“I’m the same age as your dad.”
She rolled her painted eyes, so dramatic. “No. What are you going to eat?”
“I hadn’t even looked yet. I’m thinking about having steak and shrimp, though.”
She offered him a nod and a grin. “Oh, totally. Totally get the shrimp. They’re so good, and that’s not something you’re going to be able to get in New Mexico. I mean, obviously, you live where there are shrimps all over, but Gulf shrimp are special. And New Mexico, no shrimp, zero shrimp. Don’t eat the shrimp.”
“Good to know.” She was full of opinions, that girl. “Then that’s decided. I’m gonna have the shrimp.”
“Rock on. So what do you all wanna do tonight? I bet we could find a show or a concert. There’s gotta be something to do. It’s a big town. Oh, I know, we could all get tattoos!”
Rowdy arched one eyebrow at Madison. “Your mother would kill me.”
Madison snorted. “Daddy, Momma and I got matching tattoos on my eighteenth birthday.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
She shrugged. “You didn’t ask.”
“I’m blind, you dork. I can’t see it. I suppose you have matching ones with that boy, too.”
Madison’s cheeks turned bright red, she gasped, and Rowdy’s mouth opened.
“You little shit, you got matching tattoos with two people and you left me out?”
“Well, three, yeah? My sorority. We all have a sorority tattoo.”
“I don’t think I like you anymore.” Rowdy actually pouted, and it was adorable.
Maddie fluttered her eyelashes, just as if he could see her. “Yeah, but you don’t like me any less. We could go get matching tattoos together.”
Rowdy put one hand up, stopping her. “Baby girl. I can’t see them. So basically you’re just asking me to hurt for you.”
She blinked, and then she grinned. “Yeah, that’s totally it. Isn’t that what kids are supposed to do?”
“Yeah, I’m not getting a tattoo with you in Fort Worth. I would hate to have to explain that to your grandfather, who would say that I was stupid for getting a tattoo when I couldn’t see it.”
“But you already have a tattoo.”
“Yes.” Rowdy rolled his eyes. “But I could see then.”
The waiter came up, their waters in hand, and blinked at Madison. “Good afternoon, ma’am, what can I get you to drink?”
“I’d like a glass of water and a Coors Light, please.”
“Can I see some ID?”
“You so can!” She was still young enough to think that was the most amusing thing in the world.
He watched her take out her little driver’s license and show it off.
“All right, one Coors Light and one water coming up. Would y’all like some appetizers?”
Madison piped right up with, “Onion rings. We want like two hugeungeous orders of onion rings to share, with ranch and the steak sauce.”
“Of course. Yes, ma’am.”
The waiter left and Rowdy shook his head. “Madison, you didn’t even ask Brett if he would like something besides onion rings. What if he doesn’t like onion rings?”