Page 34 of Hit the Ground
The robot crossed the line, and Jesse’s team erupted in cheers. I whooped along with them, but my throat was tight. I couldn’t explain it. I was happy for my kid, but something felt off.
Alice leaped to her feet, clapping and jumping up and down. I stood beside her, calling Jesse’s name, and he turned, grinning like a madman. Then he noticed Alice, and his smile grew bigger than I’d ever seen.
Yeah, that felt good. Exactly as it should’ve been.
When the applause died and the teams geared up for the next round, I took my place beside Alice. She smoothed her hands over her lap and pressed her knees together, taking up as little room as possible.
I knocked my knee against hers. “Thanks for coming. Jess’s mom couldn’t make it. It’s nice you came out to support him.”
“Of course. This is a lot more fun than I thought it would be.” She moved her leg away from mine. “I’m sure his mom wishes she were here.”
“Eh, don’t know about that. Six months ago, I would’ve agreed, but she hooked up with this guy who’s got her wound up all wrong. Her priorities aren’t straight. All Kent, all the time.”
As soon as it was out of my mouth, I wondered why I’d said it. I didn’t spill my personal life all over town. In fact, I wasn’t much of a talker at all.
“They come into Joy’s sometimes.” She seemed to have more to say, but clamped down on her bottom lip to stop herself.
I cocked my head. “Yeah? What kind of tipper is Kent?”
Her eyes flitted downward, and I chuckled. She didn’t have to say a single word.
“That bad, huh?”
Her gaze sprang back up to meet mine. Fresh and green. Bright and alive. Reminding me of those minutes in the bar bathroom, her in my arms, her lips swollen from kissing mine.
“I’m pretty sure that’s confidential,” she sputtered.
“Yeah? Like a lawyer?” I teased.
“Something like that. I’m assuming you’ve never waited tables?”
“Nope.” I shook my head. “Only place I’ve worked is on the ranch.”
“Then you wouldn’t know about the oath we have to take before starting the job.”
My brow dropped. “Oath? Joy made you take an oath?”
I believed her for exactly one second, then she started giggling, blowing her cover.
Her giggle faded into a grin as she tucked a curl behind her ear. “You looked like you were ready to spit nails.”
I shook my head, chuckling. “You almost had me.”
“Almost?” She raised an eyebrow.
“Okay, you got me for a second. Didn’t know you had it in you to jerk me around like that.” I nudged her lightly with my elbow. “I was about ready to head over there and give Joy a piece of my mind.”
“Please don’t,” she said, still laughing. “Joy probably wouldn’t give you that piece back.”
“No doubt she’d grind it under her boot.” I bumped her with my leg again. “I’m glad you came. There’s normally a lot ofwaiting around at these things. It’s nice to have another adult to talk to. Makes the time go faster.”
Her cheeks flushed rosy pink as she turned to scan the action on the floor. “Yeah. I’m glad I came.”
We settled back into watching the next group set up. Alice rested her chin on her fists, enthralled with everything going on.
“I wish I’d done stuff like this when I was their age,” she murmured.
“What did you do instead?”
