Otto shook his head eagerly.
"Not at all," he said.
Sam’s heart fell. She silently cursed the feeling.
“Okay, great. I wanted to run something by you Otto. Mind if I close the door?” said Gus.
Otto nodded.
“Sure, sure,” he said.
Sam stood to leave. Her heart stinging and her head spinning, all she wanted to do was get out of the office, make a cup of coffee, and type up an e-mail.
“Sam you can stay. Actually, I’d like for you to stay,” said Gus.
Sam sunk back down into her seat. She frowned up at Gus.
This better be good, her look clearly read.
Give me a second, Gus’s eyes pleaded back. He stood up straight in front of Sam and Otto. He took a deep breath.
“I want to apply for the assistant football coach position,” said Gus.
Otto’s look of surprise told Gus all he needed to know.
“Yes, I know I don’t come across as the football type. Let alone that I could help coach the Grover Guanacos, but hear me out,” said Gus. His voice was steady. He held up a hand, ready to list his reasons on each finger.
“I’m an amazing teacher. I teach fourteen-year-olds trigonometry. You keep giving me a job every year because a lot of kids come into my classroom with poor math skills and leave with the foundation to be successful in math all through high school and college. I don’t accomplish this because I’m good in math, even though I am. It’s because I’m a good teacher,” said Gus.
He was warming up. The list went on from his knowledge of angles for developing plays to his childhood spent in New York City as a trained ballet dancer.
“You’re a ballet dancer?” said Otto.
“My sister’s a professional dancer now in New York. When we were younger, my mom figured it was easier to sign us both up for dance class than having to take me to another after school activity. Plus, the work ethic for a dancer is similar to that of a football player,” said Gus.
“Oh,” said Otto. He leaned back in his chair, intrigued, and let Gus continue.
Sam began to settle into her seat too. As someone who had always been less than thrilled about Ethan, the idea of Gus being a coach for the Guanacos was refreshing. She could see Randy and Gus coaching together.
Randy was always looking into the latest coaching research and theories. When they'd been younger, he’d always been the kid with the newfangled crazy ideas. With Gus's math and dance background, maybe he could bring the knowledge needed to make the Grover Guanacos a stellar team. Sam could really see Randy going for this idea.
Randy appeared in the doorway. His face was pink with annoyance. Sam and Otto turned to look at him while Gus remained turned toward Otto and Sam. Gus seemed to know Randy was shooting frosty daggers into his back. Based on the look on Gus’s face, he didn’t seem to care.
“I also have an excellent mentor,” Gus said, finishing his speech, and ignoring Randy.
“Who?” said Randy. He stepped into the office.
“Dr. Walt Henry. Ethan wasn’t the only townsperson of Grover to play football for USC,” said Gus.
He smiled over at Sam. It was now Sam’s turn to receive looks of bewilderment from Otto and Randy.
Sam gave a shrug.
“It’s true. Gus comes over for dinner sometimes and he and Dad talk football, and other manly stuff,” she said. Sam couldn't help but grin at the arrangement. Her father sometimes needed some male companionship in a house full of women.
Gus nodded solemnly in agreement to confirm this was true.
Randy looked at Sam.
“How come I never knew this about your dad?” he said.
Sam coughed. She hadn’t meant to get in the middle of this battle.
“He only played for two years. He got hurt, and that’s when he decided he was going to medical school,” she said.
Randy’s eyes widened and he shook his head.
“God, Ethan’s days at SC were all he ever talked about. While your dad just went on with his life. Ethan’s becoming more of a jerk each day,” said Randy.
Gus stood silently. He crossed his arms and gave Randy a convincing grin.
Randy shook his head. He pointed a finger at Gus.
“Don’t even think about it Avery. I’m scouting for my next coach,” said Randy. He pointed his thumb back at himself.
Otto held up his hands.
“Why not Randy? It’s fiscally smart hiring someone who’s already a teacher, and you’re such a good coach, all you really need is some support in terms of keeping track of plays and stuff,” he said.
Randy put his face in his hands.
“Do you guys not realize who we play at the end of the season?” he said.
Sam’s eyes widened. She had been going over the football schedule that morning while writing the board meeting agenda.
“Winthrop High, Ethan’s new team,” she said.
“Exactly. The one team we absolutely can’t lose to this year,” said Randy.
Sam bit her lip.
“Our track record against them isn’t particularly stellar,” she said delicately.
Randy nodded.
“We already lost to them for our season opener. Jeez, Ethan must’ve already been in talks with Winthrop by then. The loss must’ve meant next to nothing to him,” he said.
He looked to Gus woefully.
“I need this win for my sister. Even though they are the one team we lose to every year. This year we cannot lose to Ethan. I’m sorry man, I need someone who knows football,” Randy said.
Gus patted Randy’s forearm.
“No, it’s exactly why you need me. I understand what this means to you, to Grover, to Holly,” Gus said.
Sam looked up at Gus when he said Holly’s name. There was something tender in his voice she’d never noticed before.
“I think it’s a great idea,” she said. The words spilled out of her before she could think.
All three men looked at her. Different reactions played across their faces.
Sam swallowed. Based on Randy’s annoyed look she needed to choose her next words carefully. I think Gus has a crush on your sister and he's going to do everything in his power to make her happy wasn’t going to cut it for Holly’s big brother.
“Sometimes, I think the easiest choice, you know, the choice right in front of you is the best one. I’ve found things just work out that way. It's like, you know, going with the flow of life,” she said.
She hadn’t meant to catch Otto’s eye as she finished her statement. Luckily, Randy’s look of utter disgust eclipsed the moment.
Gus pointed at Randy.
“You're coming to the board meeting tonight. I'll be there and will state my case. If you don’t buy it, Otto can’t hire me,” said Gus.
“Sounds perfect to me,” said Otto, his eyes twinkled with delight. He seemed to enjoy the verbal duel taking place in front of him.
Randy nodded. He begrudgingly agreed.
Randy and Gus shook hands before saying their good-byes to Otto and Sam. Sam mused at the ability men had to make amends so quickly after a tension filled moment.
Sam was left again with Otto in his office. She stood to go. She needed to add Gus to the agenda for the board meeting.
“Hey Sam, I was wondering if you wanted me to pick you up on my way to the board meeting,” said Otto.
Sam stopped in the doorway. Otto's request sent a spark through her body. The rumble of his deep voice didn't help either. To her dismay, her stomach caught. She silently cursed the sensation. There was nothing cheesier than sparks flying through your body because a handsome man asked to take you on a walk somewhere. She was glad she’d turned away from him. He couldn’t see her face. She slowly turned back toward him.
There was a surprised look on his face. Sam couldn’t decide if this was a good or a bad thing.
“Sure,” she said. It shot out of her before she could say something more reasonable in reac
tion to her boss picking her up for a meeting after work, like I can walk myself thank you. I love walking around by myself in the dark.
“Great, we can go over the agenda together on the walk to town hall,” said Otto.
Sam nodded and retreated to her desk.
It's just for work. That's all it is, nothing more.
She cursed as thoughts about what to wear to the board meeting bombarded her brain as she typed out the revised agenda.
* * *
“Where are you going?” said Layla.
She held a glass of red wine. Her hair was down in a maple crimped mass of glory. She looked like a Dionysian siren.
It was the second time today Sam had almost jumped out of her skin. She was holding a different golden earring up to each ear.
It was part of her strategy: simple cute clothes and flirty earrings.
“Nowhere,” said Sam.
She nonchalantly slipped on one of the dangling strings of tiny glinting leaves. The flecks of gold illuminated her face and complimented her warm skin.
Layla narrowed her eyes.
“Let me rephrase the question. Why are you getting gussied up?” said Layla.
There was a knock at the door.
“I can get the door,” Sam said in the most casual fashion to Layla.
Layla didn’t fall for it. Layla moved down the hallway toward the front door before Sam could turn and stop her.
Sam rushed after Layla while trying to get her other earring on. Sam groaned when she heard Layla’s surprised but pleasant voice welcoming Otto into their home.
Sam shoved the earring on, and met Layla and Otto in the hallway.
Otto had changed out of the polo shirt and slacks he’d worn to work. Sam had teased him about the polo, how it harkened back to his pedigreed roots. He looked handsome in a flannel plaid shirt under a blazer and a pair of jeans. The jeans were dark wash, and seemed to fall on him in all the right places.
“Hey Sam,” said Otto. His hair was styled in an old-timey fashion. It was parted and gelled down. It was as if he was taking her on a date to a steakhouse restaurant instead of walking down to town hall with her.
Sam couldn’t help but grin at him. Even though Layla stood between them eyeing both parties.
“Hey,” she said.
“You guys hitting the town?” said Layla in an overly friendly manner. She swished the red wine in her long stemmed glass.
Sam shot her a look.
Layla replied by giving Sam a long once over. The façade of casual cuteness didn’t get past Layla.
“I guess in a way we are. We’re actually hitting the school board meeting,” said Otto, oblivious to Layla’s prying questions.
Layla nodded. She now clearly understood what was going on.
“You look nice Otto,” she said, taking a sip of wine.
Before Layla could utter another word, Sam grabbed Otto by the elbow and led him back outside.
Layla stood in the doorway waggling her fingers good-bye.
“Tell the board to give me a raise,” she said to them. Her husky voice traveled through the night air.
Sam ignored her.
“Layla really lets her hair down when she’s home, literally and metaphorically,” Otto said.
Sam decided to ignore him for a beat. She may have once had long talks with Otto in the corner of Zelda’s about Jane Austen and Marc Rothko, but she wasn’t ready to discuss her best friend’s dueling inner school teacher and femme fatale complex. Otto was still Layla’s boss for the long term and Sam’s boss for the short term. Sam simply laughed at his observation.
“She’s allowed to be both,” said Sam.
Otto nodded thoughtfully.
“You’re right. It’s just interesting. Being the high school principal the past few years, I’ve started to notice the inner workings of people more, how complex they are. It’s much more interesting than being caught up in my own complexities,” he said.
“Complexities?” said Sam. She’d dated many aspiring intellectuals during graduate school who could’ve been described as complex. They’d always been incredibly boring once the front of tortured genius had fallen. Sam was no longer interested in men who had long explanations for abstract concepts when they had trouble with things like commitment, courtesy, and loyalty. She'd thought she'd wanted deep, hours-long conversations on truth and meaning. Really, she just wanted a guy to not suggest they split the check on the first date.
The nice thing was Otto could be as complex as he wanted. She was just going to have fun with Otto, on this walk, being his secretary. It was so easy, and Sam wasn’t going to lose any sleep over it.
Otto let out a laugh. It was tinged with embarrassment.
“Oh you know the usual bullshit, like, am I living a life my father would be proud of? Stuff like that,” he said.
“It’s not bullshit if it bothers you,” said Sam. She was surprised to find herself humoring Otto. She didn’t care if Otto had daddy issues. Really, she didn’t. She did like walking through a crisp fall night, cursing with Otto after hours.
Otto shrugged.
“I think the feeling may always linger a little. You know coming here to teach, and then becoming principal was all it took. One day I realized it wasn’t about me. It was about getting the kids of Grover ready for the world. It was about doing what was right, not what sounded nice when I was at one of my parents’ cocktail parties,” he said.
“I think most people find what you do incredibly respectable,” said Sam. If she’d been reminded of anything in the past two days, it was Otto was as hard working as they came. He’d been the same way when he’d worked at Zelda’s. Just because he'd grown up rich didn't mean he wouldn't clean the pizzeria's bathrooms and humor rude comments from tourist customers. Sam couldn’t help but like this about him.
“At most of the cocktail parties my parents host, people would consider what I do quaint,” he said.
Sam grinned.
“You rebel you. Are those cocktail parties the reason why you’re here in Grover?” Sam said.
Otto had had everything mapped out for him, and he’d chosen Grover. Cocktail party quips or not, it had been a lot to give up. Otto also could’ve moved somewhere else. There were other places to make a difference.
It was Otto’s turn to wait a beat. He let out a deep breath. It fogged in the night air.
“You know you get an amazing view of the stars here in Grover. It’s a real place where you can really see the stars, not some fanciful resort town. I like that. The only other place around here I could see the stars like that was from my sailboat, but living on the boat all the time is lonely. I’d miss Zelda. Don’t tell her I said that. She’d never let me live it down,” said Otto.
“You know most people consider having a sailboat fanciful too,” said Sam.
Otto nodded in agreement.
“Exactly, that’s why I couldn’t live there,” he said.
Sam laughed. She wanted to ask Otto more about sailing when City Hall came into view.
Grover’s City Hall resided in a 1960s style wooden building located on the municipal main street of town. The post office, public library, fire station, and community pool could all be found on the same street. It had been built when meeting in the library had become a bit of a tight fit for the entire town.
While Rosalind had always loved to come down and stir up trouble at town meetings, Sam had never attended one. A strange feeling crept over Sam as she entered the building and looked up to the high vaulted ceiling. She felt as if she’d walked into a church for a spiritual ritual. She couldn’t help it; in many ways interest in city government was sometimes the only thing the citizens of Grover had in common, except for living in a town that Sam thought was pretty easy to forget.
Attending a town hall meeting was a rite of passage. One Sam had always avoided. She never really liked getting involved. As she looked around at the familiar faces, she realized it wasn’t as scary or nerve wracking as sh
e’d anticipated.
Gus and Randy sat on opposite sides of the room. Randy was going over a few index cards. Gus sat next to a chalkboard on wheels. His eyes were closed. He seemed to be meditating. Wanting to remain neutral, she didn’t say hello to either of them.
Standing next to her, Otto scanned the room for seats.
“We can sit here; it’s the best spot,” he said. He motioned toward the third row of seats next to the center aisle. Sam began to move toward the seats with him.
“Samantha?” said a voice all too familiar to Sam’s ears.
Sam whirled around to see Rosalind, her white bob freshly cut, her knit cardigan resting perfectly on her shoulders. Sam knew Rosalind saved this ultra conservative look for when she was planning to go to battle. The primmer Rosalind looked, the more likely she was to bare her teeth and fight to the death.
“Hi Mom,” Sam said, trying for ease. She chastised herself for not actually anticipating the presence of her mother. As if Rosalind was somehow not supposed to be a part of Sam’s rite of passage.
That’s why you move out of your hometown, Sam reminded herself, so your mother would have no knowledge of your after work activities.
“I’m looking forward to this joust between Randy and Gus,” said Rosalind as she enveloped Sam in an embrace.
Sam didn’t blink in response to her mother knowing about the night’s agenda. Sam had known as soon as she’d posted the document to the school’s website she’d given the town a gift. They'd loved having something to talk about all afternoon until the meeting started.
Still high off of putting a little more fun in everyone’s day, Sam offered her mother a bit of gossip about the afternoon fraught with tension in Otto’s office.
“Oh, now I really can’t wait,” said Rosalind with a glint in her eye.
“Sam,” said some other familiar voices behind her.
Sam turned to see Layla and Holly sitting in the back corner of the back row. They waved. They had also dolled themselves up for the occasion. Sam marched right up to them.
The grins on their faces were too mischievous, and Sam was going to go back there and wipe them off herself if she had to. For high school teachers who kept order in the classroom, the two of them did a pretty great impression of students who sat in the back of the class and giggled the whole time. Sam stood in front of them, crossed her arms, and frowned.
Be My Friday Night Page 5
