Homecoming (A Boys of Fall Novel) Read Free Page B

ridiculous. Besides, he parked behind you. You’re blocked in.”
    “Shit.” Jen closed her eyes for a moment and drew in a deep breath, centering herself. She dealt with awkward situations a lot being a guidance counselor, whether she was working with the kids or meeting with parents, so she could certainly handle saying hello to a man she’d known her entire life. “You’re right. I’m being ridiculous. We had sex.It happens. Maybe not as memorably as that particular sex happened, but it does happen and there’s no reason for me to avoid him.”
    “I’m glad you’re going to be adult about it even if it does mean I don’t get the joy of watching my mom catch you trying to sneak out the back door.”
    Jen snorted, all too able to imagine Mrs. McDonnell calling her out. “Yeah, I think I’ll just give him a polite ‘welcome back’ and ask him to move his truck.”
    —
    S am wasn’t surprised when Mrs. McDonnell opened the front door before he could ring the bell. She pushed open the screen door and hauled him in for a hug.
    “Thank you so much for coming, Sam. I can’t tell you what it means to us.”
    “I seem to have a hard time saying no to McDonnells.” He pulled back to look at her. Based on Kelly’s age, he guessed her mom was somewhere in her early fifties—not that he’d ever ask—and she was a beautiful woman. But he could see the toll that worry had taken on her lately. First the stress of Eagles Fest and fighting to fund the football team, and now her husband having a heart attack. She was having a rough year. “How’s Coach?”
    “He’s . . . as well as can be expected, I guess. He’s weak and he needs to avoid stress and not cheat on his diet while he recovers—or ever again, if I have my way—but God knows it could have been worse. Come on in and see him.”
    Sam tried to brace himself as he followed Mrs. McDonnell to the living room. Coach was not only the closest thing he had to a father, but he’d always seemed larger than lifesomehow. His brush with mortality had Sam off-kilter and he had to concentrate on keeping his face relaxed.
    Coach was kicking the foot of the recliner into place as Sam walked into the room, throwing aside a fleece throw. He looked tired and pale, with shadows around his eyes. He’d also lost a few pounds since Sam last saw him, but when they made eye contact, he saw that Coach might be down, but he wasn’t out.
    “Don’t get up,” he said, walking over to the recliner.
    “You drove halfway across the country just to do me a favor. I think I can get up out of my chair to say hello.” He pulled Sam into a hug and slapped his back. “Thanks for coming, Sam.”
    He heard footsteps on the wooden staircase and turned, expecting to see Kelly. She had her own place, but Sam imagined she’d be around a lot to help her mom out while her dad recovered.
    Kelly was coming down the stairs. But right behind her was Jen Cooper, and once his gaze locked onto her, he couldn’t seem to look away. She was so damn pretty, with long blond hair and blue eyes. Her skin was soft—and damn, he knew just how soft it was—and she had a smile that warmed him like a crackling fire on a winter night.
    When her eyes met his, her cheeks turned pink and her lips parted as her chest hitched in a quick breath.
Oh yeah, she remembers
, he thought. When she looked at him, she remembered how explosive they’d been together and, like him, she was doing her damnedest not to show it.
    “You made good time,” Kelly said, giving him a quick hug. “We didn’t think you’d be here for a few more hours.”
    “The flow of traffic was good. Hi, Jen. It’s good to see you again.”
    She gave him a tight smile from the bottom of the staircase. “Hi, Sam. Welcome back.”
    “Welcome
home
,” Mrs. McDonnell said. “He may live in Texas, but Stewart Mills will always be home.”
    Because Jen was in his peripheral vision, Sam saw her lips tighten and the look she gave Kelly. The