9. Tucker
TUCKER
As I walk through the house, I can hear Dolly and Ace talking and then Ace laughing.
A smile forms on my face, and I stop at the entrance of the kitchen and just take it all in.
Dolly checked on me every hour through the night, and if I wasn’t so exhausted, I would have taken complete advantage of the situation.
I love seeing Ace and Dolly laughing and talking. When Ace notices me from his seat at the island, he points at Dolly. “Dad, Dolly spent the night.”
I smile over at Dolly, and she blushes. I’m wondering if she’s thinking about last night and being in my arms. “Yeah, I know, son. She’s going to be around a lot. She’s going to be helping us around here.”
“Yes!” Ace pumps his hand in the air.
Dolly points to the chair. “How’s your head? Sit down and I’ll fix you some breakfast.”
I shake my head. “Nope, I appreciate everything you’re doing for us, but you’re not here to wait on either of us. Let me help.”
She puts another pancake on the stack. “Well, we can do dishes together afterwards. The food is ready.”
“Everyone want some OJ?”
“Yes!” Ace hollers, and I try to hide my wince but not well enough, it seems.
Dolly nudges Ace. “Remember, honey. Your dad hurt his head last night, and we gotta try to be a little quiet until he heals a little bit.”
Ace starts to whisper. “Oh yeah. I’m glad you’re okay, Dad, and I’m glad you’re going to spend the next few weeks at home.”
I reach over and ruffle his hair. “Me too, son.”
Dolly starts carrying everything over to the table, so Ace and I help her. I soak up every minute of sitting around the table, talking and laughing with the two of them.
We talk about the practice that Ace has later in the day and how much he’s loving the team. And I talk to Ace about the accident yesterday and try to explain to him that I had no business entering a barrel race.
When Dolly tries to clean up after we’re done eating, I tell her that Ace and I are going to take care of cleanup, so she nods her head. “Okay, you care if I take a shower before we head out to Ace’s practice?”
I nod my head. “Sure thing, honey. You can use my shower.”
We have two other showers in the house, but I like the idea of her using mine.
When she walks down the hall, Ace looks up at me. “You like her, don’t you, Dad?”
I put a hand on his shoulder. “You know I do, son. What about you? You like Dolly?”
He nods. “I love her, and I’m glad she’s going to be around here more.”
I nod. “Me too.”
My phone dings, and I pull it from my pocket. I groan as I read the thread of text messages I’ve missed. Jace wasn’t kidding. He outed me to the guys, and it seems now they’re having a field day discussing my life.
“Ace, go brush your teeth and get ready for practice.”
“Okay, Dad.” I hear him running up the stairs and then I look at my phone.
Walker: So how’s the barrel racer this morning?
Brody: Laughing face Barrel racer, my ass. What was he thinking?
Walker: He obviously wasn’t thinking.
Jace: Guys, he’s probably still sleeping. I left him in Dolly’s capable hands. He’s probably milking his bruised ribs and headache.
Brody: She spent the night?
Jace: Yep.
Brody: I told that fucker he needed to tie that down.
I sigh and start typing. “First of all, I have a concussion, not a headache. Second of all, quit talking about me like I’m not here.”
I pause and then add another text. “Fuckers.”
Walker, Brody, and Jace are my best friends. We met because we’re all single dads—well, we were until the three of them all fell in love. We get together weekly to play poker, and it’s a good time to just hang out and relax.
Brody: Did you hook up?
Jace: I don’t think Dolly is someone you hook up with. She’s more a put a ring on it woman, I think.
I read the text and wait for the unease to settle in, but it doesn’t. I never thought I’d be ready to settle down, but with Dolly, I can totally see it happening.
“I’m taking this slow,” I tell them and then type out, “Anyway, I’m good. Two weeks of no driving and no bull riding.” I leave out the part where I have to go get rechecked.
Walker: With all seriousness, you and Ace need anything? I can drive you around.
I smile at my phone. “Nope. Dolly offered.”
Brody: See? Ring on it.
I type out, “Thanks for the pep talk, guys. I’ve gotta go and get Ace to practice. See you this week at poker.”
Brody: Want to move it to my house since you’re hurt?
I type, “Nope. I got it. Later.”
I stuff my phone in my pocket and then go in search of Dolly. She’s walking out of the bathroom as I walk into my bedroom. “That was quick.”
She shrugs. “We need to leave soon.”
“We need to talk.”
She opens her mouth and then shuts it.
“I think you and I should?—”
I’m cut off when Ace comes barreling down the hall and stops at my bedroom door. “I’m ready when you guys are.”
He starts backtracking out of the room. “Come on! We can’t be late.”
Dolly starts to follow him, and I put a hand on her arm. “Dolly, we should?—”
She interrupts me. “Come on, we should go. We can’t let him be late. He has to run if he’s late.”
Before I can stop her, she’s walking out of the room, and I’m having to follow behind her.
She and Ace talk the whole way there, and the longer I sit in the passenger seat, the more unsettled I get.
I really fucked up last night. For all the obvious reasons but also because I want Dolly to spend time with me because she wants to not because she sort of has to.