Unspoken Truths
Coach/Tami, Post-Seeing Other People, PG, 370 words, Title from Everwood, Co-written with Rachel
Eric doesn't admit to it, but he's jealous of Glen. He's jealous that Glen has practically turned into Tami's best friend. Always talking to him out in the halls, or eating lunch in the office, Glen always seems to be there.
And it's not just jealously, Eric feels lonely. He feels like Glen has replaced him as the go-to person for Tami while they are at work. He misses the chance to get to talk to her when he's stressed, or just wants to talk. Because Tami is never there. Maybe he just has bad timing. He'd like to think that he does. But there's always that Glen-factor in the back on his mind. And he doesn't like it. Doesn't like it at all.
But he'd never ever tell her that.
--
Ever since Tami met Eric in college, she always felt like she was giving into him. They got married in his hometown because of his mother, they moved because of his job, and she took care of Julie while he supported them. And while Eric always made up for it in kisses, and flowers, and a sea of endless "thank you"s, Tami missed things about being on her own. She missed having her own friends, (the ones that didn't come up to her while she was food shopping to talk about football) and her own opinions. And when Tami started the job at the high school, she had faith that it could all change. She was nice to the faculty, and to the women of Dillon that may be normal, but still, she served the same family and the same role.
So when she does have Gracie, and when she does meet someone who isn't Eric, Tami feels like she can finally breathe. She can finally experience friendship. She only wishes Eric wouldn't be so jealous. It's not like she could love another man. She loves her role as his wife and as a mother more than anything in the world. She just likes having someone -- anyone -- around who isn't her husband. So maybe when they fight, she has someone to go to or a shoulder if she should need it.
But she'd never ever tell him that.