even if Sam hadn’t told them he preferred to board with a team family, like the others. There was too much history there, and none of it was pretty. “He’s staying with Cody. You know, the kid who plays tight end?”
    â€œYes, I know Cody. I hope Sam doesn’t mind being called
dude
.”
    â€œI wish Cody was the only offender, there. I hate that. But anyway, Mimi Dodge is his grandmother and he’s been living with her for several years, so Sam will be at the Dodge house.”
    â€œWhat happened to the kid’s parents? Bill Dodge was older than me, but I kind of remember him.”
    Kelly hesitated. “I can’t discuss Cody’s parents. Alex is staying with JJ Barton’s family. John Briscoe’s bringing his wife and kids, so they’ll stay with his parents. Killing two birds with one stone, he said, since they haven’t been back to visit for a while. Deck and Phil Parson still live in town, obviously. Phil’s out of town, but he’ll be back soon.”
    â€œSo nobody’s staying with the running back? Hunter, I think his name is.”
    â€œHunter Cass. And no, nobody’s staying with him.” There were several families connected to the team who couldn’t take the strain of a guest, either financially or emotionally. “We didn’t have to ask too many families, since those arethe only commitments we could get from the guys we could find. Just the six of you.”
    â€œI think you did pretty good, actually.”
    She smiled at the praise in his tone. “Thanks. I just hope it’s enough.”
    â€œEven if it’s not, I know how much it means to a guy that age to have somebody believe in you and fight for you.” He gave a little shrug, and then chuckled. “Which you know, since you didn’t hesitate to use it against me.”
    She felt a pang of guilt. “That was harsh, actually, and I’m sorry I had to do it. But he’s my dad. And he knows he’s more to the team than just their coach.”
    â€œThat he