Page 32 of Cowboy and the Convict

Devon glanced up at the night sky as they continued walking toward the bleachers. "It's feeling like that won’t be very long, so I guess I should get on it."

Janie adjusted her grip on the hot chocolate cupped in her hands, moving her bare fingers around to warm as many spots as possible. "It is pretty freaking cold, isn't it?"

"The last game of the season is usually the toughest one to sit through." Devon led her up the bleachers, still carrying her pretzel in his hands. Leaving her no choice but to follow. "I'm surprised you decided to come out for it."

Janie continued trailing him as he chose a row and moved down the line of corrugated aluminum serving as seats. Devon stopped and sat, choosing a location that gave them a great view of where the large group of cheerleaders stood at the edge of the field.

"It wasn't so much that I decided to come out." Janie lowered to the spot beside him, scanning all the girls bouncing around the sidelines. "Olivia asked me to come so I could see her cheer. She said the last game of the season they let the JV girls cheer for the varsity team, and she wanted me to see how well she's doing with her backflip."

She continued looking for Devon's middle daughter, so immersed in the task that it took her a few seconds to notice he was staring at her intently. Dragging her eyes away from the field, she looked his way, tucking her chin at the thoughtful look on his face.

"What?"

He shook his head, eyes moving over her face. "Nothing." He finally turned toward the field, tipping his head toward her cup as he did. "Might want to drink that before it gets cold and doesn't do you any good."

Janie lifted her brows. "Now you're going to lecture me about how to properly drink hot chocolate?"

"Seems like I have to since you haven't taken the first sip." His focus came back her way, eyes drifting over her. "I should probably also lecture you on the proper attire for the last game of the season."

She tried to fight the smile working across her face and failed. "That was a lecture I could have used an hour ago, so you can save it and stuff it."

Devon chuckled, taking a big bite of his pretzel while also handing hers off. "Eat up. You're going to need as much sustenance as possible to keep your body heat up."

"I'm sure I'll be fine." She bit into the warm, slightly chewy snack. "It's only a couple hours."

"A couple hours can feel real long when you're freezing your ass off." Devon’s eyes moved past her to fix on something farther down the row. "It's a good thing someone I know likes to be prepared for anything."

Janie turned, following his line of sight to find an older couple shimmying their way down the same row. There was no reason to wonder why Devon had noticed their arrival, because he was the spitting image of the woman offering her a wide smile.

"There you are." The older woman reached Janie's side and dropped the giant canvas tote she was carrying onto the metal next to her. "I was starting to think we would never find you." She dug into her giant bag and pulled out a seat cushion. Shoving her bag to the side, she set the cushion in its place and plopped down. “Have you been here long?”

“Just a few minutes.” Devon polished off the pretzel he’d practically inhaled and leaned close, tipping his head her way. “This is Janie.” He motioned to the older woman at her other side. “Janie, this is my mother, Alice, and my dad, Frank.”

Devon’s mother continued smiling, not batting an eye at Devon’s very lacking explanation. “It’s lovely to meet you.” Her smile slipped as she looked Janie over. “But it looks like my son could have helped you pick out something warmer to wear.”

“Actually,” Janie started to explain what Devon had not—that they weren’t here together—but Alice had already turned back to her bag and was pulling out a thick, plush blanket.

“Here. Use this. It will help keep the chill off you.” She went to work draping the covering around Janie. “Next time you should wear your heavy coat when you come to a game this late in the season.” Alice finished wrapping her up and gently worked her hair free. “And probably some long-johns.” She finished up and went back to her bag. “No sense in freezing to death.”

Janie almost laughed out loud as Alice pulled out a set of instant hand warmers and started to shake them, continuing with her lecture. “I know it’s not the most comfortable to layer up in all that, but you don’t have enough body fat to keep you warm in this weather.” She handed over the activated warmers. “Here.”

Janie worked her hand out from under the blanket she’d been burritoed into. “Thank you.”

Alice brightened, her smile flaring back to life. “Of course, honey.” She looked over to Devon. “What about you? Are you warm enough?”

“I’m fine.” He took a sip of his hot chocolate. “You worry about her.”

Janie shot him a glare as Alice went back to her bag, but Devon no longer seemed fazed by her scathing looks. In fact, he appeared to be having a hell of a time watching his mom fuss over her like a mother hen.

It was an odd situation. One she’d never come close to being a part of. Her own mother was emotionally distant at best, emotionally abusive at worst. Never once had she worried over Janie’s well-being. The only thing that mattered to her was that her daughter excelled. That everyone they met was impressed by her manners and her appearance and her achievements.

For a while, she’d bought into it. Busting her little kid ass to be the smartest. The prettiest. The best.

But eventually, she fell short, and that’s when it all went downhill.

“You should be the one worrying about her. You’re the one who brought her here.” Alice gave Devon a not-so-gentle admonishment. “The least you could have done was packed a blanket.”

Normally she enjoyed when Devon was being lectured—she did it frequently. But he didn’t deserve this particular talking to. “We didn’t come together.” Janie paused when Alice’s eyes lifted. “We just ran into each other at the concession stand.” Devon’s mother was misreading the situation—and judging him because of it—and letting it go on any longer didn’t feel right.

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