Page 25 of Stay for Forever

Mrs. West laughs. “I knew you’d stop by at some point. And, please, call me Ruby.”

“Where are we going, Ruby?” I ask as I hurry through the halls of the school after her.

“I figured you wouldn’t mind helping me out.” She winks.

“Of course not.”

She knocks on a door marked custodian. When no one answers, she enters. I fidget in the hallway trying to figure out if I’m supposed to follow her or not. She returns before I can make up my mind. She’s holding some contraption I’m not familiar with. I wouldn’t dare say what it does.

“Let me carry that for you.” I relieve her of the equipment before she can protest.

“Such a gentleman.” She pats my arm. Good thing she doesn’t know about the things I’ve done with her daughter. She winks up at me. “And, yes, I know you’ve had sexual relations with my daughter.”

I choke on air. “What? How do you know?”

“A mother always knows,” she sings. “I’ll have a package of condoms delivered to your house later today.”

I trip and nearly end up on my ass before righting myself. “I can handle protection.”

She stops and studies me for a moment before nodding. “Okay, I’m trusting you to use the appropriate prophylactics while courting my daughter. After the courtship is over, though.” She grins. “I can’t wait to be a grandmother. Another grandchild would be a blessing.”

I haven’t managed to convince Juniper to allow me to properly apologize and her mom is talking about me getting her pregnant and giving her grandchildren. Have I landed on Fantasy Island?

“Don’t worry about Juniper. She’s stubborn. All my girls are.” And she couldn’t seem prouder. A bell rings, and she consults her watch. “We don’t have much time. Let’s go.”

I have no idea where we’re going, but I follow her out of the school and along a path until we reach a football field.

I whistle as I scan the area. The football field is surrounded by a track. Next to which are bleachers. The set-up is impressive. I didn’t expect a small town to have this nice of sports facilities.

“Rowan Hansley donated the money to improve the football field and track,” Ruby explains as we walk across the track and onto the football field. “You must have met him. He’s married to my youngest daughter, Ashlyn.”

“We’ve met.” I don’t tell her we met in a bar when the three men attached to her daughters decided to give me the third degree.

“Okay. This is a lining machine, and this is how it works.” She takes the equipment from me and angles it toward a faded line on the field before pushing a button and white paint shoots out. After her quick demonstration, she gives the equipment back to me. “Soccer season is starting soon, and the lines need to be adjusted from football to soccer.”

“Okay,” I say; unsure of what’s happening here.

She indicates the sticks and twine set up throughout the field. “Follow the twine and you’ll be fine.” She waits until I nod. “Thanks again,” she shouts as she walks off.

I search the field for a clue as to what just happened. Did she enlist my help without actually asking me? Mrs. West is sneaky. I think we’re going to get along fine.

I study the twine and decide to begin in the corner. I don’t make it to the other side of the field before sweat is dripping off my brow. I lay the lining machine on its side before whipping my t-shirt off. Cheers erupt.

I glance over at the bleachers to discover the gossip gals clapping from the stands. Next to them sits Juniper’s sisters. They wave at me.

“How did you know I was here?” I yell my question.

Aspen gestures toward her mom’s secretary. “Welcome to small town living.”

Rowan appears from behind the bleachers. Ashlyn catcalls him and he waves at her. “Be good, dream girl.”

“You enjoy it when I’m bad! A lot!”

He smirks as he approaches me. “She’s not wrong.” He offers me a sports bottle.

“What’s in this?” I ask but don’t hesitate to chug the liquid.

“Don’t worry. Unlike some people, I won’t drug you.”

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