Page 24 of Stick Play

Dad taps his head. “Hardheaded.” He laughs. “Must get it from his old man.”

As soon as the words leave his mouth, Gina’s head lifts. I stare at her, and the moment her eyes go wide, I realize she’s put two and two together. “Yeah, that’s my dad.”

“You’re…Ash’s dad?”

“The one and only. Who knew I’d run into him here today.” He narrows his eyes. “I don’t think it’s broken. Not like when you were playing street hockey and ran into that street sign.”

I refuse to let him change the subject. He knew damn well he’d run into me here today, and I’m not letting him off so easy. “Give it up, Dad.”

“Give what up, son? I simply went out for a walk. You know I love my walks, and saw this café. I thought I remembered you once told me it had great food. Thought I’d check it out for myself, and I’m happy to say you were right.” He winks at Gina and I grumble at his blatant nosiness. “Great company too.”

“Out for a walk?” I arch a brow but the movement hurts my nose. “Is that why your truck is parked down the road?”

He gives a sheepish look. “Saw that did you?” He taps his head. “Getting senile. Must have forgotten I drove.”

There’s not a damn senile thing about him. “Yeah, and since when do you walk ten miles?”

“I drove for a bit and then jumped out and walked the rest of the way. Slipped my mind.”

“Wait, wait, wait,” Gina says, hands up, palms out and all eyes turn to her. “Grant is your father?” Her gaze goes back and forth between the two of us. “I thought there was something familiar. I should have guessed.”

“He’s my father and he’s here sticking his nose into my business—where it doesn’t belong.”

“If I remember correctly, you called him earlier wanting to know where he was. Doesn’t that mean you were sticking your nose into his business too?” She winks at my dad. She actually fucking winks at my dad, like they’re co-conspirators. What the hell is happening in my life?

“That’s right,” Dad bursts in. “Right mad that I wasn’t home where he left me. All up in my business, wasn’t he, Gina?”

“That’s the way I saw it.” She leans into my dad. “But that’s a good thing because it’s nice when family worries, right Grant?”

“Yeah, you’re right.” He turns his attention to the corner table. “Those your kids?” he asks and stands. “I thought you only had one.”

“I do, the one in the corner.” Gina gestures with a nod to Zoe, who is tugging on the braid I’d put in her hair this morning. I did a damn fine job of it too. I’m a man of many talents. Okay, no time to be thinking of talents Gina appreciates when your dad is watching, dude. A boner is the last thing I fucking need.

“I’m babysitting the other two for a friend,” Gina explains.

I grumble under my breath, and I’m about to tell him it’s time for him to go home, when he crosses to the kids, and drops down next to Tate.

“Gina,” I begin.

“Let’s just get this nose taken care of and then we’ll deal with your dad, okay?”

“Fine.”

“Do you want to tell me what happened?” She carefully washes my nose, and I wince as she runs her finger along the bone. “I don’t think it’s broken. We can go get an x-ray to make sure, though.”

“No, I’m good, and don’t worry, the kids weren’t hurt.”

She inches back and her eyes meet mine. “I wasn’t worried about that. They look completely exhausted and happy. It’s you I’m worried about.”

My stupid heart pounds a little harder in my chest. It’s crazy that I like that, right? Didn’t I say I wanted to take care of her and now here she is, worrying about me, and taking care of my stupid fucking nose.

She fills a napkin with ice, and gently holds it to my nose. “Are you going to tell me what happened?”

“No,” I grouch.

“Mommy,” Zoe burst out as she comes running over, bending to try to look up my nose. “He went on my sled, and he didn’t fit, and he hit a bump and he punched himself in the face with his knees.”

Gina stifles a laugh and I glare at her. “It’s not funny.”

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