Page 83 of Wild and Wrangled

Cam laughed. “Riley’s curls: eight thousand. Gus Ryder: zero.” Cam took the seat behind Riley and kissed her on the cheek. “Your dad never gets better at this, does he?”

Riley shook her head, but she didn’t verbally respond. She was bouncing on the balls of her feet—getting her head in the game, I was sure. Cam used to do the same thing before a soccer game. Go quiet and keep her eye on the prize.

“I am getting better at managing them, though,” Gus said. “Me and wash day are best friends now.”

Cam laughed. “It only took seven years.”

“Okay, to be fair, she didn’t have that much hair for like four of them.” He slid next to Teddy on the bleachers and gave her a quick peck on the mouth before he looked at me. “Hey, Dusty. You came.” He sounded disappointed.

“Riley asked me to,” I said, and I looked over at her. “I can’t wait to see you play, kid.” That got a smile out of her, and I felt like I’d won the lottery. “You know,” I said, “I used to watch your mom play.”

Riley perked up as Cam pulled her hair back. “Really?” she asked, and I sat on the bleacher bench in front of her, so we were eye to eye.

“Yeah,” I said. “I bet you’re just as good as her,” I said. “Maybe even better.” Riley looked bashful.

“All right, Sunshine,” Cam said. “You’re good to go. Go warm up.” Riley stood up and gave each of us a high-five before she ran out onto the court with the other purple jerseys.

“So,” Teddy said, looking between Cam and me as I sat down beside her, “anything new and noteworthy to report, you two?”

“Theodora,” Gus said in warning.

“What?” she asked.

“I’d also like to know,” my mom chimed in, and I gave her a look.

Cam was stiff next to me, not ready to take on Teddy’s teasing. “I got bucked off a horse this week,” I said. “Little asshole got spooked, and I went flying.”

“It’s true,” Gus said. “I saw it.”

Teddy pouted. “You guys are no fun,” but when I looked at Cam, she mouthed “Thank you” just as somebody blew a whistle.

“Looks like the game is starting,” Gus said.

I don’t know if you’ve ever seen seven-year-olds play soccer,but it’s equal parts adorable, confusing, and frustratingas hell. There are like two kids who kind of know what they’re doing, and then the rest of them are just there for the vibes.

Riley actually had possession of the ball a decent amount. At one point, she got fouled, so she got to throw it in. Truly, I didn’t know anything about soccer. Cam tried to educate mewhen she used to play, but every time she started talking about it and trying to explain the rules, we just started making out…

But at least I knew when to cheer.

While the game was going on, all of us chatted. Well, Teddy chatted, mostly. She tried (and failed) to convince me to get a cat she saw on the animal shelter’s website.

“You know I’m allergic to cats, Ted,” I said.

She rolled her eyes. “I don’t know why you can’t just grow up and pop a Benadryl like an adult.”

“I can’t take care of a cat if I’m unconscious,” I said. Benadryl took meout.I heard Cam giggle next to me, and she pressed the side of her leg against mine for a second.

“How are you liking the house, Cam? Settling in okay?” my mom asked.

“Yeah,” she said. “I can’t think about the fact that I might have to leave it in a year. It feels like mine.”

“And Riley? Does she like it?”

“Loves it,” Cam said. “I’m going to have to keep an eye on her when it gets warmer. She’s itching to start climbing trees, and I don’t want any broken bones on my hands.”

Riley’s age group played a shortened version of a game, with each half only being fifteen minutes. At halftime, Riley congregated with her team around a cooler with juice boxes and clementines. When she looked over at all of us, we waved.

I didn’t miss all the glances that came our way from the rest of the town. I didn’t care. I loved being here with Cam and being here for Riley.

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