Page 62 of Hart Breaker

“They're a little busy, sweetheart. But don’t you worry; my boy’s gonna take care of his team.”

“Well, shit, that’s hot,” Mom whispers.

“Oh my God, Mom, what the?—”

“Look left. That’s your daddy.” She grins. “Look at those freaking guns.”

Lo snickers. “Dad does have killer arms.”

“Which is why we burn wood.”

“Wood.” Tessa giggles.

“What is wrong with the two of you?” I ask, trying not to laugh.

“The list is long.” Mom smiles. “Like your daddy’s?—”

“All right, Mom,” Luke cuts her off. “We’re happy you two are still getting it on and shit, but we don’t need a play by play.”

It feels like an eternity when we’re all on one of the planes before the team’s bus pulls onto the tarmac.

“Are you sure there’s enough room for us?” Linda Hart asks again.

“The team’s on the other plane. There’s plenty,” Tessa assures her.

Mom laughs. “This will never get old.”

Tessa leans into her. “It’s no John Deere, but it works.”

I watch Linda’s man, Zane, wink at her, and she rolls her eyes. “It’s indulgent.”

“It’s a necessity.”

Jillian laughs. “If she finds a coupon for it, she’ll change her mind.”

“Coupons are life,” Sydney yawns out. “Mom and I clip every week.”

The door to the plane starts to open, and Lucas pops his head in. “Hey baby, can I get you to change birds? We have a few concussions over here.”

“Who’s hurt?” she asks, standing up from her seat.

Lucas glances at Linda then quickly away.

“Is my son injured?” she asks, standing up, too.

“He and Boone are gonna be sore tomorrow, but Hart isn’t the one with a concussion.”

“What’s wrong with him?” Jillian asks.

“He, uh, took a helmet to the nads. Gonna be okay, though.”

Jillian looks at me and whispers, “Sucks to be you.”

My mouth drops open. “It’s not like that.”

“Should be,” Mom murmurs.

I curl into myself and close my eyes. “Wake me up when we get back.”

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