10. Dolly
DOLLY
As soon as I park, Ace is bounding out of the car and running toward the field.
I get out and meet Tucker at the back of my car. “Your head hurting?”
He shakes his head.
I put a hand on my hip. “Well, something is bothering you. You were scowling the whole way here.”
“It’s nothing.”
I stare at him for a full ten seconds, and when he doesn’t give me anything more, I shake my head. “Fine.”
I reach for the two chairs I have in the back of my car, but Tucker stops me. “I’ll get them.”
I wish he didn’t have those damn glasses on so I could see his eyes, but I get that the sunlight is hurting him. He grabs the chairs and carries one in each hand. I point at him. “You do know you’re hurt, right?”
He grunts. “Yeah, I know. Trust me, I’m trying to forget.”
I reach for one of the chairs. “Tucker, this is ridiculous. I can carry my own chair.”
He juts his chin at me and tightens his hand on the chair. “Not when you’re with me.”
I put a hand on his chest. “Tuck, talk to me. What’s going on? If it’s your head, you need to tell me.”
He grunts. “It’s not my head.”
I look at him, drawing on all the patience I have as an elementary school teacher, and I have a lot of it.
He blows out a frustrated breath. “You wanna know what’s wrong with me, I’ll tell you.
I made a stupid mistake last night, and I don’t like that you, Ace, and everyone else that is going to have to help me out this week is paying for it.
I don’t like that you had to drive me down the road today because I want to be the one taking care of you.
And I hate that I’m hurt and now I don’t know if you’re here with me because you wanna be or if you feel like you have to be. ”
My mouth drops open in shock, and I point at myself. “You think that I’m here out of some sort of guilt or responsibility?”
He just shrugs in response.
I slide my hand to his waist and lean into him. “Tucker Yates, you’re being foolish.”
“Oh yeah? How?” He says it smugly, but I see the vulnerability in his face.
“Well, for starters, I always want to hang out and be with you and Ace. Of all the people and all the places in the world, this is where I want to be.”
His stance softens a little, and I smile up at him.
“You say you want to take care of me? Well, it’s the same for me.
That’s why I hated you being at the hospital without me.
I wanted to be the one that was there for you.
” And then as if I’ve given up too much, I add, “That’s what friends do, right? ”
I don’t wait for an answer. I shake my head and slam down my trunk.
We walk across the parking lot, passing by the concessions and bleachers to get to my normal seat.
Tucker moves the chairs around so he’s holding two in one hand and then reaches for me with the other.
I’m surprised, but I don’t resist him. We finish walking to my spot, and I feel all the other parents’ eyes on me.
I look out onto the field where Ace is watching us, and I know I have to say something to Tucker.
I wait until we’re seated before I get started. I open my mouth, and Tucker reaches for my hand so I slam my mouth shut. His thumb is drawing circles across my skin, and my whole body reacts to his touch. I gesture to our hands. “We should probably talk about this.”
Before he can say anything, I continue, “I know why you’re doing this, but I’m afraid it’s going to confuse Ace.”
He turns toward me. “What do you mean?”
Ugh, I don’t want to say it. “You know what I mean.”
He reaches over and puts his other hand on my bare knee. I’m not going to survive this.
He squeezes. “Why do you think I’m doing this?”
I resist rolling my eyes at him. “Uh, because you are tired of women hitting on you.”
He laughs out loud. “Okay, and why do you think me holding your hand is going to confuse Ace?”
“Tucker, this is what I was wanting to tell you, but it’s never been the right time. Ace told your friend at the rodeo that I’m your girlfriend.”
“Okay.” He nods.
He doesn’t seem upset about it, but I still feel myself getting defensive. “I didn’t tell him that. He thought you wouldn’t want your friend flirting with me?—”
He nods. “Ace is right. I don’t.”
I lean back. “But why?”
I’m waiting for Tucker to get uncomfortable.
He’s normally a man of few words, and he definitely doesn’t talk about emotions or anything like that, so I fully expect him to bottle this all up.
But he doesn’t seem fazed at all. As a matter of fact, he seems completely comfortable having this conversation now. “Well, first of all, Rick is a player.”
I wait for him to continue. Is that all this is? Is he just trying to protect me? What about now and all the possessive things he’s said to me? There’s more to it than what he’s saying, but should I call him on his bullshit?
I think I will. “So you’re just protecting me? If Rick wasn’t a player, you’d be all right if he asked me out? That would be okay with you?”
His face twists up in anger. He pulls off his glasses and squints as the sun hits him in his eyes. “Look at me when I say this, Dolly.”
When our eyes meet, he gruffly responds, “I don’t want you to have any doubts here, so take it all in. Hell, take notes if you need to. You will not be going on any dates with Rick, Bob, Joe, or any other guy that is interested.”
I jut my chin at him. “Well, I’m going to hold off telling you that I’m an adult and can do what I want until you tell me why.”
He leans in. “Because you’re mine.”