Page 9 of Fallen Cowboy
“Because I’m not dumb, Troy. I saw the way you looked at her when you first came home. Hell, I saw the way she looked at you. And then, less than twelve hours later, your lips are on hers?Come on, there’s something brewing here, even if you don’t want it to be.
“I’m just telling you what you’re in for when it comes to her and I don’t want you hurting her. She’s had too much of that already. So, if you want to date her, great. You have fun, just don’t give me details like you have in the past. But I have no problem jamming my fist in your face if you break her heart. Or if you decide you’re done living here again.”
I opened my mouth to stop him, to tell him that it was too soon, that I hadn’t thought about dating Anelise, but that would be a lie. And no matter what, I’ve never been able to lie to my best friend. After that kiss, I was up for hours on end thinking about asking Anelise out but was worried for a few different reasons.
But Markus, right now, was easing a few of those worries.
“There’s more,” he said, and I snorted, taking another drink of my beer.
“No doubt.”
“It’s pointless to say it, but I’m going to. Anelise and MaryBeth are a packaged deal. Now, I’ll gladly give my sister a break from parenting and watch my niece, but I won’t let someone hurt my niece either. She doesn’t get to be pawned off just because some man wants to date Anelise and not be around MaryBeth.”
For some unknown reason, that thought pissed me off. MaryBeth was one of the sweetest, funniest, cutest little girls I had known, and I couldn’t imagine not wanting her around.
“That’s happened?”
“Sadly, yeah. About two years ago, Charlie wanted to date Anelise. They went out a couple of times, but one afternoon, I was sick so Anelise asked if they could take MaryBeth on their picnic and he blew up, saying if she couldn’t get rid of the baby, he didn’t want her. She yelled back, “what the hell did he think he was getting.” He finally told her that his end goal, if theymade it, was to ship MaryBeth off to school, that he wouldn’t take care of no other bastards rugrat.
“Needless to say, Anelise cut him off and told him to get lost. But she hasn’t dated since then. It kills me to see my sister lonely, but no one man wants both of them. So, I’m hoping you’re the man she really needs to step up and show them that they’re both wanted.”
I hadn’t thought about kids in my future. Not that I didn’t want them, it was just way further down the line. But I could never not imagine those two together.
I also knew that I truly wanted to date Anelise, if she actually gave me the time of day, I’d have to date her daughter too.
And that was a big decision.
Chapter 5
~ Anelise ~
“Are we heading to the game Friday?”
I rolled my eyes at Markus’s question. Not that I didn’t want to go. For some unknown reason, MaryBeth absolutely loved watching the high school football team. So, when the season starts, we’re at every home game. And depending on where they are for away games, we can sometimes attend those.
I just didn’t want to go this Friday.
Because I knew Troy was going.
And it would only bring up the memories of what he would do while he was in school and Markus was playing on the field. There were plenty of times, as a cheerleader in the stands, I’d see him sneak off with some flavor of the week.
Yes, even in my young years, I couldn’t help but be disgusted. While, at the same time, jealous that it wasn’t me.
“Do we ever not go?” I sassed back, glancing at him over my shoulder. He walked over and leaned against the counter, his arms crossed as he glared back.
“You don’t have to be in a huff, you know.”
“I’m not smartass. But when does my daughter ever say no? She got into it because of you. I should make it your job to take her.”
“As if you don’t enjoy the teams? You yell for the home team just as loudly as she does.”
While I wanted to deny it, I knew I couldn’t. So, instead, I just shoved him, feeling better at least.
“Are we all piling in the truck to head over there?”
“Troy said he’d meet us. He had something to do for his parents before he could leave.”
I was happy I wouldn’t be stuck in the same cab with him. I also didn’t want to think about the other reason that I wasn’t happy; knowing there were skanks he was hooking up with beforehand.
