Page 61 of The Parent Playbook
“About that kiss …” he says as he steps closer, so close I see his blue eyes shine in the arena light. My breath catches, heart hammering against my ribs like it wants out. This is it, the truth is going to come out. We’re either going to give something a try, or we’re going to forget anything between us nearly happened.
Just as our lips are a breath apart, Scotty’s head jerks back, his eyes widening and a smile breaking out.
“Lily!” he exclaims, almost leaping back from me. I almost stumble from the abrupt break, heat crawling up my neck.
I whirl around, my heart still doing somersaults, to see Lily and Andy bounding toward us, their faces flushed with excitement and the cold. The moment shatters, leaving me grappling with the sudden shift from near-kiss to parental mode in a heartbeat.
The kids barrel into our little bubble with total disregard. Leave it to the kids to break up what was almost the most romantic moment of my life.
With a man who is leaving. The kids did me a favor.
Andy’s practically vibrating with excitement, his words tumbling out in a torrent that’s almost hard to follow. “That wasso epic, like seriously, the best game ever! It’s got to be a sign, right? Youhaveto stay in Maple Falls now, there’s no way you can leave after that, it’s like the universe is telling us?—”
“Chill, Motormouth,” Lily interrupts, her eyes rolling in an exaggerated manner only a preteen can perfect. She gives him a playful shove, then turns her sharp gaze on us. “Weren’t you two about to kiss or something?”
Oh, sheesh.
Scotty and I exchange a panicked glance before our denial game kicks in.
“Kiss? What? No, we were just … uh, talking about the game, right, Angel?” Scotty stammers.
“Yeah, exactly,” I add too quickly, “talking. You know, about the game. Very close talking because it’s so loud in here.”
But Lily isn’t having any of it.
“Sure, keep telling yourselves that,” she teases, grabbing Andy’s arm. “Come on, let’s give them some space. They can finish theirtalkand then we can talk about staying in Maple Falls.”
Scotty’s hand shoots out, gripping Lily’s shoulder gently but firmly, halting her retreat. He uses that “dad voice”—the one that means business. “Hold up, both of you. There’s going to be no kissing, and no, we’re not staying in Maple Falls,” he declares, and I feel my heart sink with his words. Any shred of hope left in me has entirely disappeared.
“Butwhy?” Lily’s voice cracks, her eyes brimming with tears that threaten to spill. “Why can’t westay?”
Scotty looks down at her, his face full of resolve and regret. “Lily, I’ve seen how tough it’s been for you here. We need to go back to Colorado. Back to what’s familiar. Back home.”
Lily shakes her head, her tears now streaking down her cheeks. “Home is wherever you are, Dad. I get that now.”
Scotty looks like he just took a love arrow to the heart. His eyes well, and mine do too. Those are words every parent wantsto hear. A single tear rolls down Scotty’s cheek, but he doesn’t say anything.
“Listen, Dad,” Lily continues, her voice firming up, “it wasn’t easy at first, but nothing is, right? You’ve taught me that again and again. I’m starting to make real friends here, like Andy.” She throws a glance at Andy, who nods vigorously in agreement. “And there’s no one in Colorado who has helped me like Angel has.”
Scotty looks from Lily to me, his eyes widening as he processes her words. He asks her again, slower this time, “Youreallywant to stay?”
“Yeah, Dad. I do.” She nods. “Plus, Andy taught me that pizza with pineapple actually tastes not horrible. And Dad …” Lily’s face is earnest, her voice soft as she reaches up to touch Scotty’s arm. “Everyone can see you and Angel were made for each other.”
Now I find my voice. “Excuse me?”
Scotty has a bemused half-smile as he raises his eyes to meet mine and melt all over again. He’s hearing this too, and he isn’t protesting, not even a little.
“Seriously, Mom.” Andy rolls his eyes. “It’s so obvious.”
Lily throws her hands in the air. “Even the blind refs could see that coming!”
“Ha!” Scotty shakes his head as his smile widens even more. “I don’t know what to say to that, except that if staying in Maple Falls is what you want, then we can give it another try.”
“Yeah!” Andy lifts his arms in a V for victory and I muss his hair. He pushes away my hand and looks me sternly in the eye. “Now, about the two of you …”
“Andy,” I warn, but Lily steps in front of us and nods her head vigorously.
“We’ve been trying to get you two to see it, but you adults are awfully stubborn.”
