Needing Happily Ever After - Elena Aitken Page 0,75

when Brody was around, or even if she mentioned him lately.

Suddenly exhausted and overwhelmed by the heat, she shook her head and ignored her dad and whatever it was that he clearly wanted to say. “I’m melting,” she said instead. “Let’s go celebrate Rory’s goal with some iced tea.”

Brody Morris tried to stay focused on the parents who were showering him with completely undeserved praise. After all, it was youth summer league soccer. First place prize was a medal. The same as every other place. But to the parents of Glacier Falls, his adopted hometown, he might as well have been training their daughters for the World Cup.

“What do you think their odds of winning are, coach?”

“That team from Cedar Springs is pretty tough.”

“I heard they have a ringer.”

“A ringer? Does anyone check the birth certificates of these kids?”

Brody handled each of the questions, with a smile and a chuckle. “Win or lose, you should all be so proud of your girls out there. They’re playing their hearts out and having so much fun,” he said good naturedly. “They’re all great kids. We should celebrate that.”

“And their championship,” Audrey Hill said confidently. “I mean, it’s obvious that they’re going to win. We should plan a party as a wrap up.”

Brody shook his head, but did his best not to look disagreeable. He’d met women like Audrey Hill before, and he knew well enough to stay on their good side. The last thing he wanted or needed was to be involved in any kind of drama, or to have Audrey Hill on his bad side which would be worse. He tried to sneak a glance at Sarah, but she was turned away from him knelling on the grass, helping Rory unlace her cleats. Sarah had mentioned once or twice that Audrey had had mastered the art of passive aggressive bitchiness. Something about mean girl syndrome or something like that. Whatever it was, Brody believed her and did his best to keep Audrey at arm’s length.

“A wrap up party sounds like a great idea,” he said with a smile. “Let me know the details.”

“Oh, I thought maybe Sarah could organize it.” Her voice dripped with a false sweetness. “After all, she didn’t really bring team snacks as much as everyone else. It’s really the least she could do.”

Brody noticed a few of the other mom’s roll their eyes and shake their heads in disbelief, but not one of them said anything. He knew, just as well as they all knew, that Sarah did her best to attend all of the games and practices, but there were a few times when she wasn’t able to make it due to work because she was a single mom who essentially supported and raised her little girl by herself. Obviously that little detail wasn’t about to be recognized by this group of women.

He usually bit his tongue, in an effort to remain a neutral party as much as possible, but this was too much. “You know Sarah does her best to be here whenever she can. She has a lot on her plate.”

Audrey took a step back and raised her eyebrow. “Sounds like someone is getting a little defensive.” She clucked her tongue. “I didn’t mean to stir up anything.”

That’s exactly what she meant, still Brody kept a smile on his face. “Oh, of course, Audrey. All I’m saying is that Sarah—”

“Makes sure that her father brings the team snacks when she can’t be here.”

Brody turned to see Sarah, speaking about herself in the third person walk up to the group. He tried, but failed to stifle a smile.

“And I’m pretty sure you know, Audrey that my father brings Rory’s snacks on the days that I can’t be here. After all, the snacks are assigned by child and not by parent. Isn’t that right?”

Audrey stammered and struggled over her words, but finally swallowed hard and nodded curtly. “I was just—”

“Oh, I know what you were doing,” Sarah continued with a sweet smile on her face. Only her crossed arms over her chest gave away her true feelings about the woman. Brody couldn’t help but be impressed by her self restraint. “And yes, if you’re unable to host the wrap up party, by all means, I’d be more than happy to take it off your plate.”

“Oh, that’s not…I wasn’t saying that—”

“No, no,” Sarah continued. “I don’t mind at all. I know how busy you are with…” she tilted her head and innocently asked, “What is it that