Page 28 of The Parent Playbook
Andy, having witnessed the whole debacle from the barn door, marches over with his arms crossed, looking more like a disappointed parent than a kid.
“Mom, what happened?” His tone is all business, eyebrows knitted in a frown.
Angel throws her hands up in surrender. “It was an accident, Andy. We were playing around, and I guess I don’t know my own strength.”
Lily, still clutching my hand, turns to Andy with a dramatic sigh. “Remember that viral video on VidHits? They were being silly, trying to knock things off Dad’s head with a boot. It’s notsafe, you know. A chancla won’t take out an eye like a boot heel.”
“These are real wood heels!” Andy holds up the boot as he walks it over to Angel. “You both should know better. What if you’d given Scotty a concussion? What then?”
I stifle a laugh at their role reversal, their serious little faces trying so hard to school us in proper behavior. “You’re right, buddy. We’ll keep the boot throwing to a minimum from now on. Or at least aim better, right, Angel?”
Angel bites her lip, that lip which was so close to mine a few moments ago. “Right, no more boots. Just regular old ranch repairs.”
Andy, apparently satisfied with our chastened responses, claps his hands. “Okay, it’s nearly dinner time. Let’s clean up and get inside.”
“Come on, Andy.” Lily releases my hand but has an eyebrow raised. “Let’s make the table while these two think about what they’ve done.”
They trot off toward the house, heads together, plotting their next move or perhaps swapping notes on how to keep their wayward parents in line.
As they disappear inside, I turn to Angel, rubbing the back of my neck. “Guess we got told, huh?”
She laughs, and the sound of it eases the sting of my bruise. “Those two should run the ranch. They seem to have everything under control.”
“Yeah,” I agree, watching the door swing shut behind them, “or at least keep us from turning it into a circus.”
The pain under my eye throbs as we tidy up, but it fades when we get inside the coziness of the house. Angel’s maternal instincts—or maybe her common sense—kick into high gear and she nudges me toward the kitchen sink. “Let’s clean that up.”
“It’s fine, really.”
“You look like you’ve gone a few rounds with a heavyweight. Hold still while I wash the boot muck off your cheek.” I never would have guessed that washing muck could be so tender, buther touch is that of a feather, her breath warming my neck as she brushes a cloth along my skin.
“Looks clean, but it’s swelling.” I grimace as she rummages through the freezer, finally emerging victorious with a pack of frozen peas. “Here,” she says, pressing the chilly makeshift ice pack against the side of my face. “Hold this on it.”
The cold bite of the peas makes me hiss through my teeth. “Thanks, I think.”
She stands close, her hands careful as she adjusts the bag to cover the swelling. Our eyes meet, and there’s a softness in hers that makes my chest tighten.
“Not exactly how I thought that moment was going to end,” I say.
Angel steps back to survey her handiwork. “Well, you’ve been doing a lot of the fixing around here. Guess it’s my turn to look after you.”
“It’s just a bruise,” I say, but the throbbing pain suggests otherwise. “Though, I have to admit, it stings. How about we forget this happened and boil the peas for dinner instead?”
She brushes a stray hair from my forehead. “You’re a terrible patient.”
I manage a lopsided grin, holding the peas in place. “Guess I’m not used to being cared for. Besides, what am I going to tell the guys?”
“You could say a rogue tractor nearly took you out.”
“Or I could say a beautiful woman had poor aim.”
Where didthatcome from? And did it really come out ofmymouth?
The words hang in the air, heavier than I intended, and a blush creeps up my neck. After a moment, Angel’s laughter fills the kitchen, and she leans in slightly. “Make sure you clarify it was an accident, or they’ll start thinking you have a weird taste in women.”
A choking-style laugh escapes me. “Yeah, wouldn’t want that getting around.”
Andy’s voice interrupts from the other room. “What are you two doing? The oven’s beeping like crazy!”
