Chapter 5
Three weeks later, Leigh was at her kitchen table reading through an article Dean had found on the need for early intervention in mental health. It was a good one, well written but still easy enough for a layman to understand. Most of the research he’d found was good, actually.
She rubbed her eyes as she began highlighting important points in the article and making notes of what they could use for their project. She’d barely slept the night before. She’d needed to take on a few extra shifts at both jobs, which led to less time to study. And that led to less time to sleep.
Leigh was eyeing the coffee pot and weighing the need for caffeine against having to actually get out of her seat when the idea hit her. She’d felt from the beginning that their project was missing something. Now she thought that she knew.
She grabbed the phone to text Dean and then remembered that he was in class. She glanced at the time. By the time she got to the science building, he’d be almost done. She really didn’t want to text it to him. She wanted to be able to explain the idea fully and defend it if necessary.
Excitement over the idea was enough to get her up and moving. She slung on a jacket and headed out the door.
As she rounded the corner and started up the hall to his classroom, she saw him outside the door. Leigh was on the verge of calling to him excitedly when she noticed that he was on the phone. She stepped closer, intending to tap him on the shoulder and let him know that she’d be waiting outside, but then she heard him speak.
“No,” he said, and this was the first time that he hadn’t sounded completely confident since she’d met him. “I mean, it wasn’t a great game, but we still won.”
He’d played two nights ago and everyone had been tense. From what she’d seen while she worked at the pizza shop, it had been a rough one and it had come down to the wire. Both teams had played messily, but the Tigers had been victorious in the end.
“I know,” he said, his shoulders hunching. “I have been.”
There was a long pause and Leigh wondered if maybe she should walk away. She chewed her thumbnail. She’d wait a few more minutes.
“I’m not,” Dean said. “I haven’t seen her in a few months.”
There was another pause and then he said, “No. Just school. I mean, I’ve still got classes to go to and a project to turn in...” He broke off and listened. “I--” Another pause, this one longer. “Okay. Yeah. Yeah, I know. I’ll do better. Okay. Bye.”
He shoved his phone into his jeans pocket and then rubbed the back of his neck. When he turned around, she saw that he looked exhausted.
“Um, hi,” Leigh said. “I wasn’t trying to listen in...”
Dean shrugged. “It’s fine.” He looked into the biology class. They were almost done. He was seriously done. “Want to get some coffee? Or were you going to work?”
“No, I’m off today.” Leigh fell into step with him, slightly surprised at the invitation. They’d been getting along pretty well during their meetings, but they hadn’t spent any extra time together. When he didn’t speak again, she ventured a question. “I really wasn’t trying to overhear you, but is everything okay?”
He pushed open the coffee shop door and stepped to the side so she could walk in. “Just great.”
“Sorry,” Leigh said, recognizing from the clipped tone that he really didn’t want to talk about it. “I know it’s none of my--”
“Gonna get those guys blocked next time, Harper?”
Leigh turned to see a few guys sitting at a table to their left. Most of them were smirking at Dean. Dean’s shoulders went tense, but he gave them a nod.
“I mean, we don’t want a repeat of history. So shouldn’t you be at practice instead of out with your girlfriend?” the same guy asked as the barista stepped up to take their order.
“Shouldn’t you?” Leigh asked before Dean could speak.
“What?” the guy demanded, looking confused. “I don’t play.”
“Oh.” Leigh drew the word out. “See, I thought you must know what you were talking about. My mistake.” She turned to the barista as the guy’s mouth dropped open. “Caramel macchiato and a large black coffee to go.”
Dean was biting his lower lip and clearly fighting a smile, but he didn’t say anything as they waited for their drinks. Once they were back outside, all he said was, “You kill me, you know that?”
She shrugged, taking a sip of her hot coffee to combat the chill of the wind. “Idiots should be told they’re idiots. Otherwise they get too confident. You did fine in the game, by the way.”
He glanced at her. “You watched?”
“I was working, but they were showing it. I caught parts between tables.”
“I missed a few things.”
“So did everyone else,” Leigh countered.
“But it’s me that they’re counting on.”
“You’re only one person on a team of...however many of you there are. I think you’re putting too much pressure on yourself.”
“No, that’s everybody else,” he said dryly.
“It sucks, and they’re assholes.” She took another sip of coffee. “But you’ve got to get used to that if you’re going to play pro.”
“Since when are you my motivational coach?”
“I just can’t stand to see a man cry.”
Dean coughed on his sip of coffee. “Thanks, Everleigh.”
“I do what I can.” He hadn’t quite laughed, but there had been some light in his eyes again. It made her feel better.
“You know why I want to go pro?” he asked after a few moments.
“Money and women?” she teased.
“Obviously. I mean other than that,” he said, his tone growing serious.
Leigh turned to face him. He was looking out over the quad. His lower lip was between his teeth again and he looked like he was in deep thought. He got that look when he read things too. It, like most looks, was a good look for him. Get it together, Leigh. She shook herself out of her admiration and listened.
“I want to be able to give my mom enough money to do whatever the hell she wants. Up to and including leaving my dad.”
Okay. That was unexpected.
“My dad played baseball,” Dean went on. “He did pretty well, but then he tore his rotator cuff right before I was born and couldn’t pitch anymore. He ended up going to work for an insurance company. He wanted me to follow in his footsteps. Playing baseball, I mean. Not selling insurance.”
Dean gave a humorless laugh and a shrug. “Thing is, I suck at baseball. Every position. I started messing around, playing football with some of the guys I knew from the Y. One day one of the coaches happened to see me. He asked if I could stay over a little and work with him. I did, and I ended up impressing him so much he went and talked to the old man. Dad finally caved and let me play. And ever since then, he hasn’t gotten off my fucking back about it. One slip. One bad game. That’s when he calls.”
“He doesn’t call when the games are good?”
Dean shook his head. “No.” He finished his coffee and tossed the cup into a nearby trashcan. “So, now that I’ve bored you with my pathetic life, why don’t you tell me something about your family? Is your dad a dick like mine?”
Leigh could see that he was desperate to change the subject, so she didn’t pursue it. “Sorry, but no. He’s pretty awesome.” After what she’d heard, she felt that owed Dean a little more than that though. “But he’s not my real dad.”
“Are your parents divorced?”
Leigh shook her head. “No. He’s not my step dad either. My mom...she had some addiction issues. The state took me away.” She cleared her throat. “They took me away a few times, actually. Mom tried, but she never could stay clean. The truth is...I don’t know who my biological dad is. And I haven’t seen my mom since 8th grade.”
“So this guy adopted you?”
Leigh could tell that Dean was shocked. She could also tell that he was trying hard not to act shocked. She appreciated it. She hated sympathy. It was what it was and it could have been worse.
“Fostered me,” Leigh corrected. “The adoption was never formal.” She shrugged. “I wish it had been, but it doesn’t matter now. Just because it’s not legal, doesn’t mean he’s not my dad.”
“So I guess that’s why this project means so much to you,” Dean said, looking down at her. That had been a hell of a story. He’d never have believed it if she hadn’t said it herself.
Leigh nodded. “I mean, I like to make good grades anyway,” she said honestly. “But yeah, this one has some personal meaning.”
“I guess I sound like I’m whining about my daddy issues,” he said, pushing his hands into his pockets.
“You don’t have to go through foster care to have problems with your parents,” Leigh said firmly. “So, do you want to know why I was looking for you?”
“Yeah, sure.” Dean was slightly relieved at the change in subject. He’d never told anyone about the issues with his father and, while it was a relief in some ways, it felt strange in others.
“I had an idea to help round out the project. What if we interview a few former foster kids? Get their take on the services they’d like to see? Right now this is all pretty much from my perspective.”
“And the crap ton of research I’ve done,” Dean said indignantly.
Leigh patted him on the arm, feeling muscle move even through his thick coat. “Yes, you’re doing a great job,” she said in a patronizing tone. “Okay. My perspective and a bunch of industry professionals. But nothing from the kids who are currently living this. Seriously. What do you think?”
“It’d probably be a good idea,” he admitted. “Are we gonna have time to fit this into our schedule though?”
Leigh stopped in her tracks and clasped her hands over her heart dramatically, smiling from ear to ear. Dean stopped too.
“What?”
“I love it when you talk schedules to me!”
He laughed, slinging his arm around her shoulders once more. Her whole body heated up and she ducked her head so that he wouldn’t see her smile.
“Baby, I can talk schedules till you’re weak in the knees,” he promised, his voice going lower. “Planners, journals, free time versus work hour ratios....”
Leigh fanned her face theatrically. “Oh my. Ratios.”
“I aim to please.”
His arm was still around her. She noticed again how good he smelled. Her brain seemed to be spinning in circles.
Get a grip, Leigh!
“I can do most of the work on it,” she said matter of factly. “Getting in touch with people and getting interviews. You can help me compile it all.”
“Okay, sure.”
Dean let her go and she felt a lot colder suddenly.
“I’ll see you in a few days then,” he went on.
Was it her imagination or did he sound a little disappointed? She had to be going crazy. He had girls throwing themselves at him day in and day out. She nodded and they parted ways, both of them a little dissatisfied at the way the conversation had ended.