Page 31 of Playing for Keeps

“Of course, she is,” I murmur and close my eyes. “We’re magic together.”

“She kept trying to punch you,” Ma-Poppy points out. “You know I’m against violence.”

We all look at her, knowing she’s full of shit. My ma refuses to back down. She meets our gazes with her wide-eyed righteous one.

“I’m right!” she declares. “You’re wrong. Nothing will change my mind.”

Unable to back down either, I reply, “I suspect if Pa weren’t so lazy, you’d be much calmer right now.”

Ma-Poppy shrugs. “Well, yes, but his mind is on biker crap. He doesn’t savor me as much when he’s pondering beating someone’s ass.”

I crack up at the sight of Roxie’s expression as she glances at Pa-Emmett. While I’m laughing at my father, Bullet walks to Tuesday and wraps an arm around her shoulders.

“I talked up those dumbass bikers like Court wanted. Got the skinny on if they’re chill with Val and the Rawkfist club. At the beginning of the party, they claimed Val was a gutter slut unworthy of Lola’s snatch,” Bullet explains, winning gasps from Ma-Poppy and Tuesday. “By the end, they were claiminghe seemed like a solid guy who ought to fear Lola’s snatch. You worked your magic on them, Val.”

“Thank you. I studied the notes your wife gave me,” I reply and then frown at my pa. “And you said I was a poor student.”

“You were.”

“I graduated.”

Pa-Emmett shrugs his wide shoulders. “So did a lot of stupid people. That’s not proof of anything.”

“I’m not stupid.”

“No, but you’re acting dumb with this woman. You ought to make her believe you’re unsure, just until you get everything you want from her dad. Instead, you drooled all over her for the entire party.”

“She’s my dream girl.”

“Aw,” Tuesday coos, winning a snarl from our ma. “Val’s always been such an unrepentant shithead. This sweet side of him is too damn charming not to ‘aw’ at.”

“No, shut up,” Ma-Poppy insists. “I don’t like her. I won’t agree to the marriage. My mind will never change.”

We all stare at her, not buying her declaration. Even her man, who regularly goes along with her crap, seems unimpressed.

Pa-Emmett shakes his head. “You always say that shit, Poppy. You hated Alexis and called her a raccoon when she came to dinner. I couldn’t believe how much you hated her. Now, you treat her like your second daughter. So, no, I’m not buying you actually dislike Lola McGraw.”

“Well, nuts to that!” Ma-Poppy cries. “My anxiety needs to be acknowledged and coddled! I’m going to my mom’s house to seek out the support I can’t find here!”

Everyone watches her storm out of the house. We all look away when she’s forced to sneak back in to grab her shoes and phone. Ma-Poppy slips back out with her anger and dignity intact.

“What did you think of Lola?” I ask Pa-Emmett.

He reaches for the remote and shrugs. “I can see why you’d go stupid over her. She’s attractive and knows the life. Rumor has it, she’s close with her dad. That part might keep you from ending up as a human shield.”

“Lola won’t want me to die.”

“I don’t suspect she will as long as you do right by her. And her caring means Duke will care.”

Standing up, I head for the door. “I better go make nice with Ma since she’s been neglected by her man.”

“Jackass,” Pa-Emmett mutters, but I know he wants me to turn Poppy’s frown upside down so he’ll have less work in the bedroom later. “Remind her how she’ll be your kids’ only local grandma. I bet her competitive nature will kick in and make her happier about this marriage.”

Pa-Emmett isn’t wrong about Ma-Poppy’s reaction to the “only local grandma” idea.

“I’m going to be an amazing meemaw, just like Christine is to my kids,” she says and cuddles with her ma. “I’ll also wear a dorky ‘Best Meemaw” shirt like the one my mother refuses to wear.”

“That shirt was a boner killer,” King Peepaw Jared announces from the kitchen. “Too many flowers.”

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