Cowboys & Kisses (24 page)

And he would never, ever, raise a hand to any of us.

“What’s the matter?” my mother asked, passing me the plate of French toast.

I shook my head, taking one piece and passing the plate on to Dax. What would happen if I told them I realized how lucky I was to have them for parents?
They’d institutionalize me instantly.
It’s just that I was. I was very lucky. And the thought of Mom screwing it all up was…well, it pissed me off.

“Have fun last night?” Mom asked.

“Yeah.” Dax nodded. “Faces are starting to get familiar. Met some new people, too.”

I poked my toast, wondering if Travis Holcomb was still locked up. I hoped so. Wyatt didn’t need him underfoot while he was meeting with the A&M people.

“…wasn’t as good as the other one we went to,” Dax was saying.

“How did Wyatt do?” Dad asked.

He rocks.
I smiled, pouring some syrup on my toast.

“Awesome. High scores all around,” Dax offered.

That wasn’t enough.
His
dad might not be proud of him, but I knew Mom and Dad would be. “He was amazing. Really. You guys should have been there. Highest scores for bull-riding. Caught the eye of some college recruiters, too,” I added.

Dad looked at me. It was quite a speech for me. I couldn’t help it—I smiled.

I saw the complete and total surprise on his face. “Oh?”

“He’s having lunch with them today before he comes over,” Dax finished, looking at me like I’d grown another head.

“We should all think positive thoughts,” Mom said. “Cross our fingers.”

“He’ll do great. He’s a sharp kid.” Dad piled his plate high. “So…” He cleared his throat and took a sip of orange juice. “You and Wyatt…”

“He’s my boyfriend.”

They all stared at me then. I took a bite.

Dax burst out laughing. “Um, pass the syrup.”

Mom was smiling, albeit a little concerned. And Dad… I waited, watching. His brows went up. “Well.”

“Do you know his dad?” I asked. “Travis Holcomb?”

I saw Dad’s frown. “Not personally.”

“But you’ve heard of him?”

“People talk in a town this small,” Mom admitted. “I have to say, I haven’t heard a lot of nice things about the man.”

“Because he’s an asshole,” Dax said before biting into some bacon.

“Dax,” Mom chastised.

Dad frowned at him. “Dax, I don’t think—”

“No, he really is,” I said quickly. “Big time asshole. He was arrested last night.”

Mom and Dad froze then. “Why?”

Dax and I looked at each other. “Fighting or stealing or something,” I murmured.

“Should have been for child abuse,” Dax offered.

Mom and Dad froze again. “He
hit
Wyatt?” Dad asked.

Poor Wyatt
. I knew this was the exact thing he didn’t want to happen—people talking about him.

Dax nodded. “Black eye and split eyelid. Though I guess it’s not exactly child abuse since Wyatt’s eighteen.”

A black eye so swollen it hurt him to smile. My stomach clenched. As angry as I was accused of being, I didn’t
hate
people. Normally. Travis Holcomb was making me reconsider that.

“Oh my God.” Mom sat back. “That poor boy.”

“That kid’s had more than his share of heartache,” Dad murmured. “Doesn’t seem fair.”

More than his share of heartache?
“Just…please don’t say anything to him about it,” I said. “He…he’s proud. He wouldn’t want people talking about him or his family.”

Dad was watching me closely. “I can respect that.”

Mom was still upset. “But—”

“Please, Mom,” I begged. “His dad’s on the road most of the time anyway.”

“So he’s alone?” She paused, frowning. “I won’t say anything, but…I can’t
not
do something now. I don’t care if he’s eighteen or five, he’s a child,” she argued. “Davis.” She turned to look at Dad. “Maybe you could invite him to stay here? We have extra bedrooms. He’s here anyway. He does so much around the place. I just want to make sure he has food and clean clothes and…and people around that care about him, expect him to check in.”

I loved my mother so much. She had such a big heart; she always had. She didn’t like to see anyone or anything—animals included—hurting…which made the whole cheating on Dad thing that much harder to deal with. My stomach clenched tighter.

“I will,” Dad agreed, then looked at me. “As long as you promise me the two of you will…behave.”

I smiled, shoving another bite of toast into my mouth. I didn’t want to lie to my father, so keeping my mouth full seemed like a wise idea.

The house phone rang. “Mrs. Duncan?” Mom asked.

“Probably. Weekly visit.” I didn’t want to feel deflated, but I did.

“Done?” Mom asked, reaching for my plate.

“Yes, thank you.” That was when I noticed the strange look between my parents. “I can call her back.”

My father shook his head and stood. “Go on,” he said and slammed out the back door.

We stared after him, but the phone kept ringing so I went into the living room and answered the phone. Whatever was bothering him now would probably still be bothering him later. I pressed the talk button on my phone.

“Allie?”

“Hey, Mrs. D.”

“How’s my girl? Ready for school tomorrow?” She sounded so happy.

“Um, not really,” I admitted. “I’m trying not to think about it, actually.”

“But it’s senior year. You’ll rule the school. I remember all of your plans. Weekend getaways to the coast. Dances. Tournaments. Still planning on taking that Spring Break to Europe? Oh, Allie, you should be beside yourself, counting down until you’re free.”

Lindie and I had made those plans—mostly because that’s what Lindie wanted to do. I was happy to go with her, because she made everything more fun. But trips and dances didn’t have the same pull as they did before. And the countdown I’d been keeping? I hadn’t bothered with it much recently. I only had this year with Wyatt before everything changed all over again. I’d never thought of a school year as being short before.

Wyatt
… I smiled. “You’re right.” Mrs. D. would have no idea I was gushing because I was thinking about my…my
boyfriend
. “How are things?” I braced myself.

“You know us. Never a dull moment. I’m getting Marcie ready for the next show.” Marcie was Mrs. D’s pampered pure-bred show Corgi. “Mr. D finally traded in L-Lindie’s little Porsche for something pretty—just for me.”

I was proud of her. And of Mr. D. I knew it wasn’t easy, moving on without Lindie. “Ooh, what does it look like? Send me a picture. Knowing Mr. D, it’s got all sorts of bells and whistles.”

“It does, indeed.” She paused. “Have your parents talked to you?”

I stopped bouncing my leg. “No. I mean…I don’t know. What about?”

“Oh, nothing. Nothing at all. So, tell me about what classes you’ll be taking? You were in so many advanced classes—will they even have something for you to take?”

I hadn’t really considered that. “Guess I’ll find out tomorrow.”

Mrs. D yammered on for a while. She did a great job of sounding calm and fine. And she was, until our conversation started to wind down. I knew tears were coming, but amazingly she said, “I miss you like crazy and hope to hear from you soon, okay, Allie dear?”

“I miss you too.”

“Well, if you need or just want to talk to me, please do. I’ll answer the phone as soon as you call.”

“I will.” I smiled, looking out the front picture window at the oak trees lining the property. They were swaying gently in the breeze—green and lovely. It was a pretty picture altogether. “You have a great week.”

“You too, Allie dear.” She paused. “Let me know how everything goes, promise?”

“I promise. Bye.”

“Bye, Allie.”

And I hung up.

Mom was standing in the doorway. “How is she?” She looked anxious, antsy.

“Fine.” I sat forward. “Is something going on?” I asked. “With Mrs. D?” Mom shook her head. “Something’s up,” I pushed.

She shook her head again—once.

“I don’t believe you.” And it irritated me. I didn’t like not knowing what was going on. She smiled then. “So?”

“Your dad and I are talking a few things over.”

I flopped back into the seat. “Taffy Todd?” It was out before I realized what I was saying. I jumped up. “I don’t know why I said that.”

She stared at me, her blue eyes huge. “No…no… Of course you know. I don’t know why I thought you wouldn’t. You’re so perceptive.”

“I shouldn’t have—”

“There’s nothing to hide.
Nothing
.” She sounded so desperate. I wanted to believe her, I did. Swallowing down my questions was harder than I thought. She must have noticed because she sighed and said, “You can ask me anything, Allie. I’ll always tell you the truth.”

I knew I shouldn’t ask, but I had to. I’d lost too much to lose her too. “Okay. Well, Dax said you were kissing.”

“He kissed me. I hope Dax saw that I was pushing him away,” she added. “Until that night, we were friends and colleagues.”

“And now?”

“I haven’t spoken to him since I left the college—until he called. That kiss was it. A horrible mistake. It cost me your father’s trust and the friendship of a man I’d respected for years.” She shook her head, crossing the room to stare out the front window. “I should have slapped him. I-I was just so surprised. I never knew he…I didn’t think.”

“Have you told Dad that?” I asked.

“I’ve tried, believe me. I
love
your father. I’ve loved him since I was…a little older than you are now. Have we had our ups and downs, yes, you know we have. One kiss and…” She shook her head. “Your father’s the only man I’ve loved. And, at the risk of grossing you out, I know he’s…the only man that lights me up from the inside. The only man I want to spend my life with.”

I knew exactly what she meant. I did.

“Take a walk with me,” my dad said, making us both jump.

He was leaning against the doorframe of the kitchen, staring at Mom. I wouldn’t exactly say it was a lovey-dovey look. But there was an intensity, and tenderness, in his gaze. I hoped that was a start in the right direction. Mom nodded and followed him out the back door.

I glanced at the clock. Ten-fifteen. Run. I’d go for a run. I didn’t want to think about Mom and Dad, school starting, how much I loved Wyatt, or the fact that my life was so…so…so different than I’d ever imagined it would be.

In five minutes I was dressed and running. Once I was done, I pulled out a soccer ball and started working through drills. Dribbling first. Then toe taps.

“Where are your cones?” Dax asked, trying to take the ball from me.
Trying
.

“I don’t know,” I answered, dancing around him with the ball, tapping it just enough to keep it out of his range.

He pushed me out of the way with his shoulder.

“Look at you!” I laughed. “Who knew you had a shoulder tackle in you.”

He shrugged, running with the ball. “It’s not like I’ve been forced to watch you play since we were three or anything.”

I ran alongside him, letting him have the ball. “Watching is different from playing. I didn’t know you were coordinated.”

He stopped then, frowning at me.

I kicked the ball away and ran it down. “Can’t take the heat, get outta the kitchen.”

He ran after me. “You’re mean.”

I turned back to him. “I’m sorry.” —and he stole the ball from me, laughing.

We played for a while, using rocks and cactus as our goals. When the sun was too high to ignore, we went back inside.

“Shower,” I said, running up the stairs.

At two-thirty I was dressed in some blue jean shorts and a lightweight blue tank top. I braided back my hair and dug through my rarely used cosmetics bag for lip gloss.

Dax came in and flopped onto my bed. “What are you wearing tomorrow?”

“Why is everyone talking about tomorrow?” I groaned.

“Because it’s happening—soon. You know, like, tomorrow?”

I rolled my eyes. “So what am I wearing? Clothes, I guess.”

“Good call.” He lay on his stomach.

“So, is everything okay with Molly?” I glanced at him. “Can I ask?”

He didn’t say anything.

“Dax?”

He rolled over. “She has a boyfriend.”

“What?” Anger, hot and fast, rose up. “Are you sure?” I wanted to punch her in her pretty little face.

“Yeah.” His smile was sad.

I sat on the edge of the bed. “Can I talk to her?”

“No. No point,” he said, sitting up. “We were never a couple.”

“Um, you so
were
. I saw it—everyone saw it.”

“Saw what?” His blue eyes were so blue, so disappointed.

I leaned against him. “Come on, Dax. I know she likes you. Everyone knows she likes you.”

“She might
like
me, just not enough. And now this Cannon guy is home after a summer of working on his uncle’s ranch.”

“Cannon?” I asked. “Seriously?” He smiled, a tight smile. “She’s dating a guy named after a weapon?”

He shrugged, his smile growing. “They’ve known each other since they were kids.”

I didn’t say anything. What could I say? Molly was a tease? Molly picked guys with strange names? Molly wasn’t a nice person?

“She said they’d been going through a bad time.”

“Well, I guess that makes stringing you along okay,” I snapped.

“Allie, she didn’t.”

“Oh, Dax, come on.”

“She’s a nice girl.”

“Bullshit. Nice girls don’t yank amazing guys around. I know this because I’m not a nice girl.”

He smiled. “You have your moments. But I’m glad things are good between you and Wyatt.”

“Me too,” I agreed. “Doesn’t make me want to punch Molly any less, though.”

“Al-lie,” Dax groaned, flopping back onto my bed. “Let me handle this.”

I stared down at my brother. My tender-hearted, funny, and obviously crushed brother. I honestly believed Molly cared about him. I’d never admit it to my brother, but I couldn’t imagine any guy that could top him as a boyfriend. Except Wyatt, maybe.
Stupid girl.
It took everything I had not to get bitchy—tear Molly apart—but I could tell that wasn’t what he needed from me right now. I put my hand on his shoulder and squeezed. “I’m really sorry, Dax.”