Page 92 of A Little Crush
“Jaxon?” someone calls.
Rory’s eyes bulge as the blood drains from her face. Hell, it probably matches my own expression, all things considered. I glance over my shoulder, confirming my suspicion.
Shit.
I knew I recognized that voice.
Pressing my hand to my pocket and what I know is tucked inside, I face my dad and give him a smile. “Hey, Dad. What are you doing here?”
“Thought we’d give Griffin and Finley a date night,” my mom answers for him while rocking side to side with a baby strapped to her chest. If the plume of dark hair is anything to go by, I’d say it’s a sleeping Callie. A few feet away stands my nephew who’s wielding his putter like it’s a lightsaber.
“Charge!” he yells.
My dad blocks a potential blow to his shin. “What are you guys doing here?”
Macky swings the putter again. “Gonna get you!”
“Why don’t you go get your uncle instead?” my dad suggests.
Macky’s eyes light up, and he rushes toward me, his putter held high above his head. “Expelliarmust!” he yells.
I manage to dart out of his path at the last second before grabbing his little wrist and lifting him into the air, swinging him around.
“Wrong franchise, young Padawan,” my dad jokes, rolling his eyes at Rory. “Dylan’s boys have been rubbing off on him. Can you tell?”
With a light laugh, Rory smooths down the edge of her white dress, probably trying to make sure her bare ass stays covered, and replies, “Yeah, if it’s a Harry Potter reference, then it’s definitely Reeves’ family’s fault.”
“Don’t I know it,” my mom quips. “So? What are you guys doing here? You don’t have Poppy, do you?”
“Not this week,” I answer, praying there are no follow-up questions because I have no idea what to say if either of my parents point out that I’m here with a certain someone who’s wanted nothing to do with me for around a decade. Yeah, most people in this town would buy the whole family friend excuse. But our families? Not so much.
“Oh.” My mom’s attention darts from me to Rory and back again. “Okay?”
All right, maybe a follow-up question or two would’ve been more appropriate. Because the awkward silence enveloping us? Yeah, it’s something else. Why would I be here with Rory? Why would I be herealonewith Rory? What the fuck are we supposed to say? I knew it was a risk to take her on a date, but I didn’t think?—
“Actually.” Rory clears her throat. “We were interviewing a few potential nannies and wanted to see if they knew how to have fun, so we brought them to play miniature golf, but then they bailed, and we figured, why not play a round ourselves for old time’s sake, right?”
My teeth dig into the inside of my cheek to keep from laughing or admitting defeat right here and now. Is she serious? She really went with interviewing nannies as our reasonfor being here? At a miniature golf place? Before theybailed? She might as well tattoo her forehead with,Liar, liar, pants on fire, at this point. Then again, she is missing her panties. No wonder she’s spooked. Even so, the woman can’t think my parents are this delusional. Can she?
“Interviewinghere?” my dad asks. He looks about as confused as Tatum is whenever hockey is a topic of conversation. “Why would you?—”
“She’s kidding,” I interrupt.
Rory squeaks beside me, and it takes everything inside of me to keep from shooting her a warning look to stop being so damn obvious.
“Crowther has a thing for miniature golf,” I continue, “and Rory asked if I could coach her on a few holes so she doesn’t get her ass handed to her.”
“Ass is a bad word,” my nephew chimes in, still resting on my hip while eavesdropping like a pro.
Shit, despite holding him, I’d almost forgotten he’s here.
I set the little tyke back on the ground, and he rushes off to his grandpa with his putter pointed directly at the man’s crotch. It seems the light saber slash wizard wand is now a lance, and my dad’s junk is about to be impaled by the damn thing in an impromptu jousting session.
My dad blocks the attempt before Macky does any real damage and shakes his head. “Aaaand, no more knight books for you,” he announces. “Anyway, Crowther’s a good guy. I heard about his mom, though. It’s a shame.”
“His mom?” Rory interjects.
“Your dad was telling me they just found out her cancer’s back,” my dad explains. “I think he’s taking a leave of absence for a few games so he can be with her?”
