Page 11 of A Better Place

After Barrett and Tess have signed Harper’s cast, having a hard time finding an open space to do so, the girls head to their bedrooms to get ready for the game tonight. As soon as they’re out of sight, Barrett turns toward me, his smile beaming. “So-o-o, Ms. Hanson, huh?”

I punch him lightly in the shoulder and guffaw. “Shut up, man. She’s your daughter’s teacher,” I tell them, hoping they don’t notice the effect that Carly Hanson already has on me.

“True. But you can’t deny that she’s beautiful. Even I’d hit that,” comes out of my sister’s mouth.

Gross.

“Tess!” I guffaw and suppress a shudder.

Barrett raises his hand and says, “I’d watch,” then laughs like he’s hysterical.

I could throw up.

Tess just rolls her eyes then reaches over to me and gives me a tight hug. “Thank you, James — for staying with them, for helping everything here to stay rolling along, for keeping the kids happy, for taking care of my baby.”

“Nowhere else I’d rather be,” I tell her honestly.

“I know. And I love you for it. Stay through the weekend?”

“Yeah. I was planning on it, anyway, and I really wanna see Grady’s panic attack tomorrow night. He’s so sure of himself now, but I can’t wait to see the nerves settle in.”

“It’s killing me that he hasn’t told us yet!”

“I honestly can’t believe that you didn’t slip up and say something.”

“Barrett coached me on the way home,” she admits.

Barrett smirks in her direction.

“Mom! Dad! Why aren’t you ready?!” Maggie’s voice breaks in. She’s standing in front of us with her hands on her hips and a stern expression on her face. She seems excited to get to the game, and if I’m honest, so am I. I’ve only made it to two other games of Grady’s this season, and there’s only one more game before playoffs begin. Even though he’s not playing tonight, I still want to be there to support him. I have no doubt that Grady is feeling even more anxious for missing these last two weeks knowing that the playoffs are around the corner.

“You just want to get there in time to watch Jack warm up,” Harper says in a bored tone.

Well, this is an interesting twist.

“Quiet, Harps!” Maggie shrieks, her face flaming bright.

“Alright, let’s go change and head over to the game,” Barrett says, apparently not wanting to hear about his daughter’s sudden crush. Seems as though the Hanson’s have a magic spell on our family.

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