Someone Like You by Jennifer Gracen Page A

“The boost to their esteem, as a team, that alone will be huge. Especially after he works on their skills. It’ll be great for them! And for you. I mean, he really knows what he’s talking about, he can help.” She seemed to pick up on Abby’s silence and added, “He doesn’t have rank over you, you’re equals. Partners. Think of it that way.”
    Abby’s mouth had dropped open, and she closed it to start chewing on her bottom lip. “Um . . . I know I’m just a volunteer and all, but . . . should I be insulted? Because I’m not sure at the moment.”
    â€œDon’t be insulted!” Sofia cried. “This isn’t, like, a demotion or a slap or anything. Abby, listen. I’ve known you a long time, right?”
    â€œYup.” Sofia was ten years older and grew up only a few houses away. Abby easily remembered when Sofia used to babysit for her and Fiona. Now, Sofia was married with three boys of her own, all of whom were on different teams in the Edgewater Soccer Club.
    â€œI would never insult you. It’s meant to help you. You and the kids. It’ll be good, you’ll see.” Sofia paused before adding in a teasing tone, “And hey, it’s not like the guy’s hard to look at.”
    Abby snorted out a laugh. “True.”
    â€œPlease! That’s all you can say? Come on, Abby.” Sofia laughed. “I’m married, but I’m not dead. Pierce Harrison is one fiiiine-lookin’ man. Admit it!”
    â€œOkay, yes. Agreed. But I have to ask you—why on earth would he spend his time in Edgewater, coaching little kids?” Abby wondered. “I mean, surely he’s got better things to do with his time.”
    â€œUm . . . actually, he might not.” Sofia paused. “Do you know anything about him?”
    â€œNo,” Abby said. She glanced over at the laptop and blushed at her lie.
    â€œWell, Google him. He just quit playing recently, and he’s visiting with his family here, over in Kingston Point.”
    â€œThat, I knew.”
    â€œGoogle him and see why he quit. I, um . . . I think maybe he misses the sport,” Sofia said speculatively. “And he does have time on his hands. And he likes kids. So why not?”
    â€œHe likes kids?” Abby repeated in surprise. “He told you that?”
    â€œYeah, but I could see that just by how he interacted with them, couldn’t you?”
    â€œYeah, I guess so,” Abby conceded, thinking of how at ease he was with the boys, even when they swarmed around him like a bunch of eager puppies.
    â€œAnd . . . I think maybe being around kids right now might be good for him, too.”
    At that, Abby’s brows puckered. “What do you mean?”
    â€œGoogle him,” Sofia said. “Okay. Just know Pierce will be at practice on Monday night, ready to roll.”
    â€œGot it.” Abby bit her lip, not knowing what else to say. “Well . . . thanks for the heads-up.”
    â€œOf course. But you can really thank me later,” Sofia said, “when the Jaguars win their first game. See you next week.”
    Abby clicked off her phone and flopped back onto the pillows. The movement brought her laptop back to life and Pierce Harrison smiled up at her from the screen. Her new co-coach, huh? So much for staying far away from him. But most importantly, Sofia was right about one thing: It’d be so good for the team. The boys would feel so proud, knowing they had a soccer star as their coach, showing them the ropes. She couldn’t deny them that.
    Google him. She heard Sofia’s voice in her head. Well, now that she’d basically been commanded to, she made herself comfortable and grabbed the laptop again. The article was still on her screen, and she read through it.
    Something didn’t add up.
    Pierce had suddenly, mid-season, resigned from the sport due to a bad knee he was afraid of doing further injury