Page 33 of Home Field Advantage
Nan leans in, keeping her voice low. “Me too, but don’t tell anyone.”
Sage doesn’t say anything back; she keeps going to town on her treat. Nan swivels in her chair and eyes me up and down as if seeing me for the first time. It’s a kind of uncomfortable feeling, if I’m being honest. She looks like she’s ready to scold me or judge me. I can’t tell.
She stands up, coming to stand on the other side of the door frame, mimicking my stance as she leans against the opposite side. We both watch Sage as she gets lost in her own world. Bopping her head side to side as if some happy music is playing while she eats.
“You got a cute kid, Dallas.”
Crossing my arms, I turn my head to face her. “I do.”
“So, I heard a rumor.”
“Yeah?”
“Tucker says you’re starting a fun little adult league thing at the barnyard at night.”
I nearly choke in laughter. “He did, did he?”
“Yep. He won’t stop talking about it. He’s kind of obsessed with you, if you haven’t noticed.”
“Can’t say I have. Don’t you think it’s getting a little cold here to be playing outside?”
“Nonsense. We’re used to that type of weather around here. Only thing that’s ever stopped this town before was snow up to my tits. Otherwise, you say the word and we’re playin’.”
My hand covers my mouth to cover the laughter that wants so badly to erupt. This woman is certifiably insane. She has to be. That’s the only logical explanation.
“Come on, Dallas. It would be fun for you to have some friends around here. Besides, you seem like the extroverted type that needs people to talk to or you’ll go insane.”
“You know me that well already, huh?”
“I have a keen eye for things. I see everything.” She winks.
She’s not wrong. That’s definitely who I am, even though I’m trying like hell to only focus on my daughter. I could use some friends around town while I’m here.
Tucker seems wild, but I can tell he means well.
Griffin sounds a lot like me, and I know we will get along just fine.
And Poppy? We can be friends.
I internally laugh at myself, because who am I kidding?
You don’t think about your friends the way I think about Poppy.
CHAPTER 8
SO, POPPY IS MY NEIGHBOR, HUH?
Dallas
I glance at the clock on my nightstand and see it’s just after six in the morning. Groaning, I get out of bed. What’s the point in trying to go back to sleep when Sage has to get up and ready for school in an hour?
As I wait for my coffee to finish, I make a mental checklist of what I want to get done today while Sage is at school. I think I’ll head out to the ranch, visit the barnyard, and see what I have to work with. If it’s enough, I’ll discuss this with the school before I meet with Sage’s teacher later to ask about spreading the word and starting this thing for the kids.
Even with my doubts, I can’t let it go.
Stepping onto my back deck with my mug, my coffee steams in the cold air. I stretch out the stiffness in my shoulders from lack of sleep, and the wooden boards are cool under my bare feet. Winter has definitely settled in here, but I’ve always liked the cold. The scent of pine and damp air fills my lungs as I close my eyes and inhale deeply. There’s a fresh feeling in the air here. It’s not smoggy like the city and doesn’t smell like fumes from buildings or cars.
The quiet feels more than good, it feels calming.
