Fall for You: Boys of Alabama

More little girl giggles fill the air breaking me out of my ogling, “Daddy!” she squeals, “you are sooo silly! There’s not really tea in that teacup, it’s make believe!”

“Silly me, Princess Aria,” he responds, “You’re just so convincing when we play make believe that I forgot it was pretend.”

I can’t help but laugh at the scene before me which inevitably gives me away. The gentle giant on the floor whips his head around to see where the laugh came from and we lock eyes. He hits me with a lopsided grin and almost looks sheepish to be caught playing pretend with his daughter. “Oh, hey, sorry. I didn’t realize we had an audience.”

I return his grin, “No, I’m sorry for eavesdropping. I got a little lost looking for the teachers lounge and heard voices. My room is sweltering and I was trying to find some bottled water. I was surprised to see anyone else here.” He rises to his feet from the ground and starts to make his way towards me, extending his hand. This man is tall, easily 6’3, and his gait is strong, like he’s incredibly sure of himself. That is, until he sheepishly pulls the crown off his head and tosses it on the floor.

Suddenly I’m face to face with the most beautiful man I’ve ever laid eyes on. Dark brown eyes with flecks of gold in them, sharp cheekbones, scruff covered jaw with a beard a few shades darker than his sandy blonde hair. His biceps are on full display in his gray Jefferson Football cutoff. When my eyes finally land back on his face, he grins a slow and lazy smile. He totally caught me checking him out.

“Ford James, pleasure to meet your acquaintance….” he trails off, waiting for me to finish the sentence with my name. I can feel my face flushing from being caught ogling him. I reach out and place my small hand in his much larger, rougher one. The jolt of electricity I feel when our hands connect has me jerking mine back before we can shake hands.

“Oh. Sorry. Uh, Lex Carter. New 9th and 10th grade history teacher. I’m so sorry for interrupting. Do you think you could just point me in the direction of the teachers’ lounge and then I can get out of your hair? Just looking for a vending machine so I can grab some water.”

What is it about this man that makes me so jumpy? His hazel eyes are traveling a path from my flip flop clad feet, past my ragged cutoff denim shorts, my Half Moon Yoga tank top that has seen better days, and all the way up to my messy bun.

“I’ll do ya one better,” he says as he spins around and walks behind his desk, “got myself a mini fridge under here with some extra waters.” He walks back and hands me two ice cold bottles.

“Thanks for this,” I say, holding the bottles up. “I better get back to my room. Lots of setting up to do,” I say as I take a few steps back, “really great to meet you. I’m sure we will be seeing a lot of each other in the future.”

He tips his head and hits me with a panty melting smile, “Yeah Lex, the pleasure was all mine. I look forward to teaching with you this year.” I give him a slight wave and turn around, scurrying back to my classroom. Once I’m inside I shut the door and lean back against it. Good gravy, what have I gotten myself into?

Ford

What. The. Fuck.

I knew we were getting a new history teacher, but I had no clue how hot she was going to be. I stood facing the door she just retreated from for a moment, taking the time to adjust my dick in my shorts. I can’t turn around with a hard on and face my kids, I just can’t. But where in the hell did that gorgeous woman come from? Seriously. Honey blonde hair, tanned skin, bright blue eyes, and legs for days. And that little tank top she had on? I drag my hand across my mouth. Holy shit. And when she touched my hand? What the hell was that.

“Dad, can we go home yet? I’m bored,” my son Zane mumbles, snapping me out of my thoughts. Of course he’s bored, why the fuck wouldn’t he be since he’s not at home sitting in front of his video games all day long. I place my hands on my hips and look up at the ceiling, trying to find an ounce of patience. “Yeah bud, help your sister pack her tea set up and we will head out of here. We need to get home so grandma can come watch you and I can get back to football practice.”

“YES! Xbox time!” and “GRANDMAAA!” are shouted at the same time from both of my children. Sometimes I swear Aria likes my mom more than she likes me, but I guess you’ll have that when she spends most of her free time helping me raise my kids. I sigh and shake my head. I never would have thought I’d be raising my children by myself. Zoe was the love of my life, my high school sweetheart. She was the one that wanted kids. Most days I feel like I’m living in a nightmare that I might never wake up from, regardless of how much I love them.

No time for this right now. I head over to my desk to shut my computer down and grab my messenger bag. I didn’t expect to have to bring the kids with me this morning when I came in to finish up a few things before the school year starts. My babysitter that I usually use is a senior this year and captain of the cheerleading squad and cheer camp was this week. So I couldn’t call her and my mom had an appointment that she couldn’t reschedule which is why I’m at the school in the middle of the day with both kids.

“Come on guys, let's get out of here.”

???

“Let’s run that play again!” I shout to the boys out on the field. I know it’s hot out but come the fuck on. These guys are clearly not playing their best right now. Something is up and I’m going to get to the bottom of it. I glance at my assistant coach and long time best friend, Jaxson. “Dude, what is up with them today? Is it just me or are they playing like shit?”

Jaxson scoffs, “Nah man, not just you. Something’s up. Alright team, enough! Bring it in!” he hollers. The boys drag themselves from the field to the sidelines, most of them grabbing a water bottle on the way over. It’s the end of August and Alabama is hot, the heat oppressive and grueling.

“Alright. Who wants to tell me what’s going on? Why are y’all playing like crap? Too much partying last night?” I joke. The majority of the boys, with the exception of a few, all share a glance with each other and sheepishly hang their heads.

“Are you kidding me?!” I roar, “You were partying last night? You do know that any use of alcohol or drugs is automatic disqualification from the team right? I can bench you if I even THINK that you’re hungover or on something. Most of you are seniors. If I bench you, you run the risk of a scout missing seeing you play. No scouts means no scholarships! For some of you, a scholarship is the only way you can afford to go college. And there isn’t anything wrong with that, that’s how I went to school. But without the scholarship where will you be? Working at the factory here in town? Stuck in a dead end job? I expect more from you!” I know I’m probably being too hard on these guys but they need to understand the consequences of them drinking underage. Some of them need a scholarship to get out of this town and I’m here to make sure they bust their asses to achieve it.

“Down and backs, end zone to end zone, ten times. Then hit the showers and I expect to see you back here first thing tomorrow morning ready to play like the team I know you are,” Jaxson says, earning groans and moans from the entire team. “MOVE IT!” He shouts.

“Man, what the hell are they thinking? They’re going to blow it for the whole team if they don’t get their shit together.” He asks.

I start packing up some of the equipment. “They’re thinking that it’s the end of their last summer and they needed to get one last big hoorah in before the year starts but that shit isn’t going to fly.

Hope they’re ready to work extra hard tomorrow,” I chuckle while I’m tossing stuff into bags. I hear Jaxson let out a low whistle that only I can hear and I stand up to see what all the fuss is about.

“Who in the hell is that fine piece of ass? Come to daddy.” Jaxson jokes. I look to where he’s ogling and see Lex walking across the faculty lot to her car. I reach over and slug him in the shoulder.

“Don’t fucking talk about her like that, man. She’s a nice girl.”

Jaxson whips his head around to look at me and starts howling with laughter. “Oh man. I can’t believe it. It finally happened! Our Fordy met himself a woman. Who is she?”