“I am one lucky woman,” Josie agreed. “So, tomorrow?”
“Sounds good. I’ll call Lola first and make sure it’s okay with her.”
“Okay. Text me later. And enjoy your date with Cody.”
Five minutes later she was collecting Cody from the gym. “Sorry I was a few minutes late, Cody.”
“It’s fine, Ma. Look.” Cody started dribbling the basketball.
“Wow.” She put her hands on her hips. “Look who’s a dribbling pro.”
“Coach taught me.” Cody was still all smiles.
“Principal Upton?” A very fit, very handsome man approached. “Coach Goebel, just started. I’m subbing for Coach Hernandez while he’s recovering from his back surgery.”
She shook his hand. “Nice to meet you.” Ken was in charge of all the substitutes, so meeting Coach Goebel was a surprise. Even more so because none of the teachers had mentioned him. Well, they might have. She’d been a little preoccupied with her upset stomach—and Winnie. But still, she could only imagine what the reaction to Coach Goebel had been. It wasn’t every day a new, good-looking man came to town—married or not.
“You, too.” He nodded. “Cody’s a natural with a basketball.”
She ruffled Cody’s hair. “His dad was, too.”
“Does he still play?” Coach Goebel asked, watching Cody dribble in a wide circle.
“Who? Cody’s dad?” Annabeth drew in a deep breath. “No, Greg was killed in Afghanistan about six years ago.” It was getting easier to say. The ache was there, but the pain didn’t bring her to her knees anymore.
“I’m sorry.” He shook his head. “I lost a lot of buddies. Nice to be back and part of the world again. Don’t miss it over there.”
“You were military?” she asked.
“Army.” He nodded. “Now, I’m a substitute coach. Single, carefree and loving every minute of it.”
She heard the way he stressed single and looked at him. “Guess it’s a pretty big change of pace?”
He smiled, the corners of his eyes crinkling nicely. “No complaints.”
“Well, thanks for keeping Cody occupied while I closed up shop.”
“It was fun.” He shook his head. “Principal Upton—”
“Call me Annabeth.”
“Bryan.” He swallowed, clearly interested. “It was really nice talking to you, Annabeth.”
Bryan Goebel was the last thing she needed. Besides the distraction he was likely to cause amongst her single and desperate staffers, he was a threat. All it would take was one look, one misconstrued conversation, and her already precarious employment situation would become ten times worse. God, Ken would have a field day... Her thoughts came to a screeching halt. “How did you hear about the position? Stonewall Crossing’s a little off the beaten path.”
“Ken.” Bryan Goebel grinned. “We go way back. I was thinking about a change of scenery. And he can be very persuasive.”
Annabeth forced a smile. I’ll bet. “Ken’s always thinking.” He was such an ass. “You ready, Cody?”
Cody nodded, dribbling the ball to the storage closet, and then running back to her side.
“You have a good weekend,” Coach Goebel called after her.
“You, too, Coach,” Cody answered.
Annabeth nodded in return, but her smile was forced. She’d like to think Ken was just helping out a former serviceman and friend. But she knew Ken. After all, he’d just said he’d fight for the job. And using a hot, single guy would definitely cause talk, if not serious problems, for her.
Right now, she had bigger things to worry about. She couldn’t ignore it anymore, she had to get answers. She only hoped the answers were the ones she wanted.