Page 97 of The One I Want
Betsy laughs as she puts away the hair products. “Nah. She’s just a girl who knows to feel good, you gotta look good.”
“Well, you always make me feel good,” I say as I pull her into my arms and kiss her.
“Come on, you two,” Emerson groans as she walks past the open door of the bathroom. “There are minors present.”
We laugh as Emerson walks away, mumbling something about how we’re “cringe.”
“I love that she’s finally at the age where I’m embarrassing to her just by existing.”
“Speak for yourself,” Betsy says. “I’m supposed to be the cool one. I’m not supposed to be cringe.”
“Sorry, beautiful. You’re stuck with me.”
She playfully rolls her eyes. “Fine. But that’s going to require you being in a video this week.”
“You play dirty.”
She gives me a devilish smile. “You’ve known that all along. Yet you still picked me.”
I pull her in for one more kiss, but another groan from Hank as he walks down the hallway breaks us up.
“Okay. Enough of that,” Betsy says. “What’s your day today?”
“I have to run up to Nashville to meet with the Fury media staff. They asked me to do some draft stuff in a few months, and they want to finalize it.”
“You’re still good to pick the kids up today? I promised Whitley I’d go with her to her dress fitting.”
“I got them,” I say.
“Betsy!” Magnolia yells. “I can’t decide what earrings to wear!”
“Go,” I say, giving Betsy a smack on the ass. “I love you.”
She turns and gives me a quick kiss. “Love you more.”
* * *
I have figuredout the trick to the parent pickup line.
Get here early then nap in your car. Not only are you one of the first ones out of the traffic, but you’re also recharged for the rest of the day.
I’m killing this retirement life.
I bring my hat over my eyes, settling in for my twenty-minute power nap, when a knock on my window scares the piss out of me.
I jump so high I nearly hit my head, only to see my old high school football coach laughing his ass off.
“Coach Lockwood!” I say, getting out of my car to give the man a hug. “Not cool, man.”
“It gave me flashbacks when you used to sleep in my history class.”
I hold my hands up in surrender. “In my defense, it was right after lunch. I was a goner.”
“Fair enough,” he says. “How’s retirement?”
“Great,” I say. “Just taking it easy now. Much deserved break, you know? How are you?”
“Oh fine,” he says. “Just heading inside to the superintendent’s office.”
