Bluegrass Undercover (Bluegrass Brothers)

television and end up not grading at all. So, I stayed late and finished. Now I can get home and watch The Bachelor without worrying about grading.”
    Stephanie picked up a very cute Coach bag that matched her dark pink sweater set and slung the strap over her shoulder.
    “Well, I’m just heading home, too. How about we walk out together?” Annie waited for her to agree, and then they headed down the back hallway towards the teachers’ parking near the football field.
    “I would have thought you would be getting ready for a big date or something. There is talk that you are all hot and heavy with Coach Davies.”
    Annie wasn’t sure, but it sounded slightly snappish. “No. No plans for tonight. I just thought I would curl up and watch some television too.”
    She didn’t address the rumors of her and Cade. If it were up to her, no one would know about her personal life. Not that she was embarrassed about Cade. Really it was quite the opposite. But then it made her have talks like this with people she didn’t really know.
    “So you two aren’t serious?” Stephanie nudged her and gave her a wink.
    “I don’t know. We haven’t talked about it, so I guess not.” Thanks, Father James. For a priest he sure had a big mouth, and she was pretty sure these rumors originated with both him and the Rose sisters.
    “ ’Cause, if you were serious, I could give you all kinds of advice.”
    “That’s nice, but not necessary.”
    Oh, this was getting bad. She did not do girl talk. She opened her bag and started scrounging around for her keys so she could get out of this conversation as soon as possible.
    “You know, from when Cade and I dated. So, if you ever want to have some girl time and compare notes just let me know. It would be so much fun!”
    Annie paused mid-reach to her car door. She had a feeling this was some sort of power struggle but not one she wanted to be in. She’d ask Cade and see what really happened.
    “Thanks, Steph. That’s real nice of you. But, like I said before, we’re not serious. Have a good night and thanks for walking out to the car with me.” Annie opened the car door and tossed her bag inside.
    “Okay, well, the offer is open any time! Bye!” Annie jumped into her car and took off before Stephanie could do more girl talk.

Chapter Thirteen
     
    “Austin, what the heck are you doing?” Paige screamed from the stands. “Oh, this is not good, not good at all,” Paige said to her as she sat down.
    Annie agreed. It wasn’t good. They were playing T.H. Morgan, who happened to be one of their biggest rivals, and were falling apart. Austin wasn’t listening to a thing anyone said and was pointing fingers at his teammates. In return, his teammates were ignoring him.
    “What is going on with them? It’s as if two separate teams are out there. Team Austin and Team Everyone Else.” Paige sat down in frustration and glared at Austin’s back as he threw yet another incomplete pass.
    Annie watched as Austin began to yell at Ryan for missing the catch, when in reality the pass was nowhere near Ryan to begin with. Ryan had made some impressive moves just to manage to get in reach of the horribly thrown ball. The team did have athleticism, but they were just not working together.
    “Annie, you may want to go home right after the game and hide.”
    “Why would I do that?” Annie asked, alarmed at what Paige said. Did Cade tell her who she was?
    “ ‘Cause my brother is going to be madder than a bear with a thorn in his paw after this game.”
    “Oh, w ell, I’m used to men being pissed off. No big deal.”
    “You deal with pissed-off men as a guidance counselor?”
    “Sure. Cade may be able to throw a tantrum, but not nearly as well as a seventeen year old. Then I get the pissed-off parents. So, yeah, I think I can handle Cade in a snit.” Annie turned to look at Paige as she started to laugh.
    “A snit ?” Paige laughed. “I have never heard the word snit associated with my brother before. That’s priceless.”
    Annie zipped her fleece coat up and let Paige have her laughs. She knew the real reason Cade was pissed. It was obvious the team had talent, but S2 was inflating egos and creating tension among teammates.
    She cringed when T.H. Morgan scored a touchdown, pushing the lead to seventeen. Cade threw his playbook to the ground and grabbed Austin by the horse collar when he tried to go out onto the field. She couldn’t hear him from where she and Paige sat, but she