Tactics & Teamwork Chapter 14

"Seriously Lyn, you don't have to make me anything, you did enough today." Mark said as Lyn walked into her kitchen with an apron on. "Besides, aren't you still tired? You feel asleep on my shoulder on the bus."

"That's why you're going to help me." Lyn said pulling out another apron and throwing it towards Mark. He caught it with a grin before standing up and putting it on.

"I guess it's my turn to learn something then." He said mentally preparing himself. "So manicotti huh, what made you want to specialize it that specifically? Or should I not ask because the reason is your parents?" He had realized mid-sentence that maybe that was the case.

"You should ask, and yes it was because of my parents." Lyn explained as she got the ingredients out. "My parents would always tell me the story of how they met, and how on their first date they had the best manicotti either of them ever had. So I made it my goal that every anniversary I would try my best to top it. Of course I probably never did, but they always said I did and at least enjoyed it for my sake. So now I do it to remember the good times, and to improve as well." She didn't start crying, but she was getting emotional. Mark didn't hug her, but he did walk over and put his hand on top of hers.

"That's really sweet and respectful Lyn, I'm sure that they are proud of the woman you are becoming." He said softly as he looked her in the eyes.

"Mark, you're going to make me cry again." Lyn said, not mad, but not wanting to ruin the moment they were having.

"Okay, no more parent talk." Mark promised. "In fact, let's change the subject to something more on the light side of life. How do you think Kent's first date with Carrie is going?"

"I'm sure that he's showing her a great time. Probably asked her about her boundaries, and he's not going to cross them." Lyn said confidently, remembering her first date with him.

"You think they are going to work well together, I mean they are my first foray into matchmaking." Mark joked and that got Lyn to crack a smile.

"Well, if Carrie doesn't push him too far, and if Kent is ready when she wants move their relationship forward, then I don't see why not." Lyn said thinking about it. And that got Mark thinking about it too.

"Okay, feel free not to answer this, but what happened between you two?" He asked, hoping that she wouldn't be too mad.

"Long story short, I wanted to move our relationship forward and Kent wasn't ready for that." Lyn said like it was in the past. "We had a fight and started to drift apart until I convinced him it was for the best if we broke up and tried to stay friends."

"Define 'move our relationship forward.'" Mark said pushing his luck just a bit more. He wanted to know so he wouldn't make the same mistake.

"You have to promise that you won't tell anyone, especially Kent. If he knows that someone else knows it might send him back into the spiral he was in after we broke up, and neither of us want that. He's almost back to normal." Lyn said turning to face him.

"I promise." Mark said wholeheartedly with a nod.

"I wanted to have sex with him." Lyn admitted, and Mark understood why she made him promise. "I thought we were ready, but he wasn't. I admit that I may have pushed him a little too much, but what's done is done and we're still friends."

"I guess that's the best that can come from that situation. And again, I promise I won't tell anyone about it." Mark reiterated. He wasn't going to throw away all the progress he had made with Kent or Lyn up to this point.

"I trust you Mark, that's why I told you." Lyn assured him. "Now onto the manicotti." So Lyn taught Mark how to make her favorite dish with her own special flare. Mark, even though not known for his cooking skills, caught on quickly and if put to the test he would at least make something edible. When they were done they took the food upstairs so they could eat with Mr. Hausen.

"This is really good." Mark said after taking a few bites. "I can taste and see you've been working on this for as long as you said. This might even be better than my mom's spaghetti." Lyn chuckled thinking of a song, but she was grateful that Mark liked the food they made.

"Would you say that I've earned another visit then, because I have many more dishes I want you to try out. Not many people around here have the taste buds for it but you just might be the person I've been looking for." Lyn said half joking, half seriously.

"She's not kidding Sir Mark." Mr. Hausen commented. "Mine are getting so old that I can't properly tell if it's well made or not. And I wouldn't mind having some more company every now and then."

"Hey, I love to eat, and if I get to learn how to cook more, why not?" Mark said happily. "Besides, I like coming over here, it makes me feel closer to you Lyn. I mean in a friendly way." He said that because of her grandfather, but he just chuckled in a knowing tone.

"I feel the same." Lyn replied. After that they ate and talked for a while until Lyn brought up another subject about the team. "So, after the game Saturday, we're all heading to the local pool to celebrate another year of being a team. Kent told me when I first joined it's a tradition that's been around even since his dad was on the team. And plus it's most likely the last chance we have to go swimming before the pool closes for the winter. And since you're the coach I thought you should know about it."

"That's great, I'm all for tradition and team building." Mark said thinking it was a cool idea. "One thing though, I can't swim, like at all. That's not going to be an issue is it?"

"No, not at all. Florina usually doesn't swim because she's shy and Sain just likes to flirt with all the girls, so you should be fine." Lyn answered him. "But on the off chance that you accidentally fall in, I guess I could jump in and save you." She was being sarcastic, but Mark found it funny.

"And plus, you get to see me shirtless and in my swimming shorts." Mark joked and the three of them laughed, even if secretly Lyn was kind of curious about what Mark looked like under that green hoodie and yellow T-shirt.

Kent had parked his car across the street from Carrie's house since that was the way he had to from the direction he drove. He turned the engine off and quickly exited the car so he could open Carrie's door for her.

"Why thank you sir." Carrie said with a funny fake accent as she took his hand and let him lead her out of the car. All in all, their first date had gone very well. They both enjoyed the movie they went to, and there weren't too many awkward moments. Like the worse was maybe the few times they reached for popcorn at the same time, but towards the end she was doing it on purpose and Kent could tell, so they practically held hands in the bowl for the last ten minutes. After that they strolled around the mall for a bit and Kent even let her wear his jacket when she started to get cold. So as they were walking towards her door she was going to be very okay with a goodnight kiss, but it would be all up to Kent she knew.

"So, how did I do? Was it up to your expectations?" Was what Kent asked as they stopped at the door. Carrie put her hands in his and looked him in the eyes when she answered.

"Tonight was great and I had a wonderful time, I don't know why you were so worried." She told him with a smile and he smiled back. "So, about that goodnight kiss."

"If I have to." Kent deadpanned. Which was another thing, Kent actually made jokes on the date, not a lot, but more than he usually did. Anyways, he brushed a strand of hair out of Carrie's face and leaned in to kiss her. It wasn't the most special kiss either of them had, but it was a good first one and a good cap off for the night they had shared together.

"That was nice." Carrie said meekly as she blushed a bit as she pulled back. "I wouldn't be opposed to it happening again."

"I feel the same way." Kent said softly. "So, I guess I'll see you Saturday for our game?"

"You bet." Carrie said. "Oh, and you might want your jacket back."

"Thank you. And I'm sure no one will mind if I ask, but would you be willing to come to the local pool for our team celebration afterwards? It's kind of a tradition and well, I thought you might like to come." Kent offered.

"And you want to see me in my swimsuit right?" Carrie asked cheekily to tease him.

"Well, that would be a plus I guess." Kent said, his turn to blush a bit.

"Then I would love to come." Carrie said enjoying the idea. "I'll see you then. Goodnight Kent."

"Goodnight Carrie, sleep well." And with that Kent walked back to his car and got in. But before he left he made sure Carrie got in safely and then he sat and thought to himself how lucky he was at this very moment in time.

A/N- I know one of you was expecting Lyn's cooking to be horrible, but I wrote this before you said that. Besides manicotti=Mani Katti for the joke and the Mani Katti is an awesome weapon, so it really should taste good as well.