Free The Set Piece by Catherine Lane

school. So I told her to try out for the high school team next year. And who knows, if she continues to improve, there’s college scholarships and club teams and even Olympic development programs. You know, a good goalie can pretty much write her own ticket and she...”
    She looked up to see the guarded look long gone. Diego’s smile was back and in full force. Amy clamped her mouth shut so hard her teeth snapped into each other. What was she thinking? Rambling on and on. Lecturing Diego Torres on soccer.
    Diego only laughed. “That’s why I agree to those,” and he air quoted, “ridiculous promo stunts.” He stretched his long legs out across the coffee table and got comfortable. “It’s not for the TV or for spiking my publicity. When I was a kid, much younger than those kids were, my brothers and I were messing around with a ball at that same park. There was this guy who was running laps around the field. He was training as it turned out, but he stopped and watched us for a while. I guess I was doing something that caught his attention, because he told me that I was really good. He played for the local college team, and he told me to keep practicing, because they could really use good players.”
    “And that made a difference?”
    “All the difference. This guy, who probably forgot about me as soon as he got home, planted a seed. College. No one in my family had ever gone to college. We lived in a tiny apartment above the self-storage facility my dad managed. Soccer was just a way for my mom to get me and my brothers out of her hair. But I started really practicing from that moment on.” He shrugged. “You never know what makes a difference to a kid.”
    “You were really good with them,” he continued. “And I’m not just talking about your moves, although you do have a wicked first touch. They liked you. We should get Paul on it. Create more opportunities for you to do some real good in all these bogus situations.”
    “I’d really like that.” A little laugh escaped her lips. Helping kids would certainly make her feel she’d earned her paycheck. “How about an after school homework and soccer club? There’s lots of ways to get to college, and I’ve always wanted to work with kids in some way.”
    “We’ll text Paul tomorrow.”
    “That’d be great.” She patted his arm. She was touched he would do this for her.
    She imagined the facility they might create. A colorful room full of posters and supplies. She could tutor in English and history and help out with writing in any subject. On breaks they could go out and kick a ball around on a grassy field right outside the door. It was a simple idea, but with Diego’s name and money behind it, who knew what could come out of it.
    They both noticed almost simultaneously her hand still resting on his arm. Her fingers curled idly around his forearm. She yanked her hand away. Shit. She didn’t want Diego to think she had designs on him. Nothing could be further from the truth.
    “Sorry,” she said, and her cheeks flushed.
    “Nothing to apologize for.” But Diego slid his feet off the coffee table and stood up. He went over to the large fireplace and casually examined the photographs grouped on the mantelpiece. Suddenly, the whole thing felt a lot like a real relationship. Amy had overstepped, and Diego was now pushing back to regain the space between them.
    “Well, I got a big day tomorrow.” Diego idly fingered a picture of him kissing an older Latina woman on the cheek. “It’s a fitness day. I’m hitting the gym early with my trainer and then down to the stadium. The guys and I will probably go out to eat afterwards. I take the rookies out once a week. You know their salaries are shit.” Diego slid the picture back and forth across the mantelpiece. “Just the guys usually. You could join us, I guess, if you wanted?”
    Amy studied him for a moment. Was this a command appearance? Was the boss setting up a meeting or was he just being