Page 23 of Feel It All

“Okay, children that’s enough,” Wyla cuts in. “Owen likes to push Waverley’s buttons, and Waverley is holding a grudge because last Fourth of July a group of us went out to the beach and were going to shoot some fireworks. One of the fireworks fell over and went off right at Waverley. Owen tackled her so it didn’t hit her, but when he did, he accidentally untied her swim top so she flashed the whole group.”

“It wasn’t an accident, and it was so embarrassing. We are not talking about it anymore.”

Owen gets ready to either defend himself or say something stupid, most likely both.

“All right, we won’t, Wav,” Winry says, hushing Owen and making her sister relax just a little. “Let’s talk about how Wyla and I are going to win the annual cornhole tournament like we do every year.”

“Nope, not this year. I am finally going to beat you two.” Owen claps my back, “I have a new partner this year.”

“Like that will help. You are the one who sucks,” Waverley jabs Owen.

“Yeah, Wyla and I kick your ass every year,” Winry adds. “What about you, you any good?” She nudges me and I’m tempted to pull her into me.

“I’m not too bad; I think you may actually have to work for it this time,” I nudge back.

We fall into casual conversation. Several people from the department are here. Winry says that her dad likes to do this every summer and whoever can make it makes it. Chief Bennett has been on the grill the entire time I have been here, but every now and then I can feel him staring a hole in my head. I know I should probably move around and socialize with more people in the department since I am new and all, but I can’t help it. I don’t want to leave her side.

After eating, they announce that the cornhole tournament is going to start soon. They have two games set up to help move things along. Winry and Wyla are dominating at the first setup, and I carry Owen round after round on the second. I knew I wasn’t terrible at this game, but I have never played this well before. I guess when the stakes are playing against Winry, I step it up.

Owen and I win the first four games. We just have to beat one more team, and we can play Winry. Our new opponents walk up, and it’s Winry’s parents. Mrs. Bennett comes up to stand on my side with a warm smile.

Thank goodness.

“Actually Isabel, I play better on this side. Why don’t you stand by Owen?” Chief says, walking up to switch with her.

Well, shit.

“How are you doing, Taylor?”

“Good, sir, having a good time.” I have never really had to give much thought to girls’ fathers before, mostly because I knew I would never meet them. This time I guess I want to go all out and date my boss’s daughter.

“Great, that’s great.” Awkward tension fills the air. I want this man to like me and not just as his employee. I want him to see me as someone good enough to date his daughter.

“Winners go first,” he says, motioning me to start.

I throw and manage to get two in the hole, but then Chief sinks two in behind me. Well, this is not going to be as easy as I had hoped. We are up, then we are down, now we are tied. I hear squeals of joy and laughter at the other setup. Winry and Wyla are jumping up and down and doing a victory dance for beating the last opposing team. I must have been staring for too long because chief says, “You aren’t going to win if you keep staring at my daughter, Taylor.”

“Right, sorry sir,” I reply sheepishly looking down at the ground.

He throws his sack and sinks it, “So you like Winry, huh?”

I try to remain calm, but I am panicking, I haven’t even told her I like her yet. My immediate instinct is to deny and deflect, but I know he will be able to see right through me, and I think lying to him will just make it worse. “Yes, sir, I do,” I say as I sink in my next one.

“Little bold, don’t you think? Coming into a new job and trying to date the boss’s daughter,” he sinks another.

“It wasn’t my intention, sir,” I throw, and I miss. “I don’t want to do anything that will jeopardize my position as one of your officers. I enjoy my job, but I like Winry. It would do me no good to lie to you.”

“I respect that,” he throws his last sack and also misses. Owen and I are now down two points; the score is 19 to 17. They just need two more points to win. Mrs. Bennett isn’t as good as Chief, but she is better than Owen. Winry and Wyla come up next to their mom to cheer her on; whoever wins here plays them next.

“Come on, Mom, kick his ass,” Winry shouts.

“My daughters mean the world to me; I didn’t care for the last guy she dated, and I didn’t say anything about it, and look how that turned out.”

“I would never hurt her,” I add quicky because I would never ever hurt her.

“I know that you would never hurt her physically, Taylor. It’s emotionally I worry about; Winry likes to put on that she is strong and nothing gets to her, but it does. More than you probably think it does. I won’t tell you about her struggles; that’s hers to tell. However, I raised her to be independent. She doesn’t need some to take care of her. She needs a rock, a constant, someone to be her partner and biggest supporter. You two are adults; I won’t stand in your way. Just think about what you have to offer her before you do anything about it.”

I give him a nod. I don’t want to think about that right now, mostly because I’m afraid of the answer. Mrs. Bennett makes her first two sacks on the board and Owen misses his first two, which means if he doesn’t make at least one on the board, we lose.

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