Falling for Bentley (Part One) (8 page)

“Hey, Coach,” said Andrew.

“Boys,” I greeted them, “Fencing’s done?”

“Yeah, it went quicker than we thought.”

“Where’s Travis?” I asked.

“He went up to the house to refill his water bottles,” replied JJ, “It’s getting pretty hot out there.”

“I’m sure that’s not the only thing he went for,” coughed Mack.

I let out a growl.

“Sorry, Coach.” Mack muttered.

“Don’t disrespect women, especially the hands that feed you.”

“Come on, Bentley, you have to admit that she’s pretty hot,” said JJ.

“Okay I’ll give you boys that,” I smiled, “But no more disrespectful talk, you got me? And that goes for anyone.”

“Yes, Coach,” the boys replied together.

After helping the boys unload the equipment I said, “Now that everything is put away, besides what Travis has on the quad, are you guys still thinking of heading to the pond?”

“I am,” smiled Mack.

“I think y’all can head down there then. I’m just going to see what’s taking Travis so long.”

“We know,” laughed the boys.

I just shook my head at them as I walked back to the house.

I could hear Haley laughing in the kitchen as I walked up the back porch steps, stopping just in front of the screen door, watching her laugh as her nose wrinkled.

“Hey, Bentley.”

“What’s up, Travis?” I asked, opening the door.

“Nothing, I was just telling Haley about the time I got stuck in the mud taking Whitney home.”

“Thought you were pretty smooth taking her home on the
back
roads,” I laughed.

“What? I thought it was a good plan until I lost it and we had to walk a mile to the closest farmer to pull me out.”

“What did she say?” asked Haley.

“What else? A woman’s favorite words,
I told you so
.”

Haley laughed again before turning to the fridge, grabbing some stuff.

“How was fencing?” I questioned my brother.

“Great, it went faster than we thought. We also did a quick sweep of all the fence lines and hammered in a few new nails and rewired two strings.”

“Really? Thanks,” Haley said from the fridge.

I casually tipped my head to the side to see if I could get a glimpse of her backside.

“It’s amazing how fast it goes with five guys,” replied Travis, poking my side, “compared to just me and you.”

“You guys hungry?” asked Haley, carrying a big bowl to the table.

I stepped in front of her, “Let me get that for you.” I took the bowl and placed it on the table.

“You bet, we’re starving football players,” Travis said, tapping his belly.

“I hope I made enough,” Haley whispered, not sure of herself.

“I’m sure you did,” I smiled at her.

“Bentley, did you hear the running coach quit yesterday?” asked my brother.

“No.”

“Mom told me at breakfast.”

“I wonder why.” I asked no one in particular.

“Mom said she didn’t know, but it’s a small town, so I’m sure we’ll hear why in a few days.”

“I wonder who’ll coach then?” pondered Haley.

“Not sure,” I answered honestly. “I’m sure they’ll put an ad in the paper.”

Haley handed Travis his two water bottles. “Here you go.”

“Thanks.”

“Travis, why don’t you go put the quad away and grab the Gator for Haley.”

“Sure.”

“The keys are just there, hanging up. It’s the one with the pig on it,” Haley answered, pointing to a key rack by the door.

Travis grabbed the key on his way out the door.

“Are you just about ready?” I asked.

“I think so…oh crap.” Haley ran to the door and yelled out, “Travis! Can you please grab the portable grill? I think it’s in the white shed.”

Shutting the screen door behind her she asked, “Can I get you something to drink before we head out?”

“Sure.” I sat down at the kitchen table.

“Beer, or Coke?”

“I’m thinking Coke, since I’m here as Coach Knight, not Bentley.”

Blushing, Haley passed me the soda, “Right.”

TRAVIS AND I helped Haley load up the barbeque stuff on the gator.

“Are you guys sure I have enough food?”

Travis and I looked at one another and laughed, “We’re sure.”

“Haley, you made enough potato salad to feed the whole team,” I teased.

“Well, I don’t want anyone to go hungry.”

I placed the drink cooler in last and tapped the lid, “I think you’re ready to go.”

“Aren’t you coming?” asked my brother.

I looked over at Haley. She was looking at the ground focusing on a rock by her sandal, knowing I had already given her the brush off.

“I didn’t bring a suit or a towel. I wasn’t planning on staying.”

“Come on, Bentley. I know you always keep a gym bag in your truck so you have gym shorts.”

“I can get you a towel,” Haley said quietly.

Travis slapped me on my back, “Come on, brother, it’s not like you have anywhere exciting to be.”

“Alright.”

Haley gave me small smile before going back in the house.

“You like her,” Travis snorted.

“Shut up.”

“Like, you really like her,” he kept going.

I groaned.

“Dude, what’s not to like?” my brother asked with a big grin.

I rolled my neck.

“Don’t worry, I got your back, brother,” Travis laughed as he walked to the side of the gator.

“I don’t need you having my back, Travis.”

“Yeah, you do. You suck when it comes to women.”

“I do not. I can have my pick at any time, or place. In fact, I have,” I stated.

“Ahem,” Haley cleared her throat.

Travis and I whipped around in her direction.

“Shit,” I said under my breath.

“You can say that again,” Travis said back.

“Shall we go?” Haley questioned as she hopped in the passenger side of the gator.

“Travis, why don’t you ride with Haley and I’ll take my truck.”

“I think that would be best. She looks kind of pissed,” snickered my brother.

I glared at him hoping he got the message.
No shit
.

Getting to my truck, I dug under the passenger seat and grabbed out my gym bag and threw on my shorts. I turned over the key in the ignition as my phone started ringing.

“Hello?”

“Hi, Bentley, it’s Whitney.”

“Hey, how are you?”

“Good, I’m looking for Travis. Have you seen him?”

“He’s at the Wells’ ranch with me. Why, is everything all right?”

“Yes, he’s just not answering his phone,” she answered.

“I was just with him, and I didn’t hear it ring.”

“Oh,” she sounded off.

“Whitney, why don’t you come out and swim with us? Haley made enough food.”

“Thanks, Bentley, but I’m working at the diner later today.”

“Whitney?”

“Hmm?”

“Are you sure everything is alright?”

“Oh yeah, sorry I was just doing something,” Whitney replied in a fake cheery voice.

“All right. I’ll get my brother to call you.”

“Great. Thanks Bentley.” With that she hung up.

The drive to the pond was less than two miles. Just enough time for me to put my game face on, because
best friend
Bentley wanted to play.

“OH MY GOD, Haley, these are the best burgers ever,” mumbled Bo through his third one.

“I can’t believe it’s your third one, you’re going to puke if you try swimming.”

“My mother starves me.”

I slapped Bo’s arm, “She does not.”

“You’re right, but damn these are good.”

“They should be. It’s Maggie’s recipe,” I said while picking at my food. I looked up and saw that everyone was staring at me, “What?”

“Maggie gave you the recipe?” Bentley asked astounded.

“Yeah,” I uttered timidly.

“Well can I have it?” asked JJ.

“Sorry JJ, it’s a family secret,” I winked.

“Damn.”

As the boys were finishing eating, I started putting away the food. I’d just dropped the ketchup into the cooler when Bentley’s hand grabbed mine. “Come for a swim with me, Hales.”

I looked up at Bentley, “You called me Hales.”

“Is that not okay?” he asked, looking into my eyes.

“No one calls me Hales but my dad.”

“Then I’ll keep calling you Haley,” Bentley smiled as he dropped my hand.

“No, it’s okay. I like that you call me Hales, no one’s ever called me that besides him.” I grinned back.

“How about that swim?” he asked again.

I looked around at the guys, “Do you think it’s appropriate? I mean, you are their coach and I’m well…whatever I am.”

Bentley laughed, “Yes, Haley I’m sure. If we were in the city it probably wouldn’t be appropriate, but our town has like a thousand people in it. It’s pretty hard to not hang out together. Besides, most of these guys hang out at my mom’s almost every weekend.”

“Well if you’re…” before I finished my sentence, I was hoisted over Bentley’s shoulder screaming, “Bentley Knight, put me down!”

Bentley went running off the dock and jumped right in. I barely got a full breath in before my head went under the cold water. I came up spitting water out of my mouth.

“I’m going to get you for that!”

He had the nerve to wink at me, “I’m counting on it,
friend
,” before he swam away.

“Cannon ball!” JJ hollered before soaking me again.

Bo tried to cannon ball, but it turned out to be more like a belly flop.

“Oh, Bo, that has got to hurt,” I laughed.

Bo laid flat on his back and rubbed his belly. “Maybe not as much if I’d stopped at burger two. I think I’m gonna puke.”

“I told you. Just don’t puke in the pond, the rest of us would like to keep enjoying our swim.” I heckled as I splashed him before swimming over to Cullen.

“Hey, Cullen, what’s up? You’re pretty quiet today.”

“Just thinking.”

“Anything serious?”

“Nah,” he said, sitting on the bank.

I went to sit beside him, “You sure?”

“I’m just trying to impress this girl and nothing works.”

“What have you tried?” I asked as I wrung out my hair.

“Every pick up line you can imagine.”

I cringed, “You did not just say that.”

“What, what did I do wrong?” he asked, panicked.

I laughed, “Cullen, no girl likes a guy with cheesy pickup lines. We just turn around and make fun of you later for them.”

“No, Haley, I have good ones, really,” he insisted.

“Okay then, lay it on me,” I snickered.

“Alright you asked for it.” Cullen turned around to face me. “Haley, don’t say things like that unless you plan to cowgirl up. I could give you way more than an eight second rodeo ride.”

I burst out in full laughter, “You have
got
to be kidding me?”

“It’s just the cowboy in me, Haley, get used to it.”

I was holding on to my sides, “Stop, Cullen, stop, that’s so bad.”

“It is not,” he argued.

“Oh, it is, Twilight,” I said wiping away a tear.

“What has you in stitches?” asked Andrew as the rest of them swam over.

“Cullen. He just gave me the worst pick up line I have ever heard.”

“Oh, I’m pretty sure I can beat him,” said Andrew, “Ever since I heard your name and saw your ass in those daisy dukes you're so fond of wearing with those boots, I've been fantasizing about bending you over a bale of hay and taking us both to heaven.”

“I’ve got one,” Bo said next, “So...you think my tractor's sexy?” Now everyone laughed. “Shut up it worked…once.”

Mack and JJ pipe up, “We have one.”

“Bring it.”

JJ cleared his throat, "Haley, I know you don’t want to see guys unless they have a six pack, so I’m just going to work out so I don’t have to walk around here sporting a keg someday.” JJ and Mack bumped fists and yelled, “Boom!”

Rolling my eyes, I turned to Travis, “Alright, what’s yours?”

JJ shoved Travis, “He’s been going out with Whitney for so long, I doubt he remembers what a pick up line is.”

“I do, too. In fact, I used one on her the other night,” Travis said crossing his arms over his chest.

“Well then, let’s hear it, baby brother,” taunted Bentley.

“This is my kind of night, just you and me and the back of my pickup truck.”

Bentley looked shocked.

“Huh, that’s pretty good, Travis. You boys should take a number from that.” I stood up, “Well, boys, thanks for lunch and the swim, but I’m going to head in now.”

“Do you need any help packing up?” asked Mack.

“No thanks. You guys did all the fencing, which would have taken me all summer. So stay and enjoy yourselves. Now that it has cooled down a little, I’m going to cut the grass. They are calling for rain tonight and possibly tomorrow.”

“Should we come tomorrow if it is raining?” questioned Andrew.

“Not if it’s raining, there’s nothing you can do in the rain. I’ll probably head into town and order some paint and stuff. I think the next thing we’ll tackle is painting the barn and sheds. They are looking weathered.”

“Sure,” replied Andrew.

“Can you let Cody know, too?”

“You bet.”

“Thanks for lunch, Haley. Really, it was great.”