starting over.

STATS • BIO • WANTED CONNECTIONS • PINTEREST

starter for:  @coachdavis​. location:  dolly’s diner. time:  evening, around 8pm.

At least it’s Sunday was Lorianne’s mantra throughout the entire day. At least it’s Sunday, at least it’s Sunday, she says over and over again inside her mind, hoping it might ease her nerves. She’s been endlessly anxious these days and the prospect alone has killed her. She was once a firecracker, this town’s cool girl. And now she was just another somebody, falling victim to her hidden insecurities and sorrows. 

“We’re closing!” She calls out to someone who enters Dolly’s, the little bell on the door chiming. Lori turns, averting his eyes to the source. When she sees Owen, a smile spreads across her mouth. “Hey, long time no see. You’re not getting any special treatment, we’re still closing. I’ll get you a coffee and that’s it, stud.”

.

Dinner at his parent’s house wasn’t a weekly event by any means, but it happened often and it was always on a Sunday. Despite the gentle nagging from his mother about church attendance and when he plans to ask Ray to marry him, it went well. They usually do.  He still had some time to kill before he needed to pick Colt up from hi8s friend’s house so he thought it would be nice to stop into Dolly’s for some dessert.

“Already?” Truth be told, Owen had no idea what Dolly’s hours were but it stood to reason that most places closed early on Sunday. Occasionally he could skirt around it with coach or minor town celebrity status, but once he saw who was working he doubted that would fly. “Aww, not even some pie to accompany it? What if I told you, you look quite stunning in that uniform?” He flashed his crooked smile Not that he thought for a second it would work, but damn if he wasn’t one to try.

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Snorting a little bit and making sure that the kids weren’t actually hurt, Ryder turned back to who he collided with. Snorting a little, the ranch hand watches the kids run off. “That’s why the youngest I coach is sixth grade,” Sixth graders also didn’t have as many parents breathing down his neck about safety in a sport they signed their kids up for. He took their kids safety very seriously and taught them everything he knew. However, if he got another can you make sure his helmet is tight enough? Comment in the middle of a game, he was going to throw a clipboard. “Ah yeah, I’m alright.” Looking down, he realized a few other products fell when he lost his balance. “Just buyin my dog more than I expected to today,” He snorts, passing his credit card over to the woman behind the table. “Have we met before?” Ryder asked, tilting his head to the side. “y’look a little familiar is all.”

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He handed Bailey a dollar and gave her the go ahead to pick out a couple of the honey sticks she’d been eyeing for awhile. “You coach?” Maybe that’s where he’d seen the younger man before. Then again it could be anywhere in a town like Great Falls, hell the other man could simply resemble a past student. Owen was slow to assume he recognized anyone unless he knew for sure. “Good, good. Dogs ought to be spoiled, that’s why you get them in the first place, right?” The older man laughed. He tended to spoil his cousin’s dog whenever he was around him. “Maybe. I’ve been the football coach over at Great Falls High for a while now and sometimes, when I’m feelin’ adventurous, I help out parks and recreation sports over the summer.” This year he opted out to focus on the kids, his relationship, and his cousin. They all needed the extra attention and he knew how to prioritize when he needed to. Sometimes it took a reminder or two, but he caught on eventually.

@coachdavis​

Location: Cedar Garden Golf & Country Club.

Golf was a skill that Sawyer had picked up overtime in Georgia. A lot of business deals had been made on the greenery of a golf course. Mostly men in their 60′s, who really needed to be retired, spent most of their time, so Sawyer adapted. So naturally, she picked up the sport - and became quite good at it. So while she was back in Montana, she wanted to make sure she didn’t loose her touch on the course - so she invited Owen, someone she had met at the country club, out for a day of golf. 

“Fuck.” She said, as she missed the hole by a couple of inches. “That would have been a hole in one.” 

-

When Owen took his first coaching position in Miami, he found himself missing playing the game. Still very much in recovery, he couldn’t exactly play anything that was too physically exerting. That’s when he picked up golf. A lot of the other coaches and bigger names in the community would play weekly. By joining them he was able to somewhat cure the need to be an athlete but also network with the people that he wanted to keep happy for the sake of his career. When he moved back to Great Falls he continued hitting the green at least once a week for the same reasons.

“Definitely,” Owen chuckled quietly at Sawyer’s exclamation. “You got closer than me, but I think we could both get a birdie on this hole.” He waved her over to the cart so they could drive down to their balls. “What’s new in the Decker world?”

who: @coachdavis where: owen’s place

“Coffee,” Ray asked as she shuffled barefooted through the kitchen, sluggishly making her way to the coffee maker. She barely managed to stifle a yawn. Saraya had never been a morning person. In a perfect world, the day would begin at 10a.m. She’d spend her first hour awake sketching all the things she’d dreamed the night before, two cups in hand – dirty paint water in one, coffee in the other (in her fantasies, and in real life, Ray was fueled by coffee.) Then she’d catch up client messages, spend the next few hour or so on the intricacies of self-marketing, before throwing herself fully into her passion – painting. She’d end the day with her son, basking in the glory of motherhood, before finally turning in for the night, fulfilled with the perfection that was her life.

Instead, she lived in a world that required that she be awake before 6a.m. bleary eyed and all just so that she could carve out a few moments for herself before the rush of being a working mother consumed her. “So, any plans for today?”

.

“Just finished brewin’.” He lowered the paper he was only half reading to watch Ray do her sleepy beeline to the coffee pot. Owen was a morning person, often up early to go for a jog or do a set on his exercise bike in the basement. It was a routine that followed him from childhood throughout his entire life. Sports meant getting up early, though coaching them gave room to sleep in a bit more than participating in them. His internal clock still had him up before six most days regardless.

Owen set the paper down and finished off the last bit of his coffee. He got up to join Ray at the coffee maker, holding his cup out for her to fill when she was done. “Mornin’ beautiful,” he smiled and leaned in to place a quick kiss on her cheek. “My mom’s coming by to bring Bailey to day camp and Colt has a little league game at one.” He named the items on the running to do list in his head. “Then I need to mow the lawn if it doesn’t rain.” The weather was always unclear which way it would go. He lifted the cup up to his lips to take a drink. “What about you?”

❝ moon song.

LOCATION: Great Foods. SETTING: tuesday, late afternoon. TAGGING: @coachdavis​​

What had coincidentally begun as an almost accidental run-in near the variety of fruits had soon conspired into a more purposeful one near the whole milks and coffee creamers. Phoebe had seen Owen from afar, and quickly shied away into an aisle before he even had a chance to really notice her. It had been a long time since they had last spoke, since they had last been near one another, which now she would happily take full responsibility for. But that wasn’t the case before, and it’s something she’s had to tuck away with all of those other regrets she so angrily despises.

Phoebe gripped tightly around the handle of her small shopping basket, casually picking out her favorites, careful to avoid the back label, knowing she’d go into a frenzy knowing what exactly went into making her favorite, sugary, butter cookie creamer. Shimmying around the other customers, she excused herself here and there before eyes landed on the man whom she regretfully left that full mooned night. “Oh, that’s no good —,” Phoebe so casually spoke, as a slight grin formed against her mauve colored lips. Without hesitation, she then moved to stand beside him. “ — it’s a very flat creamer — ends in ‘rose’ and all that.” 

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Tee ball practice, ice cream, drop the kids off at mom and dad’s, grocery store, and Gabe’s house. Owen ran his to-do list through his head right away in the morning, then again every time he checked something off. Children were at mom and dad’s, next was the grocery store. For this task he had a list because heaven knows he would forget half the things he needed without it. Selecting onions he thought he saw a familiar brunette near the bananas, a ghost as it was. When he looked up again she was gone and he reminded himself he might want to go get that eye exam done again. 

He stared at the different types of creamers with a sort of intense curiosity. This happened often in this aisle. So many varieties now, with almond, soy, plant based, hemp, oat, and organic. Then there were about a million different flavors. He reached in for the quart of half and half, as usual. He went to set it in the cart and heard her voice. “Pheebs,” his voice indicated how off guard she’d caught him and that was not an easy task. Guess he wouldn’t need to get in for that eye exam as quickly as he thought. “There’s a wine creamer?” Not the first thing that ought to come out of his mouth after all that time of avoidance. “Uh, how-” Owen pressed his lips together and rubbed at the back of his neck. “How have you been? It’s, um, been awhile.” An understatement. Ever since they’d called it off their short affair, years ago, they had managed to avoid each other for the most part. Back then he was angry about it, upset she was pushing him away for no real reason. That has long passed now, however, replaced with a curious concern as to just what she’d been up to in the meantime.

A year ago, he almost lost his cousin and arguably one of his closest friends. Family meant quite a bit to Owen. They were the ones that stuck by even when things got rough or the person was going through a rough phase. Gabe was going through two things that Owen had already been through. Unfortunately, his cousin was going through both of them at the same time. Something he could not quite imagine, not together, but he did know what it was like to learn how to walk again and he still sometimes struggled with the loss of his wife. Everyone dealt with things differently. No one should have to go through it alone, though. That is why Owen did his best to be there and accessible as much as possible. Hopefully without pissing him off or annoying him to the point of no return.

"I think this is try number," he ticked on his fingers while his other hand stirred the pot of simmering tomato sauce. “Six or seven, I can't remember. But I swear this is goin' to be it, Big G." He chuckled and glanced over quick. Their grandma's spaghetti was arguably the best in the world and a staple comfort meal. Sadly, she didn't share the recipe with anyone else and Owen had decided to make it his personal mission to figure it out. Not only for him and Gabe, but for their children as well. He didn't even ask if Gabriel even like the meal. It was something to keep him from fussing over him like a mother. "So, uh," he started the pot of water and turned the sauce to low. "How's the leg doin'? Pain any better?" Owen took a quick seat at the table, a brow rising to scan him over.

open starter → Farmers Market

You could almost always find Ryder at the Farmers Market on Sundays. Early in the morning it was usually quiet. He’d find himself lingering at stalls and chatting with people he hasn’t seen in weeks, or just letting them describe that weeks crop or whatever they were trying to sell. Most of the time he walked away with some pastries or premade food, because he knew his way around the kitchen but he was in no way professional there, so a lot of these fresh ingredients would be lost on him. Or end up rotting in his trash can when he inevitably ordered a pizza instead of cooking dinner for himself. But today’s trip was anything but quiet - it was a beautiful day and Ryder got a late start that morning which meant he was battling crowds of families out enjoying their Sunday morning. 

So instead of strolling casually from stall to stall, the ranch hand found himself looking for spaces to between large groups of people and making sure he wasn’t running into any screaming kids. He had been buying a pack of homemade dog treats for Holly when someone came at him from the right. He didn’t hear it, but he felt the kid colliding with his leg sending him running into someone standing the next stall over. “Fuck, sorry,” He said, turning to steady whoever he smashed into, looking down to make sure he hadn’t knocked something out of their hands before he snorted. “Never thought a group of kids would be able to knock me down that easy. Y’good?”

The farmer’s market was a weekly must-do for Owen. Not only did he know the value of getting unmanufactured foods wherever possible, he was also a big supporter of farmers and all things small business. After all, the small business owners and farmers were the staple of their community. It was usually an all morning event when they went. Owen was often stopped by people who either wanted to talk sports, someone he coached, or just small talk to say hi. Colt ran off with a few friends from school and Bailey held his hand until she was too tired and he carried her for a while. 

He was just saying goodbye to a long-time neighbor of his parents when the person collided with him. “Ope, watch out.” The coach checked to make sure Bailey was okay and she was busy eyeing a honey stick, blissfully unaware of anything around her. He then tried to see if Colt was among those running children but they were no longer in sight. “Never underestimate the power of hyperactive children, especially if they’re in a group.” Owen chuckled and gave the younger man a quick pat on the shoulder. “Oh yeah, we’re good. No harm no foul. You okay, son?” He asked looking him over quick. 

A promise was a promise, and Owen was not one to go against his word especially when it came to his children. He had promised to take them to the park after Colt’s little league game. It would be good for Bailey to get some energy out either, it never ceased to amaze him how much she had. His mother was quick to point out that he was no different, hence why they had to enroll him in sports so early. Owen had considered signing his daughter up for tee ball that summer since she was old enough, but decided it could wait a year since she seemed to be more interested in soccer and animals. “Hey buddy, I know your friends are there but don’t forget about your sister.” He called out to his son who was ignoring the six year old following after him. 

“You ever wonder if they are trying to figure out a way to develop a youth serum?” He asked the person near by as he stood leaned against a tree not too far from the playground. “Not for the aging look and what not, but for the energy and stamina portion. I don’t think I would ever need coffee if I had that available.” Owen chuckled. It didn’t help that his positions kept him busy year round, despite the summer break on top of trying to be a decent father. He was by no means doing it alone thanks to his support system but it still wasn’t easy.