Page 57 of Operation Annulment
“Go go, Power Rangers,” I sing with a laugh. “Lucy Lawless was my second choice. I dugXena: Warrior Princess, and don’t get me started on her battle cry. Hot.”
Her cheeks are still tinged with pink, but she grins at me. “My second choice was Duncan MacLeod fromHighlander. Pops loved that show and always thought it was nice that I’d watch it with him when we visited. I didn’t dare to tell him exactly why I enjoyed watching it with him.”
I picture Little Kate sitting with her grandfather, repeating along with the television,“In the end, there can be only one.”
Oh, fuck me.
I’m going to fall in love with this woman.
“So, her family’s nuts?” Garrett takes a swig of his beer.
I haven’t seen him since the night he unexpectedly showed up at the house. Between work and getting to know Kate, I haven’t found the time. When Garrett asked me to grab a beer, Kate stepped in and offered to watch Daniel.
I nod. “Pretty much.”
“Okay… but you’re still into her?”
“Fucking crazy about her. This is why I’ve got you to tell me why it won’t work.”
He shakes his head. “No, you know what? I think this is exactly what you need. You let Jess turn you into a workaholic. It’s nice to see you relaxed like this. Speaking of Jess, I think she followed me the other night.”
I sit up straighter and look around the bar, taking in the various patrons. “Where? When?”
He takes another drink. “Well, Mom picked up Daniel at school last Friday, so I decided to grab a quick drink with Clayton after work. We’d only been there for maybe twenty minutes when a woman caught my eye. She was wearing a wig and trench coat, but I swear it was Jess. It was like some low-budget spy movie. When she noticed me staring at her, she took off.”
This doesn’t make any sense.
When I saw her a couple of weeks ago, she was on her deathbed, and now I’m supposed to believe that she’s running around in disguises.
“Garrett, there’s got to be a mistake. Jess has been really sick, and I don’t see any way that the woman you saw was her.”
He shakes his head. “No, it was her. She was much thinner than I remember, but it was definitely her. I think she was following me.”
Our food arrives, and we eat in silence. My head is swimming in confusion right now. I know Jess cheated and then lied to cover it up for a while, but this just seems so far beyond that. I can’t see how she’d be capable of stalking or even what her endgame would be by doing it.
“So, you think McKenna will be back to play next week? Because it’s obvious that Kody needs him out there. We’re down by atouchdown when we should be ahead by at least two. Fuck, I hate the Flyers.” Garrett gestures toward one of the many television screens around the bar.
I read the ticker at the bottom of the screen, grateful for the distraction. “I didn’t see it. What’s he out with?”
“Foot injury in week seven. They’ve got Holt in his position, but it’s obvious he doesn’t have a fucking clue.”
I search my phone for any information onThe Bad Boy from Dallas. “I forgot that he fractured that same foot late last year. This report says he had it repaired during the off-season, so I’m not sure what’s happening.”
Garrett rolls his eyes. “Aren’t you a doctor? Anyone can look that shit up. I expected better from you, Nate.”
I cuff him on the side of his head. “If I haven’t examined the guy, and they’re not releasing specifics of his injury, then how in the hell am I supposed to diagnose him?”
His phone vibrates, and Garrett loses interest in the conversation, distracted by something shiny. “Hey, Mitch wants to know if there’s room for one more next month. I said it’s up to you.”
“I think we can make it work. He may have to sleep on the couch, but I’m cool with him joining us.” I don’t know how I forgot, but I scheduled a weekend snowboarding trip up in Snowcliff, Colorado. I’ve gone with these guys for the past three years.
I didn’t exactly plan on having a wife to think about when I booked everything and got our lift tickets.
Garrett replies to Mitch, and everyone in the bar starts shouting. We look up to see the Steel score. They managed to tie it up with three minutes left in the game.
Kody throws it to Rodgers to clench the win, and we pay our tabs before heading out, still high on the last-minute victory.
“Does Kate snowboard? Maybe she could come with us.” Garrett climbs into the passenger seat.
