Page 47 of Tex's Angel

I point to my jaw and bend down. She knows I want an apology kiss and gives it without hesitation. I wrap my arms around her and give her a brief hug. Before we get onto my bike, she pleads with me, “Please don’t leave me behind, babe. I need to see this thing through.”

During our ride back to the clubhouse the sun rises high in the sky, birds are singing, and the road is smooth as butter. I turn this situation with Robbie over in my mind, I hate the thought of kids like him falling through the cracks and ending up a victim of the system. While Mrs. Ayres’ group home seemed really nice, other kids weren’t so lucky. I’d never thought about fostering before, but maybe it’s something I should consider—Levi had his problems, but he’d turned into a good kid since we’d moved to California.

Just when I’m thinking that I’m parent of the year material, a teen girl almost mows me down on her way out the door. She’s small, flight of foot, and has blue hair. As she shoves past me, I do a double take to make sure I’m seeing what I think I’m seeing. It barely registers with me that Clara dropped behind to talk to the girl who sat herself down on the step and burst into tears.

As Rigs and I walk into the clubhouse we find Levi and Evan in a screaming match. Rigs is just as shocked as I am, as his son is normally so mild mannered. I stalk over to grab Levi and Rigs does the same to Evan.

At some point I catch onto the fact that they’re fighting over the girl.

Evan tries to jerk out of Rigs’ grip, and yells at Levi, “Stay the fuck away from her, you creepy pervert.”

Levi yells back at the top of his lugs, “It wasn’t my idea. I don’t know what you think you saw but it wasn’t like that.”

Evan swings wildly in Levi’s direction and might have landed a punch if I hadn’t jerked him back.

“What in the hell is going on here?” Rigs roars.

Both of the boys go quiet, because they clearly know the first rule of being at the clubhouse is don’t fight over women.

I turn to Levi, “It was that blue haired girl, wasn’t it?”

When he doesn’t answer, I give him a little shake. “Answer my question or else, Levi.”

“Or else what?” Levi challenges.

Rigs answers for him. “Of course it’s that blue-haired, attention seeking harpy. I’ve told Evan a hundred times that she’s nothing but trouble.”

Evan literally tries to elbow his dad in the chest to get out of his grasp. “She’s not any of that. She’s nice and she loves me.” Bringing his hand up to point at Levi he says, “It’s all that asshole’s fault for touching her inappropriately.”

My head swivels around to stare at my son. He doesn’t look the slightest bit remorseful, which is what I would expect to see if he’d sexually assaulted someone. Nope, there’s no hint in his expression that he comprehends that he’s touched that girland made her cry. In that instant any pride I had at what a good job I’d done raising him went out the window. Instead of arguing with him, I drag him outside to confront the girl.

When we’re standing right behind her, I hiss, “You know what to do son. After y’all apologize, you and me are gonna have a little talk.”

After what seems like forever, he says reluctantly, “I’m sorry if I did anything to make you mad or hurt your feelings.”

She turns around to look at him over her shoulder. “Don’t worry, you didn’t. It was Evan who hurt my feelings. How could he think bad things about me for something like testing my body fat composition.”

Evan comes storming out the door. “Having Levi feel your breast is not a body fat analysis. He tried to cop a feel. And I can’t believe that you’re gettin' mad at me because I’m trying to protect you.”

“That’s not what happened,” she says.

Levi wrenches himself from my grasp and I don’t stop him this time, because this is starting to feel like some kind of epic miscommunication.

Levi glares at his friend. “I can’t believe I ever thought you were smart.”

Evan thumps himself on the chest. “What are you talking about? I am smart.”

The girl starts crying again and when Evan makes a lunge for Levi, I don’t even stop him. These two are as bad as eachother. As long as they aren’t tearing into each other, I’m gonna let them resolve their own damn problems.

When Evan gets close, Levi reaches out and taps him on the forehead with a weird plastic thing. Evan’s hands fly to his forehead, and he lets out an indignant huff. “Ow! What the hell, Levi!”

My son tosses him whatever was in his hand. Evan snatches it out of the air and flips it open. I have no earthly idea what in the hell that thing is. Evan turns it back and forth in his hand, looking about as confused as I feel. “What is this and why did you give it to me?”

“They’re calipers. I wasn’t touching her breast. I was measuring her underarm, you called her curvy the other day and she thought you meant fat. So she went to the biology lab and borrowed a pair of calipers and asked me to measure her body fat.”

Evan’s mouth falls open. “But I saw you with your hand on her breast.”

“No, I was just moving her fat out of the way so I could measure her underarm. That’s how you measure it.” Levi points to the side of his head. “Think about it. Why would I want to touch your girlfriend’s breast?”

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