Page 167 of Colt

It also helped me get through the morning rush with a lot more patience. Dean didn’t have any accidents, but Elvis did show up at the door with a squirrel in his mouth. The fun truly never ends.

“I’m pathetic, but I don’t care,” I say. “I miss you.”

“I miss you too. Congrats on the inquiry.”

“Congrats on the new client. You’ll be doing some good brainstorming this afternoon.”

“Why? ’Cause you’re gonna do me good?”

“I’m hanging up now.”

“Okay.”

“Oh! Don’t forget to bundle up for the barn.”

“We could just bang in my bed, you know.”

“But that would be boring.”

“Right. And we don’t do boring. Even when it’s forty degrees outside.”

“It’s fifty-three. See you at two, honey.”

Dean literally screams with delight when he opens the truck’s back door and sees Lainey sitting in the passenger seat.

“Lainey came to pick me up again?” He lost another tooth, so his smile is especially hilarious right now. “Oh my goodness!”

Lainey beams. “Get in, quick! We gotta make it to the Caffeinated Cowgirl before they close.”

Dean flings his backpack into the truck. “We’re getting hot chocolate? Are you serious right now?”

“So serious,” I say. “Need help getting buckled?”

Waving to his teacher, he climbs in and pulls the door shut behind him. “I’m good.”

“How was your day?”

“Good.”

“Did you have art today?” Lainey asks.

“I forget.”

“What about Spanish?” I ask.

“Nah, we had Spanish yesterday. I think we did anyway.”

I hear the click of Dean’s buckle and put the truck in drive. “What about lunch? Friday is dessert day, right?”

“Um, I forget.”

Looking at Lainey, I reach for her hand and grin. “Funny that you forget all that stuff, but you remember all the adult words I say.”

“Got a good memory.”

Lainey grins back. “You sure do, buddy.”

“Dad?” Dean asks as I pull onto the road that leads us downtown.